What NB Technologies does

NB Technologies GmbH is a German specialty chemicals and laboratory equipment supplier founded in 2004 and headquartered in Bremen, operating as a privately held GmbH with 11–50 employees. The company develops and manufactures electroplating and wet-chemical etching chemistries, laboratory wet processing equipment, and engineered components serving semiconductor, microsystems, photovoltaic, medical technology, and academic R&D customers.

Core offerings include the proprietary NB Semiplate electrolyte family spanning Au, Cu, Sn, Ni, NiMn, In, Ag, Bi, and Pd formulations; the Almight® One platform for aluminum electroplating from ionic liquids, with customer demonstrations targeted for 2026; the suncup® fountain plater for solar cell metallization; the TensoStamp nanoimprint lithography tool; and a portfolio of wet bench and cell products such as the Paddle Cell and Safe Flow Cell. The company also produces ionization chamber components qualified into Varian ProBeam proton therapy systems, indicating medical-device-grade quality compliance supported by ISO 9001:2015 certification.

The business operates through direct B2B sales of custom-developed chemistries, engineered equipment, and project services, with manufacturing across three German sites (Bremen, Cologne Marsdorf, and Frechen) and a Chinese joint venture (Frintrup NB SST, Kunshan) supplying screen printing stencils to the Asian photovoltaic market. The company is founder-led, has not raised external venture funding, and monetizes through quote-based specialty chemical and equipment contracts rather than standardized pricing.

Name

NB Technologies

Legal name

NB Technologies GmbH

Website

https://nb-technologies.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

2004

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

NB Technologies GmbH is a German specialty chemicals and laboratory equipment supplier founded in 2004 in Bremen, developing electroplating and etching chemistries, wet-processing equipment, and medical device components for semiconductor, photovoltaic, medical technology, and R&D customers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Semiconductor Wet Process Chemicals & Equipment

NAICS

Electroplating, Plating, Polishing, Anodizing, and Coloring (332813), Metal Coating, Engraving (except Jewelry and Silverware), and Allied Services to Manufacturers (332812), Semiconductor Machinery Manufacturing (333242)

SIC

Coating, Engraving & Allied Services (3470), Industrial Instruments For Measurement, Display, And Control (3823)

akta.pro primary industry

Electroplating & Metallization Chemicals (Cu/Ni/Au plating, additives) (IMAEAKAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

Electroplating & Metal Finishing (Anodizing/Galvanizing/Passivation) (IMAIAKAE), Metallization & Plating Chemicals (Cu/Co/Ru/Barrier & Seed) (HDAHAGAK)

Keywords

• Electroplating chemicals
• Semiconductor wet processing
• Microsystems engineering
• Etching solutions
• Accelerator components

Headquarters

HQ city

Bremen

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Chemical Products (Electrolytes and Etchants): Sale of proprietary electroplating electrolytes (NB Semiplate product line including Au, Cu, Sn, Ni, NiMn, In, Ag, Bi, Pd variants) and metal etching solutions. Revenue generated through direct sales and distribution partners.
2. Laboratory Equipment and Tools: Sale of specialized plating and etching equipment including Wetbench, Suncup, Safe Flow Cell, Paddle Cell, Multilayer Tool, Small Volume Plating Cell, Sealed Waferholder, and Wafer face-up tools.
3. Engineering and Consulting Services: Customer-specific development and engineering services including process development, consulting on microsystems technology, supply chain management, and design/layout of microsystems. Offered as standalone services or bundled with products.
4. Screen Printing Products: Production and sale of screen printing stencils (sunstence® screens) through joint venture Frintrup NB SST for photovoltaic market.
5. Medical Device Components: Manufacturing of custom accelerator components and ionization chambers for proton therapy systems, meeting medical device quality requirements.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels1 record

Core offering

NB Technologies GmbH supplies electroplating electrolytes (NB Semiplate product line including Au, Cu, Sn, Ni, NiMn, In, Ag, Bi, Pd formulations) and metal etching chemicals (Au, Cr, TiW, Cu etchants) for semiconductor, microsystems, and photovoltaic processing. The portfolio is complemented by laboratory and production equipment (suncup®, Paddle Cell, Safe Flow Cell, Multilayer Tool, Wafer face-up, Sealed Waferholder, Wetbench, Almight® One) and customer-specific engineering, consulting, and process development services.

