United Protective Technologies

United Protective Technologies (UPT), established in 2002 by founder and Chief Technology Officer Brent Barbee, specializes in the development and application of advanced surface coatings. The company started with just two employees in Mint Hill, North Carolina, and has since grown significantly, relocating its headquarters to Locust, NC, in 2008. UPT's growth was supported in part by the OneNC Small Business Program, which provides matching funds for federal Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) grants. This funding was crucial for navigating the early stages of development and has contributed to substantial revenue growth and an increase in employees.

The firm operates in the advanced manufacturing and nanotechnology sectors, providing proprietary thin-film coatings for components subjected to extreme environments. UPT serves a diverse client base that spans the aerospace, military, medical, and various commercial manufacturing industries. Its business model revolves around both research and development for government and commercial entities, as well as the application of its coatings for hundreds of industrial customers. UPT generates revenue by providing these specialized coating services and developing custom surface engineering solutions.

UPT's core offering is a catalog of high-performance coatings, most notably the P51+™, a proprietary diamond-like carbon (DLC) nanocomposite film. These coatings are designed to increase durability, reduce friction, and prevent corrosion on critical components. The P51+™ is distinguished by its combination of diamond-like hardness and flexibility, which prevents it from detaching from the part it protects. UPT applies its coatings using next-generation methods like Physical Vapor Deposition (PVD), Plasma-Enhanced Chemical Vapor Deposition (PeCVD), and Cathodic Arc Deposition (ARC-PVD) at its ISO 9001 certified facility. The company also offers the ability to customize coating properties to meet specific client needs for hardness, corrosion resistance, or friction levels. In 2023, UPT expanded its services to include centrifugal polishing, allowing it to provide clients with a complete surface finishing solution from a single source.

Keywords: diamond-like carbon coating, PVD coatings, PeCVD coatings, nanocomposite films, surface engineering, wear resistance, corrosion protection, friction reduction, advanced manufacturing, aerospace coatings, military-grade coatings, thin-film technology, P51+ coating, component durability, materials science, surface treatment, industrial coatings, protective laminates, specialty chemicals, asset life extension