nC Surface
nC Surface (nC Group BV) sells nanotechnology-based corrosion passivators and sprayable thermal insulation coatings to maritime operators and industrial clients across the Netherlands, Belgium, and Germany, distributed via bunker station partners and direct project services.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2005
- HeadquartersWormerveer, Netherlands
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What nC Surface does
nC Surface (legal entity: nC Group BV; operating under trade names nC Protect, nC Surface Technology, and NC Marine) is a Dutch surface technology company founded in 2005 and headquartered in Wormerveer. The company develops and manufactures nanotechnology-based corrosion passivating fluids and sprayable thermal insulation coatings for maritime and industrial asset protection. Its flagship nC Corrosion Passivator product line — comprising Fluid, Primer 2-in-1, Primer Zinc C5, and Heavy Duty variants — enables in-service rust treatment on corroded steel without sandblasting, applied via a proprietary floating method using a wool grease-based carrier that delivers active corrosion-inhibiting particles into the metal substrate. The complementary nC ProTherm line (CUI-X and Heavy Duty) provides sprayable thermal insulation for surfaces up to 150°C with a claimed 25-year lifecycle.
The company serves commercial shipping operators (Kotug, Rederij Groen, MSC, Bocimar, Nordic Chartering, GEFO Shipping, Fugro, Rederij Vroon, DEME, Stolt-Nielsen, Boskalis, Jungheinrich), industrial process customers (Tata Steel Ijmuiden coal grinding plant, Kolmer Elektromotoren, Atlas Copco Rentals), and infrastructure builders (BAM, NS station Alkmaar), plus niche segments such as theme park ride manufacturers (KMG Rides) and maritime heritage conservators. Use cases concentrate on ballast tanks, cargo holds, deck piping, ventilation shafts, freshwater tanks, propulsion equipment, and industrial pipeline insulation. The value proposition rests on avoiding dry-docking and abrasive blasting, with documented productivity of 300 m³ of ballast tank treatment in 8 hours using a 3-person crew and claimed corrosion protection lifecycles of 5–15 years.
nC Surface operates a hybrid revenue model combining one-time product sales through distributors with on-site project application services for enterprise clients. Distribution is channel-led: since 2024 the company has shifted from a purely project-based delivery model to retail availability through bunker stations and marine lubricant distributors, reaching 28+ point-of-sale locations across the Netherlands, Belgium, and Germany via partnerships with Vidol Marine (appointed May 2025), Slurink Bunkerstations (since early 2024), REINPLUS FIWADO, Kieboom Werkendam, Dekker & Stam, and Bunkerstation Heijmen. The company is privately held by founder Rob van Hoorn with no disclosed external funding rounds or revenue figures.
nC Surface firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- nC Surface
- Legal name
- nC Group BV
- Website
- https://nc-protect.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2005
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- nC Surface (nC Group BV) sells nanotechnology-based corrosion passivators and sprayable thermal insulation coatings to maritime operators and industrial clients across the Netherlands, Belgium, and Germany, distributed via bunker station partners and direct project services.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
nC Surface industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Industrial Coatings
- NAICS
- Paint and Coating Manufacturing (32551), Coating, Engraving, Heat Treating, and Allied Activities (33281)
- SIC
- Paints, Varnishes, Lacquers, Enamels & Allied Prods (2851)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Industrial & Protective Coatings (IMAEAGAB)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Marine & Offshore Coatings (IMAEAGAD), Marine Coatings, Blasting & Corrosion Control (Hull, Tanks, Cathodic Protection) (TLAHAMAG), Tank, Pipeline & Marine Coating Services (Lining/Wrapping) (IMAIAKAJ)
Keywords
Where nC Surface is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Wormerveer
- HQ country
- Netherlands
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
nC Surface business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain
Revenue model
- Corrosion Protection Products: Sale of nC Corrosion Passivator product line including Fluid and Primer 2-in-1 variants for maritime, industrial, and construction applications. Products sold through distributors, bunker stations, and direct project work.
- Thermal Insulation Products: Sale of nC ProTherm product line including CUI-X thermal insulating coatings for industrial applications such as Tata Steel coal grinding plant installations.
