Why slot-die coating matters in defence
Versatile applications
Perfect for stealth coatings, rugged sensors, protective optics, and printed electronics
Rugged durability
Ensures strong adhesion on metals and composites, built to withstand harsh environments
Precise and clean
An enclosed system that delivers uniform thickness with zero material waste
Secure and repeatable
Recipe-locked runs and automatic logs protect your process and make validation easy
Built to scale
A seamless path to move from lab-scale samples to pilot-ready production rolls
Typical coating challenges
Developing advanced materials for defense applications involves overcoming strict performance and security constraints
Harsh environment durability
Defence systems must withstand extreme conditions, requiring durable films that maintain high performance and perfect adhesion
Military-grade reproducibility
Qualification depends on consistency; every batch must be identical across all research sites to ensure reliability in the field
Sensitive chemical stability
Advanced defence materials are often reactive, making it critical to keep formulations stable during the process for safety and quality
Bonding to complex materials
Thin films often struggle to stick to metals or composites, making high-quality adhesion vital to prevent peeling and defects
Traceability and mission security
Protecting process know-how with verifiable records and secure data logs is a core requirement for defence research security
Speed and versatility
Quickly adapting to specialized inks and complex geometries is essential for accelerating critical development and testing cycles
Advantages of slot-die coating in defense
Developing advanced materials for defense applications involves overcoming strict performance and security constraints
Uniform layers for extreme durability
Slot-die coating applies perfectly even films that eliminate thin spots where failure might occur. This ensures that protective layers remain reliable even under the most extreme field conditions.
Stronger bonds on rugged materials
High-precision gap control ensures that coatings stick firmly to tough surfaces like metals and composites. This prevents peeling or delamination on critical components such as airframe panels or flexible electronics.
Stability for sensitive chemistries
An enclosed, pre-metered process protects reactive formulations from air and contaminants. This keeps delicate materials stable throughout the process and reduces safety risks during production.
Automatic records for mission security
Every run is digitally logged to protect sensitive process data and intellectual property. This generates a secure, verifiable history of the work, making military qualification faster and more reliable.
Identical results across every batch
Recipe-locked parameters ensure that every coating run is a perfect match. This allows for consistent performance that can be easily reproduced across multiple research sites.
Seamless scaling to pilot production
The technology allows a smooth transition from small lab samples to continuous pilot rolls without changing the core “recipe”. This makes it possible to increase production speed and width while maintaining proven quality.
What layers to coat with slot-die
Modern defense systems rely on advanced thin films for signal protection, sensing, and long-term durability in the field. To be effective, these coatings must be perfectly uniform and stick to rugged materials like metals and composites.
Stealth / radar-absorbing (airframe panels)
Printed electronics (rugged panels)
Flexible sensors & detectors (rugged electronics)
UV / IR (protective optics & wearables)
Get the application insights
Download extra materials (requires entering contact information)
Brochure
Body text for whatever you’d like to say. Add main takeaway points.
Specifications
Body text for whatever you’d like to say. Add main takeaway points.
Find the right platform
Your material format and process goals define the right setup. Use sheet machines for precise, small-scale development or roll-to-roll systems for longer runs and scalable processes.
Roll-to-roll machines
Continuous coating for scalable processing
Sheet machines
Precise coating for testing and development
Software that accelerates learning
See how defence partners use FOM’s precision coating technology to develop high-performance materials for sensors, protection systems, and next-gen electronics –ensuring reliability under extreme conditions.
