Reliable determination of mechanical properties of thin films is a basic presupposition for technological optimization and for controlled reproducibility. Notwithstanding the manifold of proposed test methods. there is a marked deficit for the Industrial technological development. where 1) large numbers of samples must be reliable charactarized, 2) different coating concepts (film material, film thickness) must be compared, 3) a variety of substrate materials, substrate geometries and substrate topography must be accepted, 4) even high quality films (concerning adherence, hardness) must be discriminated. Hence, a set of methods for mechanical testing has been adapted, modified or newly developed to meet the demands of the industrial oriented thin film groups In the institute and of external clients. The potential of two such developments, laser acoustics and vibrational indentation. Is demonstrated and compared with proved modifications of more conventional test methods (registering indentation, Rockwell indentation, cavitation test). Laser acoustics Is non-destructive test method, based on the evaluation of the propagation of laser-Induced supersonic surface waves. It allows the determination of elastic modulus even for very thin films below 60 nm. For amorphous, covalently bonded films, where elastic and plastic behavior are strongly correlated, the hardness can be valued in this way with high raliabilliy. For thicker films (above 1 μm) the results are compared with those from Indentlon tests evaluated by an Improved algorithm. In the case of fixed film structures, a decrease of the coating modulus (representing the composite of film and interface) can be contributed to weak interlayers, which may be quantitatively characterized In this way In many cases the degradation of the coating starts In the substrate, due to accumulation of plastic adaption on the external loading corresponding to an insufficient load carrying capacity of the coating. For the simulation of such fatigue-like behavior a vibration Indenter has been developed. In principle it repreeente a Rockwell Indenter, vertically oscillating with given load amplitude. In contrary to the well-known Impact test, which especially Induces dynamic effects, the contact between indenter and coating is always maintained. In analogy to Wohler curves in fatigue testing, load - cycle number diagrams can be established characterizing the film substrate system under such realistic loading conditions. The results are compared with the static Rockwell Indentation and cavitation test, which represents dynamic loading In micro regions.