Calico Coatings
Calico Coatings is a privately held industrial coatings manufacturer founded in 1997 in Denver, NC, applying advanced PVD, DLC, PECVD, Teflon, and ceramic coatings to precision components for aerospace, military, automotive, motorsports, oil & gas, and other regulated industries.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1997
- HeadquartersDenver, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Calico Coatings does
Calico Coatings is a privately held industrial coatings manufacturer founded in 1997 by Tracy Trotter and headquartered in Denver, North Carolina. The company applies advanced thin-film surface treatments — Physical Vapor Deposition (PVD), Diamond-Like Carbon (DLC), Plasma Enhanced Chemical Vapor Deposition (PECVD), Teflon/fluoropolymer, ceramic thermal barrier, manganese phosphate, and dry film lubricant coatings — to precision components for demanding end-uses. Calico's proprietary CERTESS®CARBON DLC and CERTESS®NITRO PVD product lines enable low-temperature deposition (~170-300°C) that preserves the dimensional integrity of precision parts, addressing wear, friction, heat, and corrosion challenges in regulated applications.
The company's core technology stack includes patented PACVD deposition systems, large-capacity coating chambers (with 10 additional chambers planned over a multi-year horizon), and proprietary surface finishing processes achieving sub-2-3 micro-inch finishes. Revenue is generated through two primary streams: (1) coating services priced on a per-part or per-batch basis against custom specifications, with 24-72 hour delivery on many applications and (2) sale of pre-coated engine bearings through long-tenured distribution partnerships with ACL (15+ year relationship) and Mahle/Clevite, plus international distribution via Coated Race Bearings. The direct sales model relies on trained specialists who advise customers on coating selection ("The Calico Way"), and the go-to-market is heavily sales-led with technical consultation.
Calico serves ten or more industry verticals including aerospace (AS9100D-certified), military (ITAR-registered, FFL-licensed, multiple MIL-spec qualifications), automotive, motorsports, oil & gas, nuclear, medical, food processing, and energy. Named enterprise customers include Mahle Engine Components, U.S. Military/Aerospace agencies, and various NASCAR race teams via Rev Racing and Bill McAnally Racing partnerships. The company's certifications (AS9100D, ISO 9001:2015, EcoVadis Silver 2023) and the November 2023 joint venture with HEF Group (a France-based global surface engineering leader with 90 locations across 21 countries) position it as a qualified supplier into high-barrier regulated end-markets with expanded R&D reach.
Calico Coatings firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Calico Coatings
- Legal name
- Calico Coatings
- Website
- https://calicocoatings.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1997
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Calico Coatings is a privately held industrial coatings manufacturer founded in 1997 in Denver, NC, applying advanced PVD, DLC, PECVD, Teflon, and ceramic coatings to precision components for aerospace, military, automotive, motorsports, oil & gas, and other regulated industries.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Calico Coatings industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Industrial Coating Services
- NAICS
- Paint and Coating Manufacturing (32551), Coating, Engraving, Heat Treating, and Allied Activities (3328), Paint, Coating, and Adhesive Manufacturing (3255)
- SIC
- Paints, Varnishes, Lacquers, Enamels & Allied Prods (2851)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Industrial Protective Coatings (Steel/Concrete/Equipment) (IMAIAKAB)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Industrial & Protective Coatings (IMAEAGAB), Industrial Protective Coatings (IMAEAHAB)
Keywords
Where Calico Coatings is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Denver
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
Calico Coatings business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Operations, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Coating Services: Calico provides industrial coating services applying DLC, PVD, PECVD, Teflon, ceramic, and thermal coatings to customer parts. Services include surface preparation, coating application, and quality testing. Revenue is generated through per-part or per-batch coating fees based on coating type, part size, and complexity.
- Coated Components: Sale of pre-coated components including engine bearings and specialized parts through partnerships with ACL and Mahle/Clevite
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels6 records
Calico Coatings product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Calico Coatings is an industrial coating service provider that applies advanced thin-film and surface treatments, including PVD, DLC (Diamond-Like Carbon), PECVD, Teflon/PTFE/FEP/PFA, manganese phosphate, ceramic thermal barrier, and dry film lubricant coatings, to customer-supplied parts at its Denver, NC facility. The company also distributes pre-coated high-performance engine bearings through partnerships with ACL and Mahle/Clevite, and offers proprietary surface preparation services such as Super Finishing and Super Micro Finishing.
