What Surface Solutions Group does

Surface Solutions Group, LLC (SSG) is a Chicago-headquartered, privately-held specialty contract manufacturer that formulates and applies medical-grade coatings for medical device components. Founded in 2008 as a sister company to Orion Industries (which traces coating-industry experience to 1964), SSG operates from a 32,000 sq ft controlled-environment facility with 12 automated electrostatic spray, 8 automated dip, and 10 manual coating lines plus an on-site R&D lab staffed by chemists and technicians. The company holds 54+ US patents across coatings and application technology and maintains ISO 13485:2016 certification with zero FDA recalls.

SSG's portfolio spans 13 proven medical coatings organized into hydrophobic low-friction coatings (FluoroMed, FluoroWire, FluoroBond N, MediSlick N2/N2A/N3), a PFAS-free sustainable line (GlideMed), hydrophilic coatings (AquaGlide), silicone and rubber coatings (Slick Sil LSR, FluoroBond-R), insulative and marking coatings (ElectroBond, VisiBond, VisiMark), antimicrobial coatings (FluoroMed-AM), and the proprietary FluoroBond Pre-Treat 7-stage surface preparation process. The company has coated more than 198 million medical components, including guidewires, catheters, needles, hypotubes, mandrels, electrosurgical blades, and silicone-based devices, with quantifiable performance metrics such as up to 95% friction reduction, autoclave resistance of 750+ cycles, and defect rates below 155 ppm.

SSG earns revenue through quote-based B2B coating services sold via a consultative, engineering-led sales motion targeting medical device OEMs, contract manufacturers, component suppliers, and R&D startups globally. Pricing is custom per project based on substrate, coating type, volume, and specification, with multi-year supply relationships implied by regulatory re-qualification friction. A $10M+ Costa Rica manufacturing facility, groundbreaking in early 2026 and ramping in 2027, signals the next phase of geographic capacity expansion to better serve Latin American medical device customers.

Name

Surface Solutions Group

Legal name

Surface Solutions Group, LLC

Website

https://surfacesolutionsgroup.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2008

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Surface Solutions Group is a privately-held Chicago-based contract manufacturer that formulates and applies 13 medical-grade coating technologies, including PTFE, PFAS-free, hydrophilic, and antimicrobial options, for medical device OEMs, contract manufacturers, and component suppliers worldwide.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Medical Device Coatings

NAICS

Coating, Engraving, Heat Treating, and Allied Activities (33281), Metal Coating, Engraving (except Jewelry and Silverware), and Allied Services to Manufacturers (332812)

SIC

Coating, Engraving & Allied Services (3470)

akta.pro primary industry

Application Equipment & Coating Services (Contract Coating, Surface Prep) (IMAEAGAL)

akta.pro secondary industries

Specialty & Functional Coatings (Anti-microbial/Anti-slip/Insulating) (IMAIAKAM), Industrial & Protective Coatings (IMAEAGAB)

Keywords

• Medical device coatings
• PTFE coatings
• Hydrophilic coatings
• PFAS-free coatings
• Antimicrobial coatings

Headquarters

HQ city

Chicago

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Medical Device Coating Services: B2B coating application services for medical device OEMs, contract manufacturers, and component suppliers. Coats components from prototype to production with pricing based on complexity, volume, and coating type.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Surface Solutions Group is a medical device coating applicator that formulates and applies 13 proven specialty coatings (PTFE, PFAS-free, hydrophilic, antimicrobial, insulative, and color-coding) onto medical device components such as guidewires, catheters, needles, hypotubes, mandrels, electrosurgical blades, silicone/rubber parts, and precision devices. The company serves medical device OEMs, contract manufacturers, component suppliers, and R&D startups from prototype through high-volume production, supported by an on-site R&D lab and extensive automated coating capacity.

Product overview

Surface Solutions Group is a medical device coating company offering 13 proven medical coatings and application technologies through a single provider. The portfolio includes: FluoroMed® and FluoroWire® PTFE-based low friction coatings for guidewires and wires; FluoroBond® N, MediSlick™ N2/N2A, and MediSlick™ N3 for ultra-thin, precision applications; GlideMed® as a sustainable PFAS-free alternative; AquaGlide® hydrophilic coatings for wet environments; Slick Sil® LSR and FluoroBond®-R for silicone and rubber substrates; ElectroBond® for electrosurgical devices; VisiBond® and VisiMark® for color-coding and markings; FluoroMed®-AM for antimicrobial protection; and FluoroBond® Pre-Treat as a supporting surface preparation process. The company operates automated spray and dip coating lines for high-volume medical device component coating.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• FluoroMed®: PFOA-free PTFE low friction coatings for medical devices
• FluoroWire®
• FluoroBond® N
• MediSlick™ N2/N2A
• MediSlick™ N3
• GlideMed®
• AquaGlide®
• Slick Sil®
• FluoroBond®-R
• ElectroBond®
• VisiBond®
• VisiMark®
• FluoroMed®-AM
• FluoroGlass®

