Surface Science
Innovation
History
Dr.-Ing. Max Schlötter GmbH & Co. KG is a leading German company in the field of electroplating and surface technologies with over 110 years of experience in developing innovative products, processes and solutions for the surface finishing industry.
Founded in 1912 by Max Schlötter, a chemist and pioneer in the field of metal surfaces, the company is based in Geislingen/Steige (Germany) and is now run by the fourth generation of the family.
What we are doing
Schlötter specialises in the development of electroplating electrolytes and chemicals with a strong focus on innovation in two sectors, GMF – General Metal Finishing and ELECTRONICS.
Research and development have always been a strategic pillar of the company as evidenced by its history and constant focus on innovation. At the Geislingen site, around 25% of the workforce is dedicated to R&D activities.
Schlötter Global
The range comprises around 1,000 chemical products for functional and decorative electroplating applications, including corrosion protection, plastic metallisation, electronics and printed circuit boards. Around 95% of the products are developed in-house.
With subsidiaries and partnerships in Europe and Asia with presence in over 30 countries, the Schlötter Group employs around 330 people worldwide and generates around 40% of its chemical sales through exports.
World First. Future Ready.
Schlötter’s APEXCHROME® technology is the world’s first industrial trivalent hard chrome plating solution, providing a sustainable alternative to traditional hexavalent hard chrome plating processes. Delivering exceptional wear resistance, durability, and coating performance, APEXCHROME® is nickel-free, PFAS-free, PFOS-free, and boric acid free. Developed for demanding industrial applications, this innovative technology supports environmental protection, workplace safety, and REACH compliance while helping shape the future of industrial surface finishing.
As Schlötter’s Australian and New Zealand partner, Leading Electroplating Systems is proud to bring this breakthrough technology to local surface finishing manufacturers. Together, we are helping businesses achieve world-class finishes through innovative electroplating and anodising technologies that improve productivity, reduce environmental impact, and create a more sustainable future for generations to come.
To learn more about trivalent hard chrome plating, sustainable hard chrome alternatives, and APEXCHROME® technology in Australia and New Zealand, contact Leading Electroplating Systems today.
Production Capacity
With multiple locations across the world, we deliver required capacity of products and services to our clients
- 600 – 800 tons/month Ready to sell Products
- 2 – 3 months Stock in raw materials
- 800 Rack and Barrel systems realized as complete solutions
R&D Roadmap
- Hydrogen materials
- New materials and 5G/6G technology
- Metallisation of plastics and special glass
- CO2 reduction – footprint
- Closing material cycles
- Plug connectors
Sustainability
As a chemical company, we recognise our responsibility to the environment, and our goal is to become carbon neutral by 2030. To get there, we measure our carbon footprint across Scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions, work to reduce it wherever we can, and offset what remains.
Across every site in the Schlötter Group, we’re taking concrete steps to cut our CO₂ emissions — installing solar panels and geothermal heat pumps, electrifying our company fleet, and switching from natural gas to green electricity.
A dedicated climate team works across all our sites, continuously identifying new ways to improve our carbon footprint and shape our climate strategy. That same expertise drives the way we develop our products and services, helping our customers move towards climate neutrality alongside us.
Contact our Local Team
Contact Us
We are a family-run innovative chemical and electroplating business with over 110 years of experience in products, processes and solutions for surface finishing.