As manufacturers worldwide prepare for tightening restrictions on hexavalent chromium, PFAS/PFOS "forever chemicals," and lead-based finishing systems, advanced materials company Maxterial has opened a 14,000-square-foot production and applications facility in Brown City, Michigan to accelerate industrial deployment of next-generation coating technologies. The Brown City Innovation Center spans two buildings totaling approximately 14,000 square feet and integrates coating operations, laboratory testing, quality control, engineering, and short-run production. The co-located facility enables rapid iteration between production, validation, and customer qualification, positioning the company to support adoption across steel, hydraulics, heavy equipment, aerospace, and defense supply chains.
Hexavalent chromium — the carcinogenic compound widely known from the film Erin Brockovich — remains embedded in an estimated $10 billion global metal-finishing market. 2027-2030 is seen as a critical timeline that can result in major limitations and bans on chromium by the U.S. and European governments. "This facility reflects industrial readiness, not experimentation," said Dr. Mehdi Kargar, CEO and co-founder of Maxterial. "Manufacturers are facing increasing regulatory scrutiny, rising liability exposure, and inefficient legacy processes. Our technology delivers measurable economic value while eliminating hazardous materials."
Unlike traditional chrome plating systems, Maxterial's patented process operates without hexavalent chromium, PFAS/PFOS, or lead, runs approximately twice as fast as conventional systems, achieves up to four times greater manufacturing efficiency, reduces environmental and worker-safety exposure, improves wear resistance and lifecycle durability, and often lowers total cost of ownership. The company operates a high-margin, license-driven business model supported by signed agreements, active customers, and 13 global partnerships spanning commercial and defense markets. Initial operations in Brown City will focus on components where legacy chrome coatings create regulatory risk, extended lead times, and escalating operating costs.
"Our value proposition stands on economics and performance," Dr. Kargar added. "When manufacturers see faster throughput, lower downtime, and improved durability, adoption becomes a business decision — not just a compliance response." Maxterial's platform is supported by seven granted patents and more than 50 pending applications globally, forming a defensible intellectual property position across key industrial applications. The company's long-term roadmap includes AI-enabled process optimization and automation pathways designed to further enhance efficiency, consistency, and scalable deployment.
The company is using early-stage funds backed by globally known investors such as Peter Thiel and Pierre Omidyar as well as large corporations including Saint-Gobain, Qemetica and Anglo American. This investor consortium reflects advanced materials expertise, climate-transition capital, and global operating experience across commercial and defense markets. The Brown City site represents the first phase of a broader Midwest manufacturing footprint designed to regionalize production capacity and support accelerating global demand for chrome-replacement technologies. The investment aligns with broader reshoring trends as manufacturers seek domestic supply chain resilience tied to defense modernization and industrial sustainability priorities.
"Industry is at an inflection point," said Dr. Kargar. "The transition away from hazardous legacy materials is no longer theoretical. It is operational — and the companies that move early will capture both economic and competitive advantage." More information about the company's technology and approach is available at https://www.maxterial.com.
