A brilliant achievement.

25 years of Silcos:
a story of courage, precision and pioneering spirit. What began in 2001 in a rented hall is now an internationally sought-after specialist in the finishing of silicone, plastic and metal surfaces. With innovative strength, depth of expertise and a true passion for technology, we create surfaces that set new standards.

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Innovation begins where curiosity meets experience: For 25 years, we have been advancing technologies, creating new possibilities in surface finishing and proving that quality made in Germany can shine around the world.

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It was the year after the turn of the millennium. The world was glad that it was still intact. All the computers had made the transition to the new millennium without a hitch – no crashes, blackouts or other glitches. In short, Everything was pretty much the same as always – but not for us.

In the quiet village of Pliezhausen, we rented a warehouse and took the plunge into independence. Specialising in the painting and laser marking of silicone, we revolutionised the steering wheel controls for Mercedes-Benz back then. And before long, our start-up was taking off like a rocket.

What began in 2001 with courage and a spirit of invention has become a true shining achievement: 25 years of innovation, quality and surface finishing made in Germany.

The milestones at a glance.

Tinkering. Researching. Relocation. Patents. Certificates. Quality management. New warehouse. First PVD system. Environmental management. First injection moulding machine. High-gloss finishes. 3D effect. Energy management. Expansion into China. Technology in series production. Digital printing on silicone. A larger warehouse. Test room. Clean room. Yay! Heat recovery. PVD colour explosion. World-class.

And in between, there was always gratitude, humility, applause and a pat on the back. Although our business revolves entirely around the finishing of silicone, plastic and, more recently, metal surfaces, we have never been superficial. On the contrary – we get to the bottom of things and firmly believe that innovation and new solutions stem from in-depth knowledge.

Hard to believe!

Our proprietary, patented pre-treatment process for silicone coating has, to date, not been successfully replicated by any other company. 25 years on, we are still the only provider in the whole of Europe. This innovative technology enables silicone moulded parts to be printed on or painted. In other words: finished to a high standard with paints and varnishes of brilliant quality.

No wonder that businesses across all sectors rely on our expertise and innovative spirit. Whether in the automotive, consumer goods, life sciences or aerospace sectors – we delight our customers around the world with comprehensive, one-stop solutions. And we’ve kept that spirit of tinkering alive to this day.

We really need to pinch ourselves

Today, Silcos operates – in addition to its headquarters in Reutlingen – a manufacturing plant in China, as well as sales and manufacturing partnerships across Europe, North America, Asia and Africa. The team in Swabia has 120 employees, while the team in China has 38. We could never have imagined this success story back when we were just starting out.

That’s why, on the occasion of our 25th anniversary, we’re taking a moment to give ourselves a quick but proud pat on the back. We are grateful for all the ups and downs and are delighted that we are still able to produce profitably in a country with high manufacturing costs. Silcos stands for innovation and quality made in Germany.

The course for the future?

That’s easy. Developing our own technologies further, entering new market segments and strengthening our position as an innovation leader. But in 2026, we’ll be celebrating – together with our staff, partners, friends, colleagues and the whole of Reutlingen.

Silcos, 7 june 2026