Surface Finishing Services for Metal & Plastic Parts

Surface finishing services are the steps a manufacturer takes after a part is made to change its outer layer. They can add a coating, smooth the surface, or change the surface chemistry. The goal is better rust protection, longer wear life, and the right look. Common types include anodizing, plating, powder coating, painting, and polishing. For a closer look, see our surface finish chart guide.

Meco offers 10+ surface finish types in-house: anodizing (Type II and III), chrome plating (decorative and hard), zinc plating, nickel plating, electroless nickel, PVD coating, liquid painting, powder coating, e-coating, and hot-dip galvanizing. Each finish is matched to your material, use case, and budget during the quote.

Anodizing builds a layer right into the aluminum, so it is thin and very hard, but it only works on aluminum and titanium. Powder coating sits on top of any metal and gives a thicker, more colorful finish that handles bumps well. If you need long-term rust protection on aluminum, pick anodizing. If you want a wide range of colors on steel or aluminum outdoor parts, pick powder coating. Read our surface finish chart for more side-by-side info.

Every coating adds some thickness. Type II anodize adds 0.0002 to 0.0012 in. Powder coating adds 0.002 to 0.006 in. Hard chrome adds 0.001 to 0.010 in. Our engineers plan for this in the DFM review, so your final size still meets spec. PVD adds almost nothing, and e-coating goes on very thin and even. If your drawing calls out a target roughness, see how we hit it in our surface finish Ra values guide.

Yