Milestones

1957
Theo Keel founds Hartchrom AG Steinach (CH)

1978
Construction of Plant 2, Steinach (CH)

1985
Acquisition of Plant 3, Steinach (CH)

1987
Installation of own laboratory

1990
Development of STI AlpineCoat® structural chrome plating through pulse plating

1991
Commissioning of Plant 4, Steinach (CH)

1992
Development of STI Low AdhesionCoat® Cr-PTFE

1993
Development of local chrome plating as a repair method (STI Mobile Service)

1994
Development of STI ResistCoat Hydro® (Hydrochrom)
Development of STI ProtectCoat Disp® (Ni-SiC Dispersion Coating)
Development of chrome plating for CFK and GFK base materials

1996
Dr. Edgar Oehler becomes Managing Director
Hartchrom AG Steinach become ISO 9001 certified

1998
Acquisition of the company by Dr. Edgar Oehler

1999
Founding of Hartchrom Inc., Albany NY (USA)
Acquisition of Hartchrom Walter Frohme GmbH and acquisition of WAGA Walzen and Galvanotechnik GmbH, Kreuztal (DE)
Founding of Hartchrom Defense Technology, Steinach (CH)
Hartchrom AG Steinach becomes ISO 14001 certified

2000
Foundation of STI Surface Technologies International Holding AG, Steinach (CH)
Integration of Hatchrom AG as subsidiary of STI
Founding of Hartchrom Teikuro Automotive AG, Steinach (CH)
Acquisition of Hydrométal SA, Arudy (FR)
Acquisition of Chromage Pyrénéen SA, Oloron-Escout (FR)
Acquisition of Hartchrom Aeronautics France SA (FR)
Inauguration of the extended office building in Steinach (CH)

2001
Founding of Hartchrom Teikuro Automotive GmbH, Kreuztal (DE)
Acquisition of Cromotec Oberflächentechnik GmbH, Leinfelden-Echterdingen (DE)Development of STI ResistCoat® with Wear Indicator

2002
Opening of the Technology Centre, Steinach (CH)
Development of STI Nanochrom®
Development of STI ProtectCoat High Temperature®: High temperature resistant coat

2003
Development of a continuous chrome plating facility for coating stainless steel rods

2003
Development of STI ResistCoat Self Lubrication®

2004
Acquisition of Hartchrom Schoch GmbH and Schoch Hartchrom Vertrieb GmbH, Stuttgart (DE)
Development of Ion Liquid Plating, chrome plating at room temperature with liquid molten salt
Development of electrolytic nickel-chrome alloy separation
Development of STI ProtectCoat Laser®: Laser-structurable coat

2006
Opening of the STI Surface Centre in Sternenfels-Diefenbach (DE)
Development of a reduction syringe for casting materials

2007
Integration of STI Surface Technologies International Holding AG in AFG Arbonia-Forster-Holding AG, Arbon (CH)
50th Company Anniversary
Introduction of the thermal spray technology in Steinach (CH)
Development of a chrome plating process for welded casting (can be universally applied to virtually all welding materials)
Development of STI Nanochrom® Multifunction (Self Lubricant, Super Resist, etc.)

2008
Operating approval for the production base in Changshu
Founding of STI Precision Machining (Changshu) Co. Ltd.
Commissioning of the STI Westside Centre, Steinach (CH)
Hartchrom Schoch GmbH becomes ISO 9001 certified

2009
Hartchrom Schoch GmbH becomes ISO 14001 certified
Hartchrom Teikuro Automotive GmbH becomes ISO 14001 certified
Substantial modernization of the Research & Development laboratory 

2010
Certification of thermal spray technology in accordance with the guidelines of the Association of Thermal Spraying

2010
Certification of the processes of the Marine Division according to the Germanischer Lloyd (GL)