Oerlikon Balzers has introduced BALIQ A, a new titanium nitride (TiN)-based PVD coating designed to improve performance and reliability in threading applications.
The coating combines the company’s S3p technology with its decades of experience in TiN coatings. It is designed to support reliable tool performance during threading, a critical manufacturing operation where tool failure can lead to scrap, rework and process interruptions.
BALIQ A builds on the legacy of BALINIT A, Oerlikon’s first commercially successful wear-protective TiN coating for cutting tools, introduced in 1978. The new coating offers improved properties and quality, optimising performance in threading applications while also supporting other machining operations across a broad range of materials.
Advanced S3p technology as the foundation
At the core of BALIQ A is Oerlikon’s proprietary S3p technology. Combining the advantages of arc and sputter technologies, it enables exceptional surface smoothness, excellent adhesion and uniform coating thickness distribution. These characteristics form the basis for consistent coating quality, reliable tool performance, high process stability and reproducible thread quality.
“The capabilities of our unique S3p technology have opened new possibilities for TiN coatings,” says Ivan Iovkov, Global Product Manager Cutting Tools at Oerlikon. “By combining these key advantages, BALIQ A delivers a new level of TiN-based performance for threading applications and provides a foundation for a broader range of cutting and forming applications.”
Validated under real-world production conditions
BALIQ A has undergone extensive internal testing and customer validation worldwide. Evaluations with leading tap manufacturers confirmed reproducible results and consistent thread quality under both laboratory and production conditions. The coating is available in Oerlikon’s major markets across the Americas, Europe and Asia.