Product overview
Calico Coatings is a performance coatings company offering a comprehensive portfolio of advanced surface treatment solutions. The product lineup includes DLC coatings (CERTESS®CARBON line), PVD coatings (CERTESS®NITRO line), Teflon/PTFE/FEP/PFA coatings, Manganese Phosphate coatings, Ceramic thermal barrier coatings, and Dry Film Lubricants. The company also provides surface finishing services (Super Finishing and Super Micro Finishing) and coated bearings through partnerships with ACL and Mahle/Clevite. These coatings serve demanding industries including aerospace, automotive, motorsports, military, oil & gas, medical, and nuclear, providing protection against extreme pressure, friction, wear, heat, and corrosion.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- CERTESS®CARBON: Premium line of Diamond-Like Carbon coatings with hydrogenated amorphous carbon (a-C:H) technology
- CERTESS®NITRO
Products and services
- CERTESS®CARBON DLC Coatings Diamond-Like Carbon (DLC) coatings combining diamond and graphite crystal structures to deliver extreme hardness (10–65 GPa) with low coefficient of friction (0.10–0.25), reducing friction by 200%–500% compared to traditional PVD coatings. Includes DT, DCX, DCY, DCZ, and TC variants with various underlayers for industrial, aerospace, and motorsports components requiring high load-bearing performance.
- CERTESS®NITRO PVD Coatings Physical Vapor Deposition (PVD) thin film coatings using lateral rotating cathode technology, with Ti, T (TiAlN), TC (TiCN), SD (TiBN), and X (CrN) variants. Hardness ranges 25–35 GPa with thickness of 2–10 microns, deposition temperature below 200°C, and maximum usage temperatures 500–800°C depending on variant, providing high wear resistance for dry operation environments.
Quantifiable outcome
- Fuel economy improvement up to 15% in diesel engines (saving up to $10,000 per truck per year at 100,000 miles/year)
- +7 more outcomes
Companies that use Calico Coatings
Customer profileNamed customers6 records
Segments10 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Calico Coatings technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature6 records
Calico Coatings partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Six partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship, major and regional.
- HEF GroupcoreNovember 2023 joint venture with HEF Group, a global leader in surface engineering with 90 locations in 21 countries. HEF specializes in tribology, photonics, hydrogen technologies across mobility, construction, medical, decarbonized energies, and defense industries. Partnership provides Calico access to advanced R&D capabilities and technology transfer resources for developing customized coating solutions, particularly for nuclear, defense, and green energy industries.
- ACL RACE Series Performance Engine BearingscoreLong-term partnership with ACL offering Calico-coated ACL RACE Series Performance Engine Bearings. Calico has been coating ACL bearings for over 15 years. Partnership extends coverage to US, European and Sport Compact markets. Same-day shipping from Grand Rapids, Michigan distribution center.
- Bill McAnally Racing (BMR)flagshipPartnership with Bill McAnally Racing for NASCAR ARCA Menards Series West. BMR has won record nine series championships with 99 overall victories. 30-year relationship with NAPA AUTO PARTS. Partnership supports young driver development including Toyota driver development program participants.
- Rev Racing (NASCAR Drive for Diversity)flagshipPartnership with NASCAR Drive for Diversity Driver Development Program. Supports development of diverse and female drivers in NASCAR. Gracie Trotter (daughter of owner Tracy Trotter) participated in program. Program includes drivers competing in NASCAR Late Model and ARCA Menards Series.
- Mahle/ClevitemajorPartnership with Mahle/Clevite providing high-performance coated bearings for motorsports industry. Part of broader bearing coating capability including Mahle Engine Components project.
- Coated Race BearingsregionalInternational distribution partner for Calico-coated bearings. Allows customers outside the US to order Calico-coated bearings with worldwide shipping from large stock inventory.
