Achieving uniform, reproducible surface finishes on complex metallic geometries, such as titanium medical stents, bone screws, and austenitic stainless-steel components, requires chemical and electrochemical formulations engineered for selective removal without degrading the base substrate. In high-demand sectors like medical technology, automotive, and watchmaking, manual deburring often introduces surface defects or uncontrolled dimensional loss.
Through specialized Swiss chemical engineering and ready-to-use electrolytes, Volketswil-based ElpoChem combines research, toll blending, and process consulting under one roof. CEO Lukas Vassalli outlines the company’s recent innovations, including ElpoNox ND for selective PVD titanium nitride (TiN) layer stripping and ElpoLux TI-Med for electropolishing titanium medical implants.
Interview with Lukas Vassalli, CEO of ElpoChem.
A brief description of the company and its activities.
Lukas Vassalli: As an independent Swiss company with headquarters in Volketswil/Zürich, ElpoChem combines research, development, consulting and manufacturing under one roof. Customers come from demanding industries such as medical technology, locking technology, automotive, apparatus manufacturing, the watch and textile industry and contract electroplating.
We specialize in surface-removal processes such as electropolishing, chemical deburring/polishing, etching, passivation, color anodizing of titanium, and PVD coating removal.
What are the main areas of activity of the company?
L.V: ElpoChem develops, produces and supplies chemical and electrochemical processes that enable you to implement precise, reproducible and economical surface processes in your production. With our in-house laboratory and production facilities, we can accommodate individual customer requests. Thanks to our many years of expertise in electropolishing a wide variety of metallic materials, as well as in chemical deburring and polishing, we are able to offer our customers unique added value through our products.
What’s the news about new products/services?
L.V: We recently expanded our product portfolio to include a process in the field of PVD stripping. The process is used for stripping austenitic stainless steel. It removes nitride layers evenly and leaves a satin-matt finish, with minimal etching of the base material. The electrolyte used is supplied ready for use.
The photo shows the result:
🔹 Top: Titanium nitride (TiN) coated sample
🔹 Bottom: Samples after stripping with ElpoNox ND
https://www.elpochem.com/en/oberflaechenverfahren/pvd-entschichtungsverfahren
In addition, we offer our advanced titanium electropolishing electrolyte, ElpoLux TI-Med, which is already trusted by more than 60 customers worldwide. Supplied ready for immediate use, this state-of-the-art electrolyte is specifically designed for the electropolishing of titanium alloys and is widely utilized in the manufacture of high-precision medical devices, including bone plates, bone screws, stents, and other implantable components.
The photo shows the result Electropolished with ElpoLux TI-Med:
https://www.elpochem.com/en/anwendungsbeispiele/elektropolieren-der-stants
What are the ranges of products/services?
L.V: ElpoChem develops, produces and supplies chemical and electrochemical processes that enable you to implement precise, reproducible and economical surface processes in your production.
- Development and Distribution
- Sample Processing
- Customer Support
- Process engineering
- Toll Blending
What is the state of the market where you are currently active?
L.V: Our processes are used across a wide range of industries, such as medical technology, the automotive sector, plant and equipment manufacturing, and locking technology. Due to our high level of sector diversification, strong performance in one market segment typically compensates for temporary weaknesses in another, ensuring greater business stability and resilience.
What can you tell us about market trends?
L.V: Since there is a shortage of skilled workers throughout Europe, it is extremely important that we, as a company, have a thorough understanding of our processes and can provide practical support to our customers in on site ore remote.
What are the most innovative products/services marketed?
L.V: In response to increasing safety requirements and, we are continuously improving our products. We therefore endeavour to design our products to be as safe and environmentally friendly as possible. However, this must not compromise functionality or the desired result.
What estimations do you have for the second half of 2026?
L.V: The current situation in the Middle East, the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine, and the uncertainties in the US make it very difficult, if not impossible, to make a forecast. Generally speaking, we are optimistic that 2026 will be a good year.