Products and services

• FluoroMed PTFE Coatings PFOA-free PTFE low friction coatings for medical devices including guidewires, coils, mandrels, hypotubes, and needles, providing excellent low friction, release, and durability properties.
• FluoroWire PFOA-free PTFE coating applied to continuous reel-to-reel medical wire, cable and tubing, reducing intravascular friction in catheters, stents, and guidewire devices.
• FluoroBond N Ultra low friction, micron-thin pure PTFE coating for cutting edges and medical devices that reduces coefficient of friction to 0.01 with thickness of 0.00004" to 0.0002" per surface.
• MediSlick N2/N2A PFAS-FREE, ultra-thin low friction coatings for smooth surfaces including mandrels, scalpels, and blades. N2A includes a primer for higher surface roughness parts.
• MediSlick N3 PFAS-FREE, micron-thin low friction coating for needles and cutting edges with thermally bonded film exhibiting tenacious bond to smooth metal surfaces.
• GlideMed Sustainable, water-based low friction coating available in No PTFE/No PFAS and Low PTFE formulations. PFOS-, PFOA- and hex chrome-free, REACH and RoHS compliant.
• AquaGlide Thermal-cured hydrophilic coating series (M, R, P variants) that absorbs water, saline and body fluids to provide low friction surface when hydrated, reducing friction up to 95%.
• Slick Sil LSR PFAS-FREE chemically bonded LSR coating designed to reduce surface friction of molded and extruded silicone rubber, reducing coefficient of friction from 0.65 to 0.31.
• FluoroBond-R Low-cure, flexible fluoropolymer coating for rubber parts that transforms high-friction rubber surfaces into durable, low-friction surfaces while maintaining flexibility.
• ElectroBond PFAS-FREE insulative, non-stick electrosurgical blade coating with 4H pencil hardness, operating temperatures up to 840°F, and excellent eschar release properties.
• VisiBond Permanent color-coding technology resistant to autoclave (750+ cycles) with dielectric strength of 1,000 V/mil for medical instruments and dental tools.
• VisiMark Permanent PTFE marking technology for alphanumeric characters, symbols and color bands on medical devices without increasing coating thickness or surface friction.
• FluoroMed-AM Anti-Microbial Coating Advanced anti-microbial silver-based coating technology with 99.9% pathogen kill rate for catheters, endoscopic devices, and surgical instruments.
• FluoroBond Pre-Treat Process Proprietary 7-stage hyper cleaning process that improves adhesion of PFOA-free PTFE coatings on stainless steel and nitinol medical devices.
• FluoroGlass PFA glass coating for safety and protection that contains shattered glass fragments, provides chemical resistance, and withstands temperatures up to 500°F.

Quantifiable outcome

• Zero FDA recalls
• +8 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature8 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Orion IndustriescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSister company providing 60+ years of coating industry experience. Orion Industries created Surface Solutions Group as a separate company specifically to serve the growing medical device industry. SSG leverages shared coating expertise, technology, and patent portfolio from Orion Industries.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• AST Products: Provider of hydrophilic surface coating technology and application services for medical catheters, guidewires, and other interventional devices — direct technical and customer overlap with SSG's AquaGlide offering.
• Hydromer: Developer and applicator of hydrophilic and antimicrobial polymer coatings for medical catheters, guidewires, and electrodes. Comparable as a specialized medical coating company serving overlapping device OEM customers.
• Harland Medical Systems: ISO 13485-certified contract medical device coating applicator offering hydrophilic, antimicrobial, silicone, and PTFE coatings for catheters and guidewires — directly comparable service model, customer base (medical device OEMs), and technology stack to SSG.
• Biocoat Incorporated: Specialty contract coating applicator focused on hydrophilic and other lubricious coatings for medical devices such as guidewires and catheters — directly comparable niche, customer segment, and FDA-regulated contract coating service to SSG.
• AdvaTec Solutions: Contract manufacturer and surface treatment provider for medical devices, with PTFE coating application as part of broader surface engineering services to medtech OEMs — comparable customer base and contract service model.
• Specialty Coating Systems: Provider of Parylene and other conformal coating application services, including medical device Parylene coating, with controlled-environment application facilities. Comparable contract coating applicator for medical OEMs.
• Precision Coating Company: Medical and industrial applicator of PTFE, hydrophilic, and functional coatings with controlled-environment coating facilities. Overlaps with SSG in medical device PTFE and hydrophilic coating services to guidewire and catheter OEMs.
• N2 Biomedical: Contract coating and surface engineering services for medical implants and devices, including PVD, ion beam, and specialty biocompatible coatings. Comparable as ISO 13485 contract coating service to medtech OEMs.

Emerging players

• BioInteractions: UK-based specialist in antimicrobial and biocompatible coatings for medical devices, including antimicrobial and antithrombogenic technologies. Comparable as a focused medical coating technology peer serving overlapping device categories.

Broad incumbents

• SurModics: Public medical device coatings company offering hydrophilic, drug-eluting, and lubricious coatings plus in vitro diagnostics. Overlaps with SSG in medical coatings but operates as a larger chemistry licensor/manufacturer rather than a focused contract applicator.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks4 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/ssg_medical

Compliance5 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Surface Solutions Group