Scale indicators8 records
Recent moves10 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Calico Coatings competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- VaporTech: VaporTech designs and applies PVD and DLC coatings for decorative, wear and functional applications across automotive, aerospace, medical and consumer goods — directly comparable to Calico's DLC/PVD coating services.
- Createc: Createc specializes in DLC and PVD coatings for automotive, motorsports, and industrial wear applications, competing directly with Calico in engine bearings, powertrain components, and high-RPM coated parts.
- Richter Precision: Richter Precision is a US-based PVD and DLC coating applicator serving aerospace, medical, semiconductor and industrial tooling customers — closely aligned with Calico's precision-component coating services.
- Surface Technology Inc. Surface Technology Inc. applies engineered coatings including electroless nickel, PTFE, ceramic, and DLC for aerospace, defense, and industrial customers — overlapping Calico's wear/corrosion/friction coating portfolio.
- TST Engineered Coating Solutions: TST provides engineered thin-film coatings, DLC, and PVD services for aerospace, defense, medical and industrial OEMs — a closely comparable specialty applicator with similar AS9100 / ITAR-style qualification requirements.
- Phygen Coatings: Phygen Coatings is a US-based specialty physical-vapor-deposition applicator serving automotive, aerospace, medical and industrial markets with a comparable portfolio of wear and friction-reducing thin-film coatings.
- NCD Coatings: NCD Coatings specializes in Diamond-Like Carbon (DLC) and PVD coatings for automotive, aerospace, and industrial wear applications, mirroring Calico's CERTESS®CARBON service line and target customer profile.
- IHI Ionbond: IHI Ionbond (formerly Ionbond) operates a global network of coating centers applying PVD, PACVD and DLC coatings to automotive, aerospace, medical, and industrial components — a direct functional and channel peer to Calico across most of Calico's served verticals.
- Oerlikon Balzers: Oerlikon Balzers is the global market leader in PVD and DLC thin-film coatings for precision components, automotive, aerospace and tooling — directly comparable to Calico's CERTESS®NITRO and CERTESS®CARBON service offerings and the largest benchmark in the same niche.
Broad incumbents
- HEF Group: HEF Group is Calico's November 2023 joint-venture partner and a global surface-engineering incumbent with 90 locations in 21 countries, applying tribology, DLC and PVD coatings across mobility, defense, medical, and energy — broadly overlapping Calico's portfolio at substantially larger scale.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Calico Coatings social profiles
Digital presenceCalico Coatings compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance8 records
Calico Coatings financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Calico Coatings leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles5 records
Calico Coatings subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
Calico Coatings funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Calico Coatings M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Calico Coatings
What does Calico Coatings do?
Calico Coatings is an industrial coating service provider that applies advanced thin-film and surface treatments, including PVD, DLC (Diamond-Like Carbon), PECVD, Teflon/PTFE/FEP/PFA, manganese phosphate, ceramic thermal barrier, and dry film lubricant coatings, to customer-supplied parts at its Denver, NC facility. The company also distributes pre-coated high-performance engine bearings through partnerships with ACL and Mahle/Clevite, and offers proprietary surface preparation services such as Super Finishing and Super Micro Finishing.
Is Calico Coatings a public or private company?
Calico Coatings is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Calico Coatings founded?
Calico Coatings was founded in 1997. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Calico Coatings based?
Calico Coatings is headquartered in Denver, United States, in the North America region.
How does Calico Coatings make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Coating Services are the primary driver. The others are coated Components.
Who are Calico Coatings's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are VaporTech, Createc, Richter Precision, Surface Technology Inc., TST Engineered Coating Solutions, Phygen Coatings, NCD Coatings, IHI Ionbond and Oerlikon Balzers. HEF Group is listed as a broad incumbent.
Does Calico Coatings have an API?
No public API is recorded for Calico Coatings.
What industry is Calico Coatings in?
Calico Coatings's product category is Industrial Coating Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMAIAKAB, Industrial Protective Coatings (Steel/Concrete/Equipment), with a secondary code of IMAEAGAB, Industrial & Protective Coatings. Its NAICS code is 32551 and its SIC code is 2851.