SurFunction, headquartered in Saarbrücken, Germany, with locations in Dresden and Düren, is a leading green-tech system provider for contactless surface modification. The company is a full-service provider of functional surface solutions. The portfolio includes full-spectrum analytics and surface characterization, laser-based structuring using the patented DLIP (Direct Laser Interference Patterning) technology, and advanced coating solutions such as PVD and DLC.
Interview with Dr. Dominik Britz, CEO & Co-Founder of SurFunction.
What are the main areas of activity of the company?
Dominik Britz: Based on customer requirements, SurFunction either integrates DLIP-based surface enhancement directly into customer production lines via modular or fully integrated ELIPSYS® systems and also offers contract manufacturing in its own technology centers. These technology centers serve both as production hubs and innovation accelerators, enabling fast prototyping, feasibility studies, and short- to mid-series production for customers across multiple industries.
What’s the news about new products/services?
D.B: Two recent milestones mark the company’s evolution:
- Fiber laser integration for DLIP: In response to market demand for higher speed and lower cost structuring, SurFunction has successfully integrated high-power fiber lasers into its DLIP systems. These new laser sources not only improve energy efficiency and uptime but also allow a broader range of materials to be processed faster and more economically. Especially in roll-to-roll applications and large-area texturing, this development represents a leap forward in scalability and cost-effectiveness.
- Acquisition of Surcoatec: In early 2025, SurFunction finalized the acquisition of Surcoatec GmbH, a long-standing partner and coating specialist. The move brings under one roof state-of-the-art surface pre- and post-treatment methods as well as vacuum coating expertise – including PVD and PECVD – that perfectly complement the physical micro structuring of DLIP. This synergy enables hybrid surface solutions with unmatched performance, combining structural and vacuum-based functionalities in one unified process.
Together, these advancements further solidify SurFunction’s role as a solution provider and enable sustainable industrial transformation.
What are the ranges of products/services?
D.B: SurFunction offers highly functionalized surfaces that can be applied to almost any material and improve properties in various areas, including electronics, medical technology, mechanical engineering or automotive, among others.
The surfaces developed by SurFunction and “programmed” for the respective applications are characterized by a variety of functions that are derived directly from the strategies of living nature: As with the shark skin model, DLIP can achieve a reduction in friction of 80% and wear of 99% in tribological systems, which enables lower energy losses and longer product and tool life. Such surface properties are not only interesting in the field of plain bearings but can also be used in electrical plug contacts. The coefficient of friction reduced by up to 40%, for example, enables a corresponding increase in the individual contact density in the automotive sector, while, depending on the application, a reduced electrical contact resistance and a significantly reduced susceptibility to triboelectric material fatigue through so-called fretting can also be achieved. The resulting increase in performance and reliability of electronic components and devices is causing a great stir in this industry.
With this background, SurFunction offers the possibility of direct inline integration of ELIPSYS® technology into series production for connectors and semi-finished materials since last year via the series production system called E 960 C1, developed in cooperation with SurFunction’s strategic partner Noxon Automation in Pforzheim, Germany.
Taking up the basic concept of the lotus, in other projects the interaction with liquids is specifically controlled towards better or reduced wetting, depending on the needs of the specific application. In addition to hygienic aspects or the reduction of ice and condensate accumulation, this also includes the targeted guidance of lubricants in tribological contacts, which prevents dry running and further optimizes hydrodynamic friction conditions. Based on DLIP technology, however, complementary coating processes can also be combined with physical surface functionalization and, thanks to the expanded ELIPSYS® technology platform, completely new applications can be opened and previously unattainable surface properties can be achieved.
For optical applications, SurFunction uses biomimetic surfaces to generate individual surface designs and anti-counterfeiting applications by creating diffraction effects based on the example of butterfly wings. Another use of the photonic surface effect also enables the solar absorption on photovoltaic materials to be increased by up to 35%. Other examples of the wide range of applications for the technology offered by SurFunction include hygienic surface concepts with a germicidal effect, which are being tested in current projects on the International Space Station (ISS), as well as improved biocompatibility and cell growth on implant surfaces.
Through the integration of DLIP with Surcoatec’s coating technologies, entirely new surface solutions are now possible – for example, ultra-hard wear-resistant coatings with embedded texture for controlled lubrication.
What is the state of the market where you are currently active?
D.B: SurFunction is active in diverse markets, each with their own growth trajectories and individual challenges. Automotive is going through a shift to electrification, aviation is seeking new solutions such as anti-icing, and the energy market is seeing a rise in solar installations with requirements for easy-to-clean properties. Additionally, components with new design requirements, whether for optical-based security applications or design-oriented products like white goods, have growing requirements to keep pace with the overall market. Biomedical products are becoming more customized and tailor-made for patients, too.
What can you tell us about market trends?
D.B: Related to the DLIP solutions for electronics, the demand for advanced connectors and assemblies is growing, due to the growth in the e-mobility market, among others. More complex products are being introduced which require new thinking. In the design space, customers are continuously searching for further means to differentiate their products, for example with unique colors or holograms. Combining design and function is also growing in importance due to the desire for new unique selling propositions. The advent of 3D printing is particularly changing the biomedical market, as implants and prototypes can be customized with new materials and produced very rapidly. However, these components bring with them their own challenges, as series-production starts in this space with lot size of 1. SurFunction’s technology is uniquely positioned to accommodate these customized demands.
What are the most innovative products/services marketed?
D.B: At the core of SurFunction’s innovation portfolio is ELIPSYS® – a strategic platform combining:
- DLIP structuring, including newly added fiber laser systems for higher throughput.
- High-performance coatings (PVD, PE-CVD, sol-gel, etc.)
- Advanced pre- and post-treatment technologies for the optimal preparation and finishing of components.
- Application-driven analytics, including friction, adhesion, wettability, and wear mapping.
This integrated approach allows SurFunction to tailor every solution to the specific need of the customer, whether that means developing a new superhydrophobic film, optimizing electrical connector performance, or reducing the wear of a metal forming tool.
Additionally, SurFunction’s ELIPSYS® platform is modular, meaning it can be integrated directly into customer factories or offered as a service from SurFunction’s own centers, enabling flexibility in deployment and scalability in production.
What estimations do you have for 2025?
D.B: SurFunction expects significant growth in 2025, fueled by:
- New system installations in high-growth sectors, particularly electrical connectors, energy, machine building, and design-intensive consumer goods.
- Continued validation of medical and space technologies, positioning SurFunction for expansion in innovative markets.
At the strategic level, SurFunction will continue investing in its ELIPSYS® platform as a foundational technology for sustainable industrial surfaces. In doing so, the company aims to serve not only as a supplier of functional textures, but as a strategic enabler of the green transformation across sectors.