Specialized PVD coatings can increase surface hardness and durability of precision components such as bearings, gears, and rollers to significantly increase lifespan under high-load conditions.

The search for a suitable replacement to hard chrome on aerospace components has been a key supply chain priority for aircraft manufacturers. This is because of the documented health risks to workers and the impact on the environment from exposure to hexavalent chromium, a carcinogen that occurs during the chrome plating process and the most toxic form of chromium.