BENSELER sets standards in coating beyond the automotive industry

Markgröningen, November 24, 2025. 

BENSELER coats plastic parts for cabinet lock manufacturer BURG and exclusive speed pedelec pioneer Stromer using two different processes: While the high-quality PVD process is used for BURG, BENSELER uses a precisely coordinated wet paint coating for Stromer. Both applications are prime examples of how expertise from the automotive industry can be transferred across industries – to sophisticated components with high design standards.

PVD (Physical Vapor Deposition) is a vacuum-based coating process in which the starting material is converted into the gas phase using physical processes and then deposited on the component in thin layers between 3 and 350 nm. The technology is suitable for plastics as well as glass, aluminum, and metallic components and is mainly used in the automotive industry as a substitute for electroplating. However, the surface specialists at BENSELER also use the process specifically for exclusive design elements – for example, for high-quality office furniture or control elements with additional functions.

Color fidelity and robustness for speed pedelecs
BENSELER carries out the wet painting of the side battery box flap for the Swiss speed pedelec manufacturer Stromer. This flap is a key design element in high-quality S-pedelecs, but it must be particularly robust, as stone chips, dirt, and splashing water are inevitable. At the same time, its color must match that of the frame exactly – across the entire color palette of the exclusive S-pedelec editions. In order to meet these high design and functionality requirements, the polyamide (PA) flap undergoes a demanding pretreatment and coating process at BENSELER, as well as a multi-layer wet paint finish. The color fidelity of all parts is checked against an original sample using an optical light measuring device from . With this solution, BENSELER contributes to the aesthetics of the S-pedelecs while maintaining the highest quality standards.

Knauf cabinet lock with Bluetooth technology
Another example of the versatile use of PVD coatings are the Knauf cabinet locks from BURG for the designer furniture manufacturer USM with integrated Bluetooth chip and light signal. A green or red light ring signals to the user whether the lock is locked or open. The PVD coating not only ensures an attractive chrome look in a high-quality office furniture collection, but is also crucial for the functionality of the lock: in addition to the transparency of the coating for the built-in light signal, its permeability for the Bluetooth wave spectrum is also required. In addition, it should ensure a high-quality appearance in two color variants, be resistant to hand perspiration and skin creams, and be reliably protected against scratches and abrasion. To achieve this, the polycarbonate (PC) components are first subjected to a complex pretreatment process. This is followed by priming with wet paint using a spray process and the application of chrome colors as a PVD coating. The light ring is then milled out by removing the PVD coating, which provides the necessary transparency for the light signal. Only then is a scratch-resistant clear coat applied as a finishing touch. The combination of these processes results in high durability and a very high-quality appearance. Here, too, absolute color consistency is a top priority, as the cabinet system itself has metal components that the locks must match. BENSELER ensures the desired Bluetooth functionality not least thanks to its expertise in the demanding automotive industry, where PVD coating is a popular process for radar and lidar applications.

About BENSELER
BENSELER is a competent service provider and partner for technically sophisticated solutions in the fields of coating, surface finishing, deburring, and electrochemical metalworking of series parts. The BENSELER Group, based in Markgröningen near Stuttgart ( ), consists of two business divisions: Coatings and Deburring. In 2018, the company also entered the field of additive manufacturing in the metal sector.

The company is constantly developing its core processes, supplementing them with upstream and downstream processes and maintaining system partnerships with its customers. BENSELER therefore understands the needs of the market and can offer solutions with added value. Several locations in Germany, the new subsidiary in Poland and holdings in Switzerland and Czechia ensure proximity to customers.

The BENSELER Group achieved a turnover of around 135 million euros in the 2024 financial year. It currently employs around 980 people, including 30 trainees. Sustainability and social commitment, alongside technical expertise, have shaped the actions of this family-owned company for more than 60 years.