We are used to using “skin-deep” as a pejorative—not so in advanced manufacturing. Physical Vapor Deposition (PVD) is a kind of thin-film coating in which a material is vaporized, transported through a vacuum and deposited onto the surface of an object in order to fundamentally change the properties of that surface. The desired end result can be to make the object’s surface stronger, reflective, absorbent, harder, more conductive, abrasion-resistant, etc. Applications range over various industries including electronics, data storage, packaging, surgical tools, solar power, optics and eyewear and many more. The need for smaller and multifunctional materials and products coupled with consistent technological innovations in vacuum science has enabled vast PVD applications, leading to the development of more sophisticated manufacturing and fabrication techniques. PVD technology has gained considerable prominence during the past several decades. The total global market for PVD equipment, materials and services was worth approximately $25.5 billion in 2020. The market is forecast to reach $30.2 billion in 2025, growing at a CAGR of 3.4% between 2020 and 2025.
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