ZIKIN ADVANCED ENGINEERING SOLUTIONS (ZAES)
Surface Engineering Advanced Manufacturing Industrial Impact
Industrialization of advanced technologies
Laser / DED / Surface Engineering
Strategy, advisory & execution
Technology is easy. Making it work is not.
I turn advanced engineering into scalable, production-ready solutions.
Expertise
I support companies in transforming complex technologies into stable, scalable and economically viable industrial solutions.
Core competences
Laser Cladding & Surface Engineering
Supporting customers from technology selection to industrial implementation. Expertise covers process development, material selection, equipment evaluation, qualification, and operator training.
Services include:
Conventional Laser Cladding
Extreme High-Speed Laser Material Deposition (EHLA)
Internal Diameter (ID) Cladding
Laser Hardening
Laser Surface Engineering
Process Development and Optimization
Equipment Selection and Specification
Project Management and Technical Consulting
Training, Qualification and Knowledge Transfer
Additive Manufacturing & Directed Energy Deposition (DED)
Expertise in both powder-fed and wire-fed Directed Energy Deposition (DED) technologies, supporting customers from feasibility studies and prototyping through process qualification and full industrial deployment.
Services include:
Powder-Based Directed Energy Deposition (DED)
Wire-Based Directed Energy Deposition (DED)
Technology Feasibility Studies
Component Assessment and Design Support
Rapid Prototyping
Material Selection and Development
Process Qualification and Validation
Process Monitoring and Quality Control Strategies
Industrialization of DED Technologies
Technology Transfer and Workforce Training
Materials experience includes:
Nickel-Based Alloys
Cobalt-Based Alloys
Stainless Steels
Tool Steels
Low-Alloy and Carbon Steels
Copper and Copper Alloys
Titanium Alloys
Aluminum Alloys
Refractory and Special-Purpose Materials
Technology Transfer and Workforce Training
Metallurgy & Material Behaviour
Providing material expertise to improve performance, reliability, and lifetime of critical components across aerospace, energy, automotive, and industrial applications.
Services include:
Material Selection and Benchmarking
Material Qualification Programs
Failure and Wear Analysis
Metallurgical Investigations
Microstructure Evaluation
Process–Material Interaction Studies
Competitive and Market Analysis
Industrialization & Technology Strategy
Bridging the gap between innovation and profitable manufacturing through structured technology deployment and roadmap development.
Services include:
Technology Roadmapping
S-Curve and Technology Maturity Assessments
Manufacturing Strategy Development
Business Case Evaluation
Factory and Application Concept Development
Scale-Up and Industrialization Planning
Innovation and Technology Management Consulting
Why Work With ZAES?
innovative concepts
qualified and industrialized production solutions.
More than 15 years of industrial experience
A proven track record in aerospace, energy, automotive, and advanced manufacturing, ZAES supports customers in transforming innovative concepts into qualified and industrialized production solutions.
The combination of hands-on engineering expertise, metallurgical knowledge, additive manufacturing experience, and strategic technology management enables customers to reduce development risks, accelerate implementation, and achieve sustainable business value from advanced manufacturing technologies.
ContactIndustry Partnership
Technology & Industry Partnerships
Through an established network of industrial partners, ZAES provides access to complementary technologies, equipment, and software solutions required for successful implementation of advanced manufacturing projects.
Partnership areas include:
CAD/CAM and Offline Programming Solutions for robotic and additive manufacturing applications
Process Monitoring and Quality Assurance Systems
Laser Optics, Beam Delivery and Process Heads
Cladding, DED and Laser Processing Nozzles
Laser Cleaning and Surface Preparation Technologies
Additive Manufacturing Equipment and Turnkey Production Systems
Robotic Automation and Motion Systems
Manufacturing Equipment Selection and Specification Support
Technology Integration and Industrialization Support
ZAES acts as an independent technology advisor, helping customers identify, evaluate, and integrate the most suitable solutions for their specific technical and business requirements.
Selected Projects
Sustainable Brake Discs
Development of laser coating technologies and advanced aluminium alloys for lightweight, wear-resistant brake discs in collaboration with academic partners.
Impact: improving brake performance while reducing brake dust emissions and supporting the transition to more sustainable braking systems.
Multi-Material AM Components
Development of advanced multi-material components by combining LPBF copper structures with DED-applied nickel superalloys.
Impact: enabling complex geometries, enhanced material properties, and functionality beyond the capabilities of a single additive manufacturing technology.
DED Repair Solutions
Development and qualification of DED-based repair processes, covering material selection, process validation, engineering, automation, and quality control.
Impact: enabling fast, cost-efficient, and reliable restoration of high-value components, extending service life and reducing replacement costs.
High-Speed Brake Disc Cladding Systems
Development and industrialization of double-sided high-speed laser cladding systems for brake disc applications, integrating high-power laser technology and automated processing.
Impact: enabling scalable production of coated brake discs with improved wear resistance, reduced emissions, and increased manufacturing efficiency.
Space components with DED
Parts of various complexity and size for rocket propulsion applications. Our Center was the first one in Europe to delivery industrial scale components of that size and complexity using AM technology
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DED free-form and complex shape geometries
Development and application of DED processes for thin-wall freeform structures, large-scale components, hybrid manufacturing, repair, and multi-material solutions.
Impact: enabling the industrial production of complex, high-value components while expanding design freedom and manufacturing capabilities beyond conventional methods.
ABout dr. Arkadi Zikin
15 years
For more than 15 years, I have been building and scaling advanced manufacturing technologies — not as concepts, but as reliable industrial solutions.
My background is in materials engineering (PhD, tribology, surface engineering), but my focus goes beyond engineering — I connect technology, business and execution.
I built one of Europe’s strongest Laser / DED centers for aerospace, working in environments where precision, reliability and performance are non-negotiable.
A defining step in my journey was the CTO program at the MIT, where I deepened my expertise in:
AI-driven manufacturing systems
Technology roadmapping
TRL-based development
Scaling technologies from idea to product
This shapes how I work today:
Structured roadmaps from concept to industrialization
Systematic risk reduction through TRL progression
Integration of AI and data-driven approaches
Strong focus on execution and real-world performance
Because technology only creates value when it works — reliably, at scale.
Contacts
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