Stoesselconsulting



Excellence in Thin Film Process and Materials Engineering
& Innovation Management



Practice Areas



StoesselConsulting advises partners on solutions in the thin film coating, materials science and interface engineering field. We can support development of technical solutions for a broad range of applications, and provide business solutions in those fields for innovation management and "lab-to-fab" scale-up projects.



"Coatings on Polymers"



Vacuum deposition of thin films on polymer substrates is a core competency. We have worked primarily with PVD, PECVD, some ALD as well as atmospheric and wet coating processes for a range of challenging applications. We worked with rigid (injection-molded) as well as flexible film polymer materials in batch or roll-to-roll coater configurations, and maintain a robust network of solution providers in this field..



Flexible Hybrid Electronics



The emerging field for Flexible Hybrid Electronics (FHE) requires coating, surface and interface engineering solutions we can help resolve. We have a solid understanding of design methodologies and material sets used in this field, and can support engagements that require material selection & engineering, process compatibility know-how, or strategic connections to FHE ecosystem partners particularly in the U.S..



Functional Coating Systems



Functional coatings are ubiquitous in the modern world, and we have developed solutions for optical, tribological, decorative and electronic applications for various markets. Complex multi-layer coating systems consisting of rich material sets require thorough scientific knowledge of materials, surface and interface engineering that we can provide to ensure successful product development.



"External Innovation"



Innovation increasingly is sourced externally from academic, venture-funded or technology transfer entities. We have experience is selecting the right scouting platform for lead generation, vetting prospects, creating leadership buy-in, leading negotiatiions towards engagement, and successfully managing a partnership to ensure a positive conversion rate of your innovation pipeline.



R&D and Scale-Up Management



We have led many internal R&D programs in diverse environments. Academic, start-up and big corporate contexts each present their specific challenges and opportunities, and we have experience in navigating them. Developing a strategy and buy-in for an innovation path from inception to full scale-up can be daunting, and engaging an experienced leader is crucial to convert your innovation investment into a commercial success.



U.S.-German Innovation Localization



International innovation collaborations benefit from a good understanding of cultural and regional sensitivities to be successful. Our bi-cultural U.S./German background has reduced friction and ensured mutual buy-in and engagement across managerial levels for several complex trans-atlantic innovation transfer projects. We have also delivered regional language localization or IP interpretation projects.



Markets & Applications



Specific applications and markets have their particular expectations of performance and business context. We have in-depth expertise in the markets listed below, and thus can provide you more effectively with realistic solutions for your productization effort. Equally important is thorough knowledge of the value chain partners that serve the respective ecosystems - it helps to not only properly assess competitive stance of your innovative concept but also to select appropriate partners for your successful product launch.



Solar control and thermal management



Heat-rejecting coatings help extend the range of electric vehicles, and thermal managment coatings in architectural glazing help achieve carbon reduction goals. We understand these markets well and have extensive product development and integration experience to support your productization initiative.



Energy conversion and dynamic glazing



Active thin film coatings for photovoltaics and dynamic glazing are important contributions to reduce green house gas emissions, but are notoriously complex. We know the common pitfalls, and have a thorough understanding of the dynamic glazing landscape to help assess how your new development meets application needs and differentiates itself from competing technologies.



flexible hybrid electronics (fhe)



FHE are an emerging ecosystem that enables new paradigms in electronics and IoT devices. We are connected to NextFlexTM, the private/ public partnership that nurtures the FHE ecosystem in the U.S. When it comes to evaluate the right place to engage in this exciting new industry or connect with the right value chain partners to realize your innovative contribution in this space, we can help open doors and advise on opportunities and strategy.



Tribology and wear protection



Scratch-resistant coatings have a long history in the vacuum deposition industry. Additional functionalities such as fingerprint resistance or aesthetic functions such as reflected and transmitted color management quickly create a complex appplication environment that demands thorough knowledge of materials options and coating methods. We are connected to a broad field of material providers and toll coaters, and providing solutions on polymer substrates is a particular expertise we offer.



spectral filters and optical stack design



For spectral management in the visible/near-infrared region, we have thorough knowledge of coating stack design concepts, material options, coating process choices, and coating platforms. Our expert network can help you select a suitable equipment manufacturer or toll coater to meet your productization needs. Coating stacks on polymer substrates - whether on injection-molded optical elements or flexible polymer films - are a particular expertise area.



coating equipment and metrology



Designing and fabricating bespoke capital equipment components for thin film coatings is the core competency of SputterTek LLC, so we have a direct link to engineer the equipment needed to implement your specific coating process. We advise on suitable metrology and instrumentation options, and maintain a robust network of machine builders and equipment providers to help establish your own coating and quality control capability



past project examples



Many of our engagements are IP-sensitive and are covered by confidentiality agreements, but here are a few reference projects from past experience we can share to describe the breadth of our technical and business scope:



  • Intuitive Surgical: Validated tribologically robust solutions for endoscopic robotic medical device.

  • European Investment Bank: Delivered due-diligence study for investor in South Africa photovoltaics startup.

  • DuPont Displays: Developed robust OLED display encapsulation solution.

  • SRI-BI: Authored reports for market research and technology strategy consulting.

  • Solmetric LLC: German localization of a photovoltaic / solar panel installation metrology solution.

  • Younger Optics: German language support for an intellectual property dispute.

  • Mu-Gahat: Process and material set optimization for an RFID application.


About us





StoesselConsulting is the Process Consulting Group of SputterTek LLC.


Chris Stoessel is an accomplished professional in the advanced materials, thin films & surface engineering arena. Professional services in a range of expert areas are available through consulting, contract or full-time employment to support your product development and the establishment of new business relationships.


SputterTek LLC provides critical equipment engineering and mechanical design capabilities that can effectively support the practical implementation of many engineering solutions we develop. Custom design of magnetrons for challenging sputter deposition and surface engineering scenarios is a specific focus area of SputterTek LLC,



Meet the Team



Partners and Associates



Dr. Chris Stoessel



Principal Stoesselconsulting and partner, sputtertek.llc



Chris is a partner of SputterTek LLC, and has dedicated his career to advancing thin film coatings processes, interface engineering, and materials science. Chris held staff positions at Optical Coating Labs (OCLI, now Viavi Solutions), Southwall Technologies, and Eastman Chemical Co., as well as Silicon Valley start-ups, and has served in various business and engineering consulting roles for a broad range of clients. He is a co-inventor on numerous patents, has authored book articles and scientific publications, and frequently gives invited talks at technical conferences.


Chris holds a Doctorate degree in Mechanical Engineering / Materials Science from RWTH University of Aachen (Germany), and completed Postdoctoral Studies at UCLA. He is a NextFlex Fellow, and has served as the President of the Society of Vacuum Coaters (SVC).


cstoessel [@] stoesselconsulting.net

Liz Wescott



Co-founder and partner, SputterTek LLC



Liz co-founded SputterTek LLC with the goal of solving some of the most difficult challenges in commercial magnetron sputter processes. She designs and manufactures bespoke magnetrons for demanding and proprietary process conditions that standard off-the-shelf equipment won't address. She has delivered successful solutions for both Roll-to-Roll and batch process environments. SputterTek's engineering capabilities may be able to complement process engineering solutions identified through our process consulting services.


liz [@] sputtertek.com

We're here to serve you



StoesselConsulting, a group of SputterTek LLC


P.O. Box 1186, Bodega Bay, CA 94923

U.S.A.



Email:cstoessel [@] stoesselconsulting.net
Phone: +1-707-888-2765

Copyright StoesselConsulting / SputterTek LLC 2024



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