Sulzer HICoat celebrates 25th anniversary

Specialized coatings supplier continues to deliver cutting-edge solutions for rotating equipment

The Sulzer HICoat® brand is celebrating 25 years of delivering cutting-edge coatings for a wide variety of industrial applications. Over the years, the in-house expertise has developed more advanced protective coatings that provide increased durability and efficiency for a wide range of rotating equipment.

Originally acquired by Sulzer 35 years ago, Hickam Industries was a company mainly focused in process equipment repair and later developed an expertise in gas turbine repair and airfoil manufacture, as well as specialized coatings. This expert knowledge began developing in 1996 when the HICoat brand was established. Since then, it has grown to become one of the world’s leading coating specialists.

Today, the range of coatings covers most industrial sectors and is used across a wider variety of rotating equipment. From early beginnings, the emphasis was on steam turbines, pumps and compressors, which have benefitted from anti-fouling, corrosion protection, and erosion protection coatings.

As the technology progressed, research moved to encompass gas turbines, which rely on thermal barrier coatings (TBC) and abradable coatings to achieve their high-performance figures. Operating at temperatures that would melt the components’ base materials, a gas turbine’s continued efficiency depends on precision manufacturing and expert application of coatings during any repairs.

One of the most recent developments from HICoat is laser metal deposition (LMD), which offers several advantages for the repair of rotating equipment. The lower heat input, compared to conventional weld repairs, produces an excellent metallurgical bond while minimizing material stress. Additional benefits include reduced maintenance project times and a solution that avoids complete component replacement when a conventional weld repair is not an option.

Sulzer HICoat has been a leading coating provider in the industry and has proven to be a valuable addition to the Sulzer repair portfolio. As the rotating equipment industries continue rapidly evolving, Sulzer and Sulzer HICoat will remain one step ahead for the next 25 years and beyond.

HICoat is a registered trademark of Sulzer.

About Sulzer

Sulzer is a global leader in fluid engineering. We specialize in pumping, agitation, mixing, separation and application technologies for fluids of all types. Our customers benefit from our commitment to innovation, performance and quality and from our responsive network of 180 world-class production facilities and service centers across the globe. Sulzer has been headquartered in Winterthur, Switzerland, since 1834. In 2021, our 13’800 employees delivered revenues of CHF 3.2 billion. Our shares are traded on the SIX Swiss Exchange (SIX: SUN). www.sulzer.comThe Flow Equipment division specializes in pumping solutions specifically engineered for the processes of our customers. We provide pumps, agitators, compressors, grinders, screens and filters developed through intensive research and development in fluid dynamics and advanced materials. We are a market leader in pumping solutions for water, oil and gas, power, chemicals and most industrial segments. www.sulzer.comThrough a network of over 100 service sites around the world, Sulzer provides cutting-edge parts as well as maintenance and repair solutions for pumps, turbines, compressors, motors and generators. We service our own original equipment, but also all associated third-party rotating equipment run by our customers, maximizing its sustainability and life cycle cost-effectiveness. Our technology-based solutions, fast execution and expertise in complex maintenance projects are available at our customers’ doorsteps.www.sulzer.com