Erne surface

What Erne surface does

Erne surface AG is a Swiss specialty chemicals and surface treatment company founded in 1936, headquartered in Dällikon ZH. The company develops chemical processes, specialty chemicals, and equipment for galvanic surface treatment — electroplating and metal finishing — serving industrial customers across mechanical engineering, electronics and PCB manufacturing, watchmaking and jewelry, medical technology, valve manufacturing, and aerospace. Its core offering centers on "Galvanische Verfahren" (galvanic procedures) covering the full range of plating techniques, supplemented by a branded product palette of high-quality chemical specialties sourced and distributed in partnership with technology providers including MacDermid Enthone, DERUSTIT, Florchemie, Munk, Renner, Yamamoto-MS, and Mazurczak.

The company operates a B2B distribution and services model. Direct revenue comes from selling galvanic chemicals, equipment, and surface treatment services to industrial customers, supplemented by the ChemCare® managed-service program, an integrated offering of just-in-time chemical delivery, waste collection, recycling, consulting, and inventory management built on more than 20 years of experience. Go-to-market relies on outside and inside sales teams providing personal consultation, supported by industry associations (Swissgalvanic, VLO) and certifications including ISO 9001 (since 1998), ISO 14001 (since 2002), and participation in Energie-Agentur der Wirtschaft (since 2013).

Since 2021, Erne surface has been a subsidiary of Thommen-Furler AG, a diversified Swiss industrial group. In October 2023, Markus Mosimann was appointed Managing Director, succeeding third-generation family leader Rea Erne, and beginning in early 2024, product distribution was fully integrated into the parent's logistics network. The company currently operates with 11-50 employees and remains a privately held Swiss corporation with no public disclosure of revenue or funding.

Name

Erne surface

Legal name

Erne surface AG

Website

https://ernesurface.ch

Company type

Private

Founded year

1936

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Erne surface AG is a Swiss specialty chemicals supplier, founded in 1936 and now a subsidiary of Thommen-Furler AG, providing galvanic surface treatment processes, chemical specialties, and the ChemCare® managed-chemicals service to industrial customers across mechanical engineering, electronics, watchmaking, medical technology, valves, and aerospace in Switzerland.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Industrial Surface Treatment and Electroplating

NAICS

Paint and Coating Manufacturing (32551), Chemical Manufacturing (325), Other Basic Inorganic Chemical Manufacturing (325180)

SIC

Paints, Varnishes, Lacquers, Enamels & Allied Prods (2851), Miscellaneous Chemical Products (2890), Coating, Engraving & Allied Services (3470)

akta.pro primary industry

Industrial & Commercial Painting/Coatings/Surface Treatment (IMAIAAAK)

akta.pro secondary industry

Industrial Waste Treatment (Physical/Chemical) & Neutralization (BPALAHAB)

Keywords

• Galvanic surface treatment
• Electroplating chemicals
• Industrial coatings
• Metal finishing services
• Chemical management solutions

Headquarters

HQ city

Zollikon

HQ country

Switzerland

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Surface Treatment Products and Services: Sale of galvanic chemicals, equipment, and surface treatment services to industrial customers
2. ChemCare Service Model: Integrated chemical management services including just-in-time delivery and waste collection/recycling for industry and automotive customers through partnership agreements

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Erne surface AG provides galvanic surface treatment procedures, a product palette of specialty chemicals for metal coating and finishing, and comprehensive service packages (consulting, plant construction, maintenance, revisions) to industrial customers. Its ChemCare® offering integrates just-in-time chemical delivery with waste collection and recycling. Customers operate in mechanical engineering, electronics, watchmaking, medical technology, valves, and aerospace.