Product overview

NB Technologies is a provider of electroplating chemicals, wet processing equipment, and precision components for semiconductor and microsystems technology. The product portfolio consists of three main categories: (1) NB Semiplate electroplating solutions including gold, copper, nickel, tin, silver, palladium, indium, bismuth, and nickel-manganese formulations; (2) etching chemicals for gold, chromium, titanium-tungsten, and copper in various resist-compatible formulations; (3) laboratory equipment including the Small Volume Plating Cell, Suncup® fountain plater, Paddle Cell, Safe Flow Cell, Multilayer Tool, Wafer face-up tool, Sealed Waferholder, and Wetbench for electroplating and etching processes. The company also offers the Almight® One fully automated aluminum electroplating system for ionic liquids, and TensoStamp for nanoimprint applications. Additional offerings include accelerator components (ionization chambers, customized components) for proton therapy, screen printing products through the Frintrup NB SST joint venture, and consulting/production services for supply chain management and microsystems development.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• NB Semiplate: Product line of electroplating baths and etching chemicals for semiconductor and microsystems technology
• Almight
• suncup
• Safe Flow Cell
• sunstence

Products and services

• NB Semiplate Electroplating Solutions A family of proprietary electroplating electrolytes (NB Semiplate Au 100/100 TL, Cu 100/150, Sn 100/150, Ni 100, NiMn 100, In 100, Ag 100, Bi 100, Pd 200, plus sunNiSi 100 for combined porous silicon etching and nickel plating) for semiconductor and microsystems processing. Used for surface finishing, bond pads, conducting lines, barrier layers, mechanical elements, soldering, and space applications.
• NB Etching Chemicals A range of metal etching chemicals (Au etch 200, Cr etch 200/210, TiW etch 100/200, Cu etch 100/150/200 UBM, AX 100 acidic activator) for seed layer patterning, adhesion layer etching, barrier layer removal, sacrificial layer removal, and adhesion improvement in semiconductor and microsystems processing.
• Small Volume Plating Cell Testing cell for electrolyte development and optimization in volumes less than three liters, featuring single-side/backside dry processing and capability for light-induced or supported processes. For electrolyte development and R&D use.
• suncup® Fountain Plater Fountain plater electroplating tool for solar cell metallization with process side facing down, modular design, no holder required, dry backside processing, and optional LED illumination for light-induced plating. Handles HF concentrations up to 25% for porous silicon processes.
• Paddle Cell Benchtop electroplating system with paddle unit moving parallel to substrate for uniform flow conditions, operating in rack-like configuration with vertical substrates.
• Safe Flow Cell Hermetically sealed electroplating cell for hazardous electrolytes including HF and ionic liquids for aluminum, with less than five liters volume, electronic flow control, and touchscreen operation.
• Multilayer Tool Semiautomatic electroplating system for deposition of exothermically reacting nanoscale multilayer systems (RMS), featuring two to four process tanks, quick-dump rinsing tank, and Bernoulli gripper for holderless handling.
• Wafer face-up Tool Inverted reaction chamber electroplating system with 20 liter bath volume, designed for TSV plating, deep structure filling, and dual-damascene processes, avoiding air trapping.
• Sealed Waferholder Sealed wafer holder for electroplating and wet etching in microsystems and semiconductor applications, featuring single side/backside dry processing, temperature resistance up to 70°C, available for 100mm, 150mm, 200mm wafers.
• Wetbench Compact wet bench for precise electroplating and surface treatment with 3 stations (plating, rinsing, optional process), vertical fountain plater, touch panel control, megasonic integration option, for substrates up to 200mm.
• Almight® One Aluminum Electroplating System Fully automated aluminum electroplating system from ionic liquids with dry-in/dry-out operation for wafer formats up to 200mm (300mm planned), featuring NB IoLiPlate® Al electrolyte family. Pioneering commercial solution for inert atmosphere process control in semiconductor applications, with first installation at Fraunhofer ENAS.
• TensoStamp Nanoimprint and embossing stamp using perforated metal foil carrier attached to flexible mesh in frame, providing distortion-free imprinting with easy demolding through favorable shear forces. Used for Nano-Imprint Lithography (NIL) and embossing applications.
• Ionization Chambers for Proton Therapy Custom ionization chamber assemblies with gold-coated polyimide foil detection electrodes (down to 25µm thickness, up to 1µm gold coating), sensitive area up to 450mm x 550mm, applicable for FLASH proton beams. Used in Varian ProBeam systems and other proton therapy installations.
• Customized Accelerator Components Custom-manufactured components for medical accelerators including vacuum assemblies, high voltage parts, Penning ion source assemblies, beam diagnostics, and clinical dosimetry equipment, meeting medical device quality requirements.
• sunstence® Screens High-end screen printing stencils (sunstence®) based on metal foils for distortion-free screen printing in the photovoltaic market, produced by joint venture Frintrup NB SST in Kunshan, China for the Asian photovoltaic market.
• Supply Chain Management Consulting Consulting services for microsystems technology including design and layout of microsystems, process evaluation, supplier selection, manufacturing site selection, technical due diligence, and regulatory compliance for medical devices.
• Development & Sample Production Development services for innovative products using microsystems technology, including process optimization and prototype production for customers in semiconductor, microsystems, and related industries.
• Production & Transfer Services

