SFM - Surface Finishing Mexico

Attendees, exhibitors & solutions

Who this event is for

Industry trends

Key trends shaping this market and its wider industry.

Hotel tiers

A range of accommodation options near the venue and across key areas.

Local transport

Get around the city with these convenient transport options.

Frequently asked

Glossary

1

Surface finishing

Any controlled process that changes the outer surface of a part to add corrosion resistance, wear resistance, decoration, electrical properties or adhesion. At a show like Surface Finishing Mexico the term spans electroplating, anodizing, conversion coatings, painting and mechanical finishing.

2

Electroplating

Depositing a metal layer onto a substrate by passing current through an electrolyte bath, with the part as the cathode. Common lines in Mexico serve automotive and appliance work with zinc, zinc-nickel, nickel, copper and chrome.

3

Electroless plating

Metal deposition driven by a chemical reducing agent rather than applied current, giving uniform thickness on complex geometry. Electroless nickel-phosphorus is common for wear and corrosion protection on valves and hydraulic parts.

4

Anodizing

An electrolytic process that grows a controlled oxide layer on aluminium. Type II sulfuric anodizing is decorative and protective; Type III hard anodizing produces a thicker, wear-resistant layer for sliding and pneumatic components.

5

Hard anodizing (Type III)

A low-temperature, higher-voltage anodizing process producing a dense oxide of roughly 25-50 micrometres on aluminium. Buyers usually specify alloy, coating thickness and sealing because the oxide grows both inward and outward.

6

Passivation

Chemical removal of free iron and surface contamination to restore the inherent corrosion resistance of stainless steel, typically with nitric or citric acid. Frequently required after machining, blasting or welding.

7

Conversion coating

A chemical treatment that converts the metal surface into a thin, adherent oxide or phosphate film. Used as a paint base or as a standalone corrosion barrier on steel, zinc and aluminium.

8

Phosphating

A conversion coating that deposits zinc, iron or manganese phosphate crystals on steel, improving paint adhesion and lubricity for cold forming. Weight of coating (g/m2) is usually the specified parameter.

9

Trivalent chromium passivation

A chrome passivation on zinc and zinc-nickel deposits using Cr(III) instead of hexavalent chromium. It is the mainstream replacement under RoHS and ELV restrictions, with a narrower colour and corrosion range than Cr(VI) films.

10

Hexavalent chromium (Cr(VI))

A highly effective but toxic chromium form restricted in Europe under RoHS and ELV and increasingly limited in North American supply chains. Many Mexican finishing lines have converted to trivalent or chromium-free systems.

11

Zinc-nickel plating

An alloy electroplated coating containing roughly 10-15 percent nickel, used on brake, steering and fastener parts where plain zinc will not survive cyclical corrosion testing. Nickel content and ductility are the usual acceptance criteria.

12

Barrel plating

Plating of small loose parts tumbled in a perforated barrel inside the bath. Cost-efficient for fasteners and stampings, but contact marks and lower current density in the barrel need to be managed.

13

Rack plating

Mounting parts on a conductive rack with contact points to carry current. Used for larger or cosmetic parts and for chroming where a uniform, mark-free finish matters.

14

Throw power

The ability of a plating bath to deposit metal into recessed or low-current-density areas of a part. It explains why the same bath performs differently on a flat panel and on a deep-drawn component.

15

Hull cell test

A small trapezoidal test cell that shows how a plating bath performs across a current-density range in one panel. Used for bath qualification, brightener additions and troubleshooting before production runs.

16

Brightener and levelling agent

Organic additives that refine grain structure, increase gloss and fill micro-roughness in a deposit. Additions require analytical control because breakdown products accumulate and eventually degrade ductility.

17

Drag-out and rinse cascade

Bath chemistry carried out on parts and then rinsed away. Counter-flow rinse cascades reduce water use and recover drag-out, which is the core of both cost control and effluent compliance.

18

Effluent and wastewater treatment

Chemical and physical treatment of plating rinse water to remove metals and adjust pH before discharge. Metal precipitation, ion exchange and closed-loop recovery are commonly discussed by Mexican finishing plants facing tighter discharge permits.

19

Salt spray test (ASTM B117)

Continuous neutral salt fog exposure used to compare corrosion performance of coated panels and parts. Results are a ranking tool, not a lifetime prediction, so hours to red rust must always be paired with the specification used.

20

CASS test

Copper-accelerated acetic acid salt spray, a faster corrosion test used mainly for decorative copper-nickel-chrome deposits, especially in automotive exterior trim.

21

Film thickness measurement

Verification of coating thickness using X-ray fluorescence, eddy current or magnetic induction gauges. Thickness is measured at defined points on the part because deposit distribution varies with geometry and rack position.

22

Adhesion test

A qualitative check such as cross-hatch or tape pull that confirms a coating is bonded to the substrate. Adhesion failures usually trace back to cleaning, activation or rinse chemistry rather than the coating itself.

23

Powder coating

Dry powder sprayed electrostatically onto a grounded part and cured in an oven to form a durable film. It competes with and often complements wet paint on metal housings and frames.

24

Electrocoating (e-coat)

Deposition of paint from a water-borne bath using electrical current, giving excellent coverage and corrosion protection on complex steel bodies. Often used as a primer under powder or topcoat.

25

PVD and CVD

Vacuum-based processes that deposit thin films by physical or chemical means. Used for wear-resistant tool coatings, decorative finishes and functional layers where wet chemistry cannot meet the specification.

26

Electropolishing

Anodic dissolution that smooths and passivates a metal surface at a microscopic level. Common on stainless steel parts requiring hygienic, low-roughness surfaces.

27

Mass finishing

Vibratory or barrel finishing with abrasive media to deburr, radius and polish parts before or after coating. Media shape, compound and cycle time determine the surface profile that plating will see.

28

Shot peening

Bombarding a metal surface with controlled media to induce compressive residual stress and improve fatigue life. Often specified alongside finishing on aerospace and automotive load-bearing parts.

29

NADCAP special process accreditation

An aerospace supplier accreditation program covering chemical processing, coatings and other special processes. Aerospace visitors at finishing events typically ask suppliers about it before quoting.

30

PPAP and OEM specification

The automotive Production Part Approval Process pack that documents process capability and conformance for a supplied finish. Finishing houses must map their bath controls and tests to the OEM specification being quoted.