Product overview

Erne surface AG operates as a surface treatment company offering a unified portfolio centered on galvanic procedures (electroplating and surface coating processes). The core offering consists of galvanic treatment services supplemented by a comprehensive product palette of specialty chemicals. The ChemCare® program serves as the primary service wrapper, integrating just-in-time chemical supply, waste recycling/disposal, consulting, and logistics into a single sustainable business model. The company positions itself as a full-service provider combining equipment, maintenance services, and chemical products for customers in mechanical engineering, electronics, watchmaking, medical technology, valve manufacturing, and aerospace sectors.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• ChemCare: Sustainable business model offering integrated chemical management, lubrication, recycling and disposal services - a service concept built on 20+ years of experience serving industrial and automotive customers

Products and services

• Galvanische Verfahren (Galvanic Procedures) Comprehensive galvanic surface treatment procedures (electroplating and surface coating) for industrial customers across mechanical engineering, electronics, watchmaking, medical technology, valve manufacturing and aerospace.
• Produktpalette (Chemical Product Palette) Portfolio of specialty chemicals and chemical products used in galvanic surface treatment, supplied to industrial customers in various quantities via delivery partnerships with established technology providers.
• ChemCare® Sustainable business model providing just-in-time delivery and collection of chemical products and industrial waste, personal consulting for quality analyses, comprehensive product documentation, and support for order handling and inventory management, serving industrial and automotive customers.
• Umfassendes Dienstleistungsangebot (Comprehensive Service Package) Complete service package including consulting, plant maintenance, plant revisions, and complete solutions for customers in surface treatment, delivered by Erne surface AG together with partners such as Galvanis GmbH for plant construction and upgrades.

Quantifiable outcome

• High quality standards maintained through continuous optimization of offerings, processes, equipment and organization since ISO certification in 1998
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Galvanis GmbHcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Collaboration in plant construction, maintenance, and upgrade services for customer facilities. The management teams of both companies decided to work together in the area of plant construction and services for value enhancement and preservation of customer plants.
• MacDermid Enthone Industrial SolutionscoreTechnology or Integration · 1 January 2024Strategic partnership for surface treatment technology and solutions. MacDermid Enthone is a major technology partner providing chemical specialties for galvanic applications.
• Thommen-Furler AGcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021Parent company that acquired Erne surface AG in 2021. Since early 2024, handles all product distribution. Part of the Thommen-Furler Group providing integrated chemical management solutions, lubricants, environmental technology, and industrial waste recycling/disposal services.
• SwissgalvanicminorOthersIndustry association membership confirming Erne surface's standing in the Swiss galvanic industry

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Regional players

• Galvanis GmbH: Swiss-based specialist in plant construction, maintenance, and upgrades for galvanic and surface-treatment facilities. Operating partner to Erne in customer projects; serves the same Swiss industrial base.

Direct peers

• Technic Inc. US-based specialty chemical and equipment supplier for the electronics, PCB, and decorative plating industries. Comparable in offering both proprietary plating chemistries and related equipment to industrial precision customers.
• HEF Group: French-headquartered specialist in surface engineering and tribology, offering coating services, PVD, and surface-treatment chemistry. A direct competitor in applied surface treatment services for European industrial customers.
• Coventya (Element Solutions): Specialty chemicals supplier focused on decorative and functional surface treatment, including plating, pre-treatment, and corrosion protection. Closely comparable product portfolio to Erne's galvanic procedures and Produktpalette, serving automotive, industrial, and electronics customers.
• SurTec International (BASF): BASF-owned supplier of specialty chemicals for surface treatment, including zinc, nickel, passivation, and pre-treatment. Direct substitute supplier for many of the same chemistries Erne provides through its Produktpalette.
• Uyemura & Co., Ltd. Japanese specialty chemical maker with global presence in plating chemistry, surface treatment equipment, and precious-metal plating. Directly overlaps Erne's galvanic and surface-finishing portfolio for electronics and decorative applications.

Broad incumbents

• Bodycote plc: Global provider of heat treatment and specialist thermal-processing services, including surface technologies (e.g., plasma nitriding, autoclaving). Overlaps Erne's metal-coating value proposition for industrial customers at much larger scale.
• Aalberts Surface Technologies: Diversified industrial group providing heat treatment, surface treatment, and material processing services across many European countries. Comparable to Erne's service-plus-chemicals model at greater scale and geographic reach.
• MacDermid Enthone Industrial Solutions: Global leader in surface finishing and electroplating chemistries. Strategic partner to Erne; competes head-to-head in galvanic processes and specialty plating chemicals for the same industrial customer base across electronics, automotive, and industrial markets.

Others

• Thommen-Furler AG: Erne's parent company and Swiss distributor for Erne products since 2024; provides chemicals logistics, industrial waste management, and lubricants to the same Swiss industrial customer base, giving Erne cross-sell and distribution reach.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

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 Erne surface