Technical leadership behind SCHโs coating process approach
Dr Lee Hitchens, semiconductor physicist, conformal coating specialist and founder of SCH Technologies
Dr Lee Hitchens is the founder of SCH Technologies and a specialist in conformal coating, Parylene, electronics protection, cleaning, reliability and coating process control.
His background combines semiconductor physics, long-term electronics reliability research, high-specification cleaning, coating application, training, consultancy and practical production support.
That experience shapes SCHโs core approach: reliable coating is not achieved by material selection alone. It depends on the full manufacturing process, including surface preparation, masking, application, curing, inspection, operator training and long-term process control.
Background and Technical Foundation
Leeโs technical background provides the scientific and practical foundation behind SCHโs process-led approach to coating reliability.
- PhD in Semiconductor Physics โ focused on material behaviour and electronic system performance.
- National Physical Laboratory โ research experience in long-term electronics reliability and cleaning technology assessment.
- Concoat Ltd โ eight years working with conformal coating applications, Humiseal materials and high-specification cleaning for aerospace, defence, medical and electronics manufacturing sectors.
- Consultant, trainer and speaker โ global support for coating process improvement, training, troubleshooting, benchmarking and knowledge transfer.
Core Areas of Expertise
Leeโs work focuses on helping manufacturers improve coating reliability by controlling the process around the material.
Training and Knowledge Transfer
Practical conformal coating and Parylene training for operators, engineers and process teams.
Troubleshooting
Support for coating defects, cleaning issues, adhesion failures, process drift and reliability problems.
Benchmarking
Assessment of coating processes, materials, equipment and working methods against practical production requirements.
New Product Introduction
Guidance for coating route selection, process set-up, validation, operator control and production launch.
Why Lee Created SCH Technologies
Leeโs experience at the National Physical Laboratory provided a scientific understanding of cleaning, contamination, materials and electronics reliability. His industry work then showed the practical challenge faced by manufacturers: coating success depends on much more than buying a coating material or piece of equipment.
Many companies were being supplied with products, but not always with the training, process knowledge or technical support needed to use them correctly in production.
Core principle: SCH was created to bring technology, training and process expertise together so customers receive a working coating solution, not just individual products or services.
That principle remains central to SCH today, supporting customers across coating services, equipment, materials, training, consultancy and long-term process improvement.
How This Shapes SCHโs Work Today
SCH Technologies uses Leeโs process-led approach to support customers across the full coating lifecycle, from early technical selection through to production implementation and operator training.
- Coating selection โ helping customers compare conformal coating, Parylene and advanced functional coating routes.
- Process development โ supporting surface preparation, masking, application, curing, inspection and quality control.
- Subcontract coating โ applying practical production knowledge through SCHโs own coating services.
- Equipment and materials โ supplying systems, consumables and coating technologies with technical support.
- Training and consultancy โ helping customers build internal capability and reduce dependence on trial-and-error coating decisions.
Useful SCH Pathways
These pages provide more detail on the company, coating technologies and support routes available through SCH.
- About SCH Technologies โ company background and integrated coating support.
- Coating Selection Guide โ compare coating technologies and decide which route may suit your application.
- Conformal Coating Solutions โ liquid coating services, equipment, materials and process support.
- Parylene Coating Solutions โ Parylene coating services, equipment, dimers, masking and technical support.
- Advanced Functional Coatings โ ultra-thin, hydrophobic, PFAS-free and specialist surface-performance coatings.
- Training โ practical coating training for operators, engineers and process teams.
- Consultancy โ coating process development, troubleshooting and technical support.
Why Choose SCH Services?
Partnering with SCH Services means more than just outsourcing โ you gain a complete, integrated platform for Conformal Coating, Parylene, Advanced Functional Coatings & ProShieldESD Solutions, alongside equipment, materials, and training, all backed by decades of hands-on expertise.
- โ๏ธ 25+ Years of Expertise โ Specialists in coating technologies trusted by aerospace, medical, defence, automotive, and electronics industries worldwide.
- ๐ ๏ธ End-to-End Support โ Guidance on coating selection, Parylene grades, masking strategies, application methods, inspection, and ProShieldESD integration.
- ๐ Scalable Solutions โ From small prototype batches to full-scale, high-volume production, SCH delivers flexible capacity that grows with your needs.
- ๐ Global Reach โ Responsive technical support and supply coverage across Europe, North America, and Asia.
- โ Proven Reliability โ A strong reputation built on quality, consistency, and customer satisfaction across services, equipment, and materials.
๐ Call: +44 (0)1226 249019 โ Email: sales@schservices.com ๐ฌ Contact Us โบ
This page provides general background information about Dr Lee Hitchens, SCH Technologies and SCH Services. Coating selection, process design, equipment specification and production decisions should always be validated against the relevant application requirements, operating environment, customer specification and applicable industry standards.