- Project Services: On-site application services for corrosion protection and thermal insulation projects, including treatment of ships, tanks, and industrial equipment.
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels7 records
Marketing channels5 records
nC Surface product offering
Product offeringCore offering
nC Surface manufactures and supplies surface engineering products for corrosion protection and thermal insulation in heavy industrial and maritime environments. Its offering combines proprietary chemical coating systems (corrosion passivators, primers, and sprayable insulations) with on-site application services, targeting shipowners, steel mills, refineries, and construction projects.
Product overview
nC Surface Technology (nC Protect) offers a portfolio of advanced surface technology products for corrosion protection and thermal insulation in maritime and industrial environments. The core offerings include the nC Corrosion Passivator line (Fluid, Primer 2-in-1, Primer Zinc C5, and Heavy Duty variants) for in-service corrosion maintenance without sandblasting, and the nC ProTherm line (Sprayable Insulation, CUI-X) for thermal insulation applications. The products work together in layered system constructions for comprehensive protection, as demonstrated in projects like Tata Steel's coal grinding plant where Primer Zinc C5, ProTherm CUI-X, and Heavy Duty are applied in a three-layer system. A specialized offering is the Kolmer Top Coating developed for electric motor protection. All products are designed to extend asset life, reduce maintenance costs, and keep vessels and equipment operational.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- ProTherm: Sprayable thermal insulation product line for industrial and maritime applications.
Products and services
- nC Corrosion Passivator Fluid Liquid corrosion passivator coating applied to steel and metal surfaces in industrial and maritime settings to halt and prevent oxidation.
- nC Corrosion Passivator Primer 2-in-1 Combined primer and corrosion passivator that prepares and protects metal substrates in a single application step.
- nC Corrosion Passivator Primer Zinc C5 Zinc-based primer formulated for C5 (highest) corrosion category environments, used on steel structures exposed to aggressive atmospheres.
- nC Corrosion Passivator Heavy Duty Heavy-duty corrosion passivator coating for extreme service conditions in industrial facilities and marine structures.
- nC ProTherm Sprayable Insulation Spray-applied thermal insulation coating for pipes, tanks, and equipment requiring energy retention and personnel protection.
- nC ProTherm CUI-X Specialized insulation system designed to mitigate Corrosion Under Insulation (CUI) on insulated equipment in hot, wet, or cyclic service.
- nC ProTherm Heavy Duty Heavy-duty variant of nC ProTherm sprayable insulation for demanding industrial and offshore thermal management applications.
- Surface Engineering Project Services On-site surface preparation, application, and project management services for shipowners, steel mills, refineries, and construction clients.
Quantifiable outcome
- Treatment of 300 m³ ballast water tanks completed in 8 hours with crew of 3
- +6 more outcomes
Companies that use nC Surface
Customer profileNamed customers20 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles1 record
nC Surface technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature7 records
nC Surface partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Vidol MarinecoreStrategic distribution partnership for inland shipping (binnenvaart) market in Netherlands, Belgium, and Germany. Vidol Marine serves as distributor managing a growing network of 28+ point-of-sale locations along waterways. Partnership enables direct availability of nC Corrosion Passivator products to inland vessel operators.
- Vidol Lubricant SolutionscoreDistributor partnership for inland shipping in Netherlands, Belgium, and Germany. Products available through network of 28 locations along waterways.
- Slurink BunkerstationscorePartnership with Slurink Bunkerstations to distribute nC Corrosion Passivator products at bunker locations including Amsterdam, Dordrecht, and Lobith. Staff received training on products and can advise customers on correct application. Products available since early 2024.
- REINPLUS FIWADOminorBunker network partnership for product distribution at locations in Zwijndrecht and Millingen aan de Rijn.
- Kieboom WerkendamminorPartnership with Kieboom Werkendam, trusted supplier for inland shipping located in Biesboschhaven, serving shipping, construction, industry, and watersports sectors.
- Dekker & StamminorFamily business partnership in Hardinxveld-Giessendam for distribution to inland shipping market.
