Hueck Folien – specialists in applied security features and threads for banknotes – has successfully commissioned a new high-vacuum vapour deposition facility at its headquarters in Baumgartenberg, Austria. The €8.6 million investment, announced in September 2024, includes both a new metallisation system and associated infrastructure upgrades, and marks a major advance in the company’s production of high-performance coatings for the security sector.
The facility, which is now operational, features a 2 metre wide roll-to-roll metallisation line capable of depositing ultra-thin metal layers with remarkable precision. The system achieves a coating uniformity of ±2 nanometres – approximately 20 atomic layers – at production speeds of 1,000m per minute, controlled entirely through automated in-line quality inspection. This performance represents a substantial leap in throughput and control compared with the system it replaces.
The project involved the conversion of existing warehouse space into a 400m² production hall and the construction of a new logistics unit to support efficient integration with Hueck Folien’s current operations. The proximity to the company’s existing metallisation area enables optimal energy and materials logistics.
The new vapour deposition system consumes 25% less energy than the older system it replaces. It also increases the degree of automation in both the coating and logistics processes. In line with Hueck Folien’s environmental targets, only recycled aluminium – processed within a closed-loop internal recycling system – is used for metallisation. This practice, in place for over a year, yields a CO₂ reduction of approximately 85% compared with virgin aluminium inputs.
The company’s newly-appointed CEO, Christoph Steger, described the project as a reaffirmation of Hueck Folien’s ‘technological leadership in the global market’ and ‘a clear commitment to developing sustainable, forward-looking solutions’. The plant allows for advanced surface structuring to support next-generation smart features in security devices and documents.
The company, which has operated for over 55 years, exports the majority of its production globally. Its materials are used in optical security elements for banknotes, tamper-evident labels, technical tapes, and decorative coatings.