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Frintrup NB Special Screen Technology (Kunshan)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 February 2011Joint venture between NB Technologies GmbH and Hans Frintrup GmbH established in February 2011. Located in Kunshan, China, this joint venture produces high-end screen printing stencils (sunstence® screens) specifically for the Asian photovoltaic market.
• MicroChemicalsminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorOfficial distribution partner for NB Semiplate electrolytes since January 2013, extending market reach for electroplating chemical products.
• Atotech Deutschland GmbHminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCooperation agreement established in August 2011 for technology development in the field of electroplating and surface treatment.
• Fraunhofer ENAScoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerClose cooperation with Fraunhofer ENAS for development and commercialization of aluminum electroplating from ionic liquids technology. First Almight® One automated system installed at Fraunhofer ENAS.
• caesar (center of advanced european studies and research)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCooperation framework contract established February 2005 for microsystems technology development. Bonn office was located at caesar until December 2022.
• University of Bremen / MCB/IMSASminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCooperation framework contract established January 2005 with microsystems technology department for research and development collaboration.
• Applied Materials BacciniminorStrategic or Co-development Partnersunstence® uni screens certified by Applied Materials Baccini Cell Systems for Baccini Esatto Technology in December 2009, enabling market entry for photovoltaic screen printing products.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• MicroChemicals GmbH: German specialty supplier of wet chemistry, photoresists, and electroplating/etching chemicals for semiconductor and microsystems customers. Closely comparable product lines (electrolytes and etchants) and overlapping customer base, also serves as NB Technologies' distribution partner for NB Semiplate since 2013.
• Technic Inc. US-based specialty manufacturer of electroplating chemistries (Au, Cu, Sn, Ag, Pd, Ni) and equipment for semiconductor wafer-level packaging and electronics. Closely comparable product mix and customer segments to NB Semiplate.
• Tanaka Precious Metals: Japanese precious metals specialist with strong gold, silver, palladium, and platinum plating chemistry offerings for semiconductor bonding pads and electronic components — directly comparable to NB Semiplate Au100, Ag 100, and Pd 200.

Broad incumbents

• Atotech (MKS Instruments): Global leader in specialty plating chemicals and surface-finishing solutions, now part of MKS Instruments. Direct overlap with NB's NB Semiplate portfolio across Cu, Ni, Au, Sn plating chemistries, particularly in electronics and semiconductor packaging.
• Element Solutions (Enthone / MacDermid Alpha): Diversified specialty chemicals platform with Enthone and MacDermid Alpha Electronics Solutions businesses serving semiconductor packaging, PCB, and electronics plating markets. Competes with NB across nearly every metal family in NB Semiplate.
• Coventya: European-headquartered specialty plating and surface treatment chemistry supplier serving electronics, automotive, and industrial customers. Comparable in chemistry focus and customer overlap in semiconductor and microsystems plating.
• JX Nippon Mining & Metals: Major Japanese materials supplier providing sputtering targets, plating chemicals, and copper/rare metals for semiconductor interconnects. Overlaps with NB's metallization chemistry range, particularly Cu and barrier-layer plating.
• DuPont Electronics & Industrial: Diversified electronics materials supplier offering plating chemistries, photoresists, and semiconductor process materials. Competes with NB Semiplate portfolio in semiconductor packaging metallization.

Emerging players

• Scribner Associates (or comparable wet-process equipment peer such as RENA / ClassOne): Specialty wet-process plating and analytical equipment providers serving semiconductor R&D and small-volume production environments. Comparable to NB's lab equipment portfolio (Wetbench, Paddle Cell, Small Volume Plating Cell, Sealed Waferholder) targeted at fab process development.

Others

• Varian Medical Systems (Siemens Healthineers): Customer rather than direct competitor: NB Technologies supplies custom ionization chambers and accelerator components used in Varian ProBeam proton therapy systems. Listed as a peer because it defines NB's medical technology end-market and supplier-customer relationship.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/nb-technologies-gmbh

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Subsidiaries2 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 NB Technologies