Fraunhofer institute develops industrial production system for precision optical coatings
The Fraunhofer Institute for Structural Durability and System Reliability LBF has developed the EOSS® system for industrial-scale production of precision optical coatings. The technology has received the Joseph-von-Fraunhofer Prize.
Researchers at the Fraunhofer Institute for Structural Durability and System Reliability LBF in Braunschweig have developed a novel production system for precision optical coatings, named EOSS® (Enhanced Optical Sputtering System), which has already been implemented in industrial applications. The team's work earned them the 2026 Joseph-von-Fraunhofer Prize.
The EOSS® system addresses the high demands for uniformity, process stability, and productivity in manufacturing complex optical layers. According to Dr. Michael Vergöhl, Stefan Bruns, and Dr. Philipp Farr, the system enables scalable, efficient, and flexible industrial production of high-precision optical coatings.
Key innovations include rotatable double-tube cathodes and new mixed targets (metal and metal oxide), facilitating a reactive gas-free and highly stable coating process. A significant advancement is the capability for simultaneous double-sided coating, which doubles productivity and allows for the coating of very thin substrates with exceptional uniformity.
Accompanying the hardware is the MOCCA+® software, which provides real-time monitoring and control of the coating process, ensuring quality and optimizing efficiency. The technology has broad applications in fields such as autonomous driving, medical technology, telecommunications, and aerospace.
The Fraunhofer LBF states that the EOSS® platform is technologically leading and offers flexibility for new design requirements, positioning it as a significant development in the optics industry.