Fraunhofer Institute for Surface Engineering and Thin Films ISTEmployees of the Fraunhofer IST, Rohloff AG, and Tantec A/S among the finalists for the 2026 IHK Technology Transfer Award
Sustainable COAD® plasma process successfully implemented in bicycle component manufacturing
Employees of the Fraunhofer Institute for Surface Engineering and Thin Films IST, as well as their industry partners Rohloff AG and Tantec A/S, were among the finalists at the award ceremony for the 2026 Technology Transfer Award of the Braunschweig Chamber of Industry and Commerce (IHK) on May 20, 2026. They were nominated for the transfer of the COAD® technology, which has been successfully implemented in bicycle component manufacturing. With their selection, the jury recognized the importance of the COAD® process for sustainable and efficient production methods.
The COAD® process was optimized as part of a specific industrial application for Rohloff AG. In the design of highly compact bicycle components, sealing a ball bearing posed a particular challenge: due to the limited installation space, no conventional sealing solution could be used. However, an alternative liquid seal initially showed insufficient adhesion to the metallic surface. Fraunhofer IST provided the solution: The COAD® process is a plasma process that enables controlled adjustment of surface adhesion (COAD = COntrolled ADhesion). In this process, the metal surface is first specifically cleaned and functionalized with a nanometer-thin functional coating. This makes it possible to improve the adhesion of sealants permanently, reproducibly, and without the use of solvents – ideal for industrial series production.
To transfer the process into production, the process was integrated into an industrial plasma system in collaboration with the equipment manufacturer Tantec A/S and incorporated into production at Rohloff AG. Today, the technology enables stable, efficient, and high-quality series production of over 200 components per day. Due to the wide range of potential applications, e.g., in mobility or medical and pharmaceutical technology, the equipment manufacturer Tantec A/S has licensed the COAD® process from Fraunhofer IST and now markets the technology worldwide under the brand name VacuTEC+.
“Participating in the award ceremony was a valuable opportunity for us to present the results of our development to a broad audience,” says Prof. Dr. Michael Thomas, Head of the Circular Products and Processes Department at Fraunhofer IST. “Reaching the finals demonstrates the potential of the technology and highlights the relevance of transferring research into industrial application.”
In total, three outstanding projects were presented in the finals, impressively demonstrating the innovative strength and diversity of technology transfer in the region. The Fraunhofer IST team and the participating industry partners view their participation in the finals and the event in Braunschweig as a positive experience.
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