What SURFACTIS TECHNOLOGIES does

Surfactis Technologies is a French specialty chemicals company founded in 2004 as a spin-off from INSERM, headquartered in Angers and operating from an ISO 9001-certified manufacturing facility. The company develops, manufactures, and commercializes oleophobic and hydrophobic coatings based on a proprietary self-assembled monolayer (SAM) platform, in which nanometric (<10 nm) molecular layers form covalent bonds with treated substrates to deliver ultra-thin, invisible, abrasion-resistant protection. Its chemistry is anchored by perfluorinated bisphosphonic compounds protected through USPTO Patent #10,557,039 (granted February 2020) and additional WO filings, covering an operating range of -50 °C to +150 °C.

The product portfolio spans five core offerings: Episurf-Neo (high-performance epilame for Swiss watch movements), Mecasurf (oleophobic coating for micromotors and mechatronics), Prosurf (hydrocarbon-repellent coating for oil-and-gas sensors), Seesurf MT (silane-based hydrophobic/oleophobic agent for glass and optics), and VISIODRY PRO (superhydrophobic transparent spray, validated by Thales for ANTARES optronic cameras and launched in March 2022). Performance metrics include water contact angles above 150°, >99% transmission in visible and infrared wavelengths, and resistance to 65 bar water pressure.

The business model combines one-time unit sales of coating products (priced by container size on a quote basis), custom surface-modification lab services, and catalogue sales of specialty molecules (bisphosphonates, thiols, silanes) to research labs. Distribution is split between direct enterprise sales and an exclusive worldwide partnership with Horotec (La Chaux-de-Fonds) for the watch after-sales channel. Customer concentration sits primarily in vertical-specific OEMs (Swiss watch manufacturers, micromotor makers, oil & gas instrumentation players, and defense optics integrators); primary end-markets are precision mechanics, oil & gas measurement, and optronics. The company has historically been funded by French public innovation grants (BPI France, Fond Unique Interministériel, Région Pays de la Loire) and a 2011 Atlantic Business Angels Booster round, with no disclosed external institutional capital.

Name

SURFACTIS TECHNOLOGIES

Legal name

Surfactis

Website

https://surfactis.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2004

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Surfactis Technologies, founded in 2004 in Angers, France, develops and manufactures proprietary self-assembled monolayer nanocoatings that deliver hydrophobic and oleophobic protection for Swiss watch movements, micromotors, oil-and-gas sensors, and optical/optronic surfaces.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Industrial Surface Coatings

NAICS

Surface Active Agent Manufacturing (325613)

SIC

Miscellaneous Chemical Products (2890), Chemicals & Allied Products (2800)

akta.pro primary industry

Specialty Surfactants & Performance Additives (IMAEABAL)

akta.pro secondary industry

Commodity Surfactants & Detergent Base Chemicals (IMAEAAAI)

Keywords

• Hydrophobic coatings
• Oleophobic coatings
• Surface modification nanocoatings
• Self-assembled monolayers
• Epilame treatments

Headquarters

HQ city

Angers

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Surface Coating Products: Sale of proprietary hydrophobic and oleophobic coating products including Episurf-Neo, Mecasurf, Prosurf, Seesurf MT, and VISIODRY PRO for industrial applications
2. Custom Surface Coating Lab Services: Custom surface modification services based on customer specifications, including feasibility studies, surface functionalization, and physicochemical characterization
3. Molecule Catalogue Sales: Sale of chemical molecules (bisphosphonates, thiols, silanes) to industrial and academic research laboratories in quantities ranging from mg to hundreds of grams

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Surfactis Technologies develops, manufactures, and commercializes proprietary oleophobic and hydrophobic nanocoatings based on self-assembled monolayer (SAM) technology. The company sells industrial surface treatment products (Episurf-Neo, Mecasurf, Prosurf, Seesurf MT, VISIODRY PRO) that prevent oil/water spreading on precision components across the watchmaking, micromotors, oil and gas, and optics industries, and also offers custom surface coating lab services and a catalogue of specialty molecules.

