Ceracoat develops ceramic surface coatings that make everyday care easier and help protect the things people use at home, at work and in industry. Founded in 1998, the Swiss company brings together its own research, development and production.
The story began with Dr. Elio Keller’s passion for cars and motorsport. After developing car-wash businesses with Shell in France, Germany and Italy, he explored a new idea: a liquid ceramic engine treatment that could reach internal metal surfaces through the lubricating oil, without dismantling the engine.
That first engine-care concept developed into a much wider range of surface treatments. Today, Ceracoat’s portfolio spans vehicles and engines, glass and ceramics, textiles and leather, wood and mineral surfaces, specialist industrial applications and self-cleaning solar-module coatings.
Ceracoat maintains its own laboratory to research formulations and adapt them to different materials and applications. Dr. Elio Keller, Carmen Keller and the research and development team continue to develop solutions around a practical goal: less maintenance, easier cleaning and lasting surface protection.
Our approach is to start with the application. The substrate, the operating conditions and the intended result determine which product is appropriate. We support companies, professional users and distribution partners in choosing a suitable Ceracoat solution.
Dr. Elio Keller
Dr. Elio Keller is the founder of the Autolinea and Ceracoat groups and President of Ceracoat Industries. His guiding principle is simple: ‘If you can dream it, you can do it.’
He grew up across the Middle East and North Africa, Southern Europe, the United States and Latin America, including Mexico, before returning to Switzerland with his parents. This international background helped shape his entrepreneurial outlook.
While studying at the University of St. Gallen, he founded a marketing company and worked with businesses including Bühler, Bahlsen, Dannemann, Villiger and Coca-Cola. His projects included the Dannemann Veracruz cigar, the introduction of Sprite Light in Switzerland, a self-cleaning pet brush and car-wash centres in Europe. He also used Super 8 film at points of sale as an early form of video marketing.
Developing a ceramic engine coating with a former NASA specialist sparked his interest in nanotechnology. That work became the starting point for Ceracoat and other brands developed by Ceracoat Industries.
Motorsport has remained a lifelong passion. He raced Group B and Group C cars, including the Porsche 935 Ruf, Ferrari GTO, Ferrari F40 LM and Porsche 962, and won several races in the European Championship. He also spent many years karting with his sons Enzo and Fabio.
Elio is married to Carmen, whom he has known since their school days. Their family includes their sons Enzo, Fabio and Donato, and grandchildren Emiliano, Lana, Gina and Leandro. He is also President of the Ceracoat’s Help for Children Foundation.
‘Never forget where you come from.’ Ceracoat began in the cellar of his friend Gregory’s restaurant. Gregory gave him space to start the business, and a waiter brought him a coffee every morning at nine. That memory remains an important part of Ceracoat’s story.
