Surfunction GmbH, a leading system provider for contactless surface functionalization using laser technology, will present its product developments at the only cross-industry and cross-material platform for surface technologies. The application scenarios are diverse: the so-called DLIP technology (Direct Laser Inference Patterning) enables, for example, product optimization for electrical systems, tailoring of friction, wear, absorption and wetting and can create special design effects including protection against counterfeiting. With the claim "Nature knows best", the company has transferred the possibilities of complex laser interference processes to industrial application for the first time. Surfunction GmbH is a spin-off from the Steinbeis research center Material Engineering Center Saarland (MECS).

Improvement potential for numerous industrial products

Surfunction expands the DLIP process with various complementary technologies and offers new, even more powerful solutions with the xDLIP platform (Extended DLIP). As a result, cross-scale surface structures are possible in record times. The patented special processes create measurable improvements for products in several industrial sectors such as automotive, medical technology and mechanical engineering. The technology allows for a high degree of material freedom (polymer, metal, ceramic, glass), the option of implementing almost any periodic structure (e.g., line, cross and dot pattern), a high degree of automation and reproducibility (using xDLIP machines) and multi-scale precision (from nm to µm). The laser-based surface functionalization also allows resource-saving production.

Comprehensive range of solutions

Surfunction accompanies its customers holistically with a focus on economic efficiency – from the feasibility study to series implementation. The production of optical and functional surfaces takes place both at the customer’s site and in own technology centers. The application spectrum ranges from the control of mating forces or resistance in electrical contacts to super hydrophilic or super-hydrophobic surfaces and hygienic properties such as germ-killing and reduction of bacterial adhesion. Tribological adjustments of the coefficient of friction and wear are also possible, as well as individualized optical effects in the safety area.

Recently, the company agreed on a global strategic partnership with the mechanical engineering specialist Noxon Automation GmbH & Co. KG. The cooperation covers the marketing and professional integration of xDLIP technologies into industrial production processes in the field of electrical contacts.

Presentation notice:

On 23.06.2002 from 10:00-10:20 CEO Dr. Dominik Britz will present on the subject of "Novel surface functionalities using laser interference" as part of the specialist forum at Surface Technology.