- Bunkerstation Heijmen Millingen aan de RijnminorBunker station partnership from three locations in Millingen aan de Rijn, serving private individuals and shipping companies.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights5 records
nC Surface competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Chesterton (A.W. Chesterton Company): US-based industrial sealing, lubrication, and protective coatings specialist serving maritime, power, and heavy industry. Comparable to nC in protective surface treatment for pumps, tanks, and industrial equipment in harsh environments.
- Cortec Corporation: US-based specialty chemical company focused on corrosion inhibitors and VCI (volatile corrosion inhibitor) technologies for marine and industrial metal protection. Highly comparable to nC's direct-to-rust, nanotechnology-based passivation approach for in-service maintenance.
Broad incumbents
- Jotun A/S: Norwegian global coatings manufacturer with a leading marine coatings portfolio (SeaQuantum, SeaForce) plus protective coatings for offshore and industry. Direct competitor in ballast-tank and hull protection against nC, though Jotun relies on traditional surface preparation.
- RPM International (Carboline, Stonhard): US specialty coatings holding company whose subsidiaries (Carboline, Stonhard, Nullifire) supply protective, fireproofing, and CUI-prevention coatings to industrial and marine customers. Comparable to nC's industrial protective and thermal insulation lines such as ProTherm CUI-X.
- Chugoku Marine Paints: Japanese marine and industrial coatings manufacturer serving shipyards, shipping companies, and industrial facilities globally. Competes in ballast-tank and hull coatings where nC is also active, with significant presence in Asian and European shipyards.
- Sika AG: Swiss specialty chemicals company producing coatings, sealants, and protective systems for construction and industry. Comparable to nC's industrial and construction-infrastructure work (e.g., BAM station window sealing) though it does not focus on marine passivation.
- PPG Industries (PPG Protective & Marine Coatings): Diversified global coatings major with a dedicated Protective & Marine Coatings business serving shipping, offshore, and infrastructure corrosion-protection markets. Competes broadly with nC in marine and industrial anti-corrosion segments.
- AkzoNobel / International Paint: Marine and protective coatings division of AkzoNobel and one of the largest marine coatings suppliers globally. Competes with nC across newbuild and maintenance coatings for shipping and heavy industry; offers Interzone, Intersleek, and Chartek brands covering similar use cases.
- Hempel A/S: Global marine and protective coatings incumbent serving shipyards, shipping companies, and industrial asset owners. Operates across the same ballast-tank, hull, and industrial maintenance segments as nC but as part of a much wider portfolio with traditional sandblast-and-recoat systems.
Emerging players
- Noxton Surface Chemistry: European specialty coatings company focused on nanoceramic and corrosion-protection coatings for industrial and marine use. Closely comparable emerging player to nC in nanotechnology-enabled direct-to-rust surface protection.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
nC Surface social profiles
Digital presencenC Surface financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
nC Surface leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
nC Surface funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
nC Surface 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 nC Surface
What does nC Surface do?
nC Surface manufactures and supplies surface engineering products for corrosion protection and thermal insulation in heavy industrial and maritime environments. Its offering combines proprietary chemical coating systems (corrosion passivators, primers, and sprayable insulations) with on-site application services, targeting shipowners, steel mills, refineries, and construction projects.
Is nC Surface a public or private company?
nC Surface is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was nC Surface founded?
nC Surface was founded in 2005. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is nC Surface based?
nC Surface is headquartered in Wormerveer, Netherlands, in the Europe region.
How does nC Surface make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Corrosion Protection Products are the primary driver. The others are thermal Insulation Products and project Services.
Who are nC Surface's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Chesterton (A.W. Chesterton Company) and Cortec Corporation. Broad incumbents are Jotun A/S, RPM International (Carboline, Stonhard), Chugoku Marine Paints, Sika AG, PPG Industries (PPG Protective & Marine Coatings), AkzoNobel / International Paint and Hempel A/S. Noxton Surface Chemistry is listed as an emerging player.
Does nC Surface have an API?
No public API is recorded for nC Surface.
What industry is nC Surface in?
nC Surface's product category is Industrial Coatings. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMAEAGAB, Industrial & Protective Coatings, with a secondary code of IMAEAGAD, Marine & Offshore Coatings. Its NAICS code is 32551 and its SIC code is 2851.