Product overview

Surfactis Technologies develops, manufactures, and commercializes proprietary oleophobic and hydrophobic coatings based on self-assembled monolayer (SAM) technology. The product portfolio includes Episurf-Neo (high-performance epilame for watchmaking to prevent oil spread in mechanical movements), Mecasurf (oleophobic and hydrophobic coating for micromotors and mechatronics to maintain lubrication efficiency), Prosurf (hydrocarbon-repellent coating for oil and gas instrumentation to prevent paraffin clogging), Seesurf MT (silanebased hydrophobic/oleophobic agent for glass surfaces and optics), and Visiodry Pro (superhydrophobic transparent coating for professional applications requiring rain and snow repellency). All products form nanometric, invisible coatings resistant to abrasion and chemicals.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• VISIODRY PRO Superhydrophobic and transparent coating applied by simple spraying that causes water droplets to bounce off transparent surfaces without wetting them, validated by THALES for optronics and defense camera applications.
• Episurf-Neo High-performance epilame (surface agent) that prevents oil spread by reducing the substrate's surface energy, achieving contact angles exceeding 70 degrees with watch oils; used in watchmaking for mechanical movement lubrication and after-sales servicing.
• Mecasurf High-performance anti-spread surface agent that prevents oil from flowing out of friction zones in micromotors and mechatronics, curbing lubricant loss and maintaining effective lubrication.
• Prosurf High-performance liquid repellent surface agent that prevents hydrocarbons such as paraffin and asphaltenes from binding to the surface of measurement instruments and sensors in oil and gas applications.
• Seesurf MT High-performance hydrophobic and oleophobic agent with a silane-based anchor that prevents the spreading of oil or water on glass and other surfaces, reducing surface tension and contamination.
• Custom Surface Coating Lab Services Custom surface modification services based on customer specifications, including feasibility studies, surface functionalization, and physicochemical characterization, provided to industrial and academic partners.
• Catalogue of Molecules Sale of specialty chemical molecules (bisphosphonates, thiols, silanes) to industrial and academic research laboratories in quantities ranging from milligrams to hundreds of grams.

Quantifiable outcome

• Water contact angle >150°, roll-off angle <10°, resistance to 65 bar water pressure for >1 minute without degradation
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core, strategic, minor and support.

• HoroteccoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorHorotec SA (La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland) distributes Episurf-Neo products worldwide as an undisputed supplier of products for the watch industry (parts, tools, chemicals). Distribution enables after-sales service availability globally.
• ThalescoreTechnology or IntegrationVISIODRY®PRO validated by Thales for use on ANTARES type cameras equipping military vehicles. Provides perfect camera images even in degraded weather conditions (rain, snow) for 360-degree optronic video systems.
• Plastic Omnium, Mäder, LPIMstrategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on superhydrophobic resistant coatings development. Project received funding from Fond Unique Interministériel and Région Pays de la Loire. LPIM = Laboratoire de Photochimie et d'Ingénierie Macromoléculaires.
• L'OréalminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSurfactis was invited to present innovations at L'Oréal's Open Innovation Event in Paris, November 26th, 2019, to present hydrophobic and superhydrophobic coating innovations.
• CCI International / Pays de la Loire RegionsupportGTM or Marketing PartnerEconomic Mission in China and Singapore conducted by Region President Christelle Morançais, with CCI International support for company's international development. CEO presented products to 160+ Chinese companies and researchers.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• HZO: HZO (formerly HzO) provides nano-scale protective coatings for electronics, wearables, and IoT devices using proprietary vapor deposition technology. Directly comparable to Surfactis as a thin-film protective coating specialist serving industrial B2B customers.
• Aculon: Aculon manufactures hydrophobic, oleophobic, and anti-fingerprint surface treatment technologies for electronics, medical devices, and industrial applications. Closely comparable as a specialty hydrophobic/oleophobic nanocoating supplier serving B2B industrial customers.
• P2i: P2i is a UK-based specialist in hydrophobic nanocoatings using plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition, with deep penetration in consumer electronics (smartphones, hearing aids). Highly comparable to Surfactis as a specialist nanocoating company selling performance surface treatments to industrial customers.

Others

• Horotec SA: Horotec is Surfactis's exclusive distributor of Episurf-Neo to the global watch industry. Included as a distribution channel partner and adjacent ecosystem player rather than a competitor.

Broad incumbents

• Dow (DOWSIL silicone coatings): Dow's DOWSIL silicone-based hydrophobic/oleophobic coatings (including DOW CORNING 2634, explicitly named as a Seesurf MT replacement target) serve electronics, optics, and industrial customers globally. A direct incumbent whose product Surfactis explicitly aims to displace.
• 3M (Engineered Fluids & Coatings): 3M's fluorinated surface treatments and protective coatings divisions offer hydrophobic and oleophobic solutions across industrial segments including electronics, automotive, and aerospace. A broad incumbent that competes in adjacent chemistries and customer segments to Surfactis.
• BASF Coatings: BASF is a global specialty chemicals major with surface treatment and coating solutions serving automotive, industrial, and consumer markets. Comparable as a broad incumbent in specialty surface chemistries, though not specialized in nanocoatings.
• Daikin Industries ( fluorochemicals division): Daikin is a global leader in fluorochemicals and surface treatment chemistries, with industrial coatings used in textiles, electronics, and optics. Comparable to Surfactis as a fluorinated hydrophobic/oleophobic coating supplier at a vastly larger scale.

Emerging players

• Ross Nanotechnology (NeverWet): Ross Nanotechnology commercializes superhydrophobic and hydrophobic coatings under the NeverWet brand, serving industrial, consumer, and military applications. Comparable to Surfactis in the superhydrophobic transparent coating space, particularly VISIODRY PRO.
• NTT Advanced Technology (hydrophobic coating programs): NTT-AT develops fluorinated hydrophobic and anti-fingerprint coatings, primarily for Japanese electronics and display manufacturers. An emerging specialist with comparable SAM-adjacent technology, focused on the Asian electronics market.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/surfactis-technologies

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

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 SURFACTIS TECHNOLOGIES