Innovative surface treatments for implants and instruments

Steiger Galvanotechnique SA, a Swiss company belonging to the Horatec Group, is a leader in metal surface treatment, offering innovative processes and services that are tailored to the needs of both the watchmaking and medtech industries.

Steiger Galvanotechnique, which holds ISO 9001:2015, ISO 13485:2016 and EN 9100:2016 certifications, provides a full range of services, including not only surface treatment but also the subsequent steps of laser marking, final cleaning in biologically controlled water, packaging in an ISO 7 cleanroom, labelling and sterilisation.

It applies surface treatments approved for the medical sector, including for titanium and stainless-steel implants.

Titanium can be anodised using three different processes:

  • colour anodisation (Biocoat);
  • alkaline anodisation (Biodize);
  • plasma electrolytic oxidation (Biocer).

The Biocer process is used in particular for dental implants, for which Steiger Galvanotechnique also offers SLA functionalisation.

The company has expertise in other surface treatments for titanium and stainless steel such as electropolishing (Biobright) and passivation.

It can also produce an Ni–PTFE anti-galling coating for use on external stainless steel fasteners.

In addition, Steiger Galvanotechnique can anodise aluminium instruments and device components, providing colour anodisation and hard anodisation as well as Ematal, which is particularly well suited to applications involving contact with blood.

Spectracoat: a radiopaque coating for implants

Based in Châtel-St-Denis in the Swiss canton of Fribourg, Steiger Galvanotechnique also provides transport services to simplify logistical and customs formalities for customers near the border with Switzerland.

What sets the company apart is its ability to innovate in the development of new bio-active and bio-functionalised surface treatments for implants.

For example, its Spectracoat coloured and wear-resistant coating, which can be applied to titanium, stainless steel and copper alloys as well as ceramics and plastics, is suitable for contact with the skin and is bio-compatible, implantable and radiopaque.

Femto laser marking

The company recently invested in femto laser technology, enabling it to produce black markings that are completely resistant to passivation and sterilisation, thus resolving the corrosion problems commonly associated with nanosecond lasers.

Another benefit of the femto laser is its high execution speed, which significantly reduces cycle time. The femto laser can also be used for producing ‘sandblasted’ textures and satin finishes, for micromachining, for making black markings on aluminium and for marking inside rings or bands.

Last but not least, Steiger Galvanotechnique is an expert in UV LIGA microelectroforming, enabling the production of miniature components or the creation of surface microstructuring.

You can find Steiger Galvanotechnique SA at stand J89 at EPHJ 2026.

https://steiger-galvanotechnique.ch/ (in French)