W&L Coating Systems GmbH

W&L Coating Systems GmbH, based in Reichelsheim, Germany, is a subsidiary of Schneider Optical Machines and part of the SCHNEIDER group. The company specializes in vacuum-based thin film deposition and surface modification, with deep expertise in PECVD (plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition) and PVD (physical vapor deposition) processes. Their product line includes the NCS 12 and NCS 48 nano-crystalline PECVD systems with aluminum frame construction, integrated water cooling, process gas supply, linear plasma source arrays, substrate carriers, and vacuum pumping; the NMS 250 and NMS-BM 270 PVD magnetron sputtering systems; the RTM 25/80; and the CBR system. A high-pressure 2.45 GHz, 15 kW microwave PECVD system produces thick microcrystalline diamond films on 4-inch substrates for semiconductor heat management. For water and wastewater treatment, W&L has developed boron-doped diamond (BDD) electrode technology using thin nanocrystalline diamond coatings deposited at lower temperatures on titanium plates, substantially reducing production costs compared to conventional microcrystalline BDD coatings. These electrodes exploit the high current efficiency, wide electrochemical potential window, and chemical robustness of diamond to generate hydroxyl radicals that destroy complex persistent organic compounds including PFAS. Complete wastewater treatment plants based on electrochemical cells with nanocrystalline BDD electrodes are currently under development. The company also offers stand-alone desktop magnetron sputter systems for precious metal plating (gold, palladium) and cylindrical cantilevered magnetron sputter cathodes for small and medium-scale applications under 1,000 mm length and 25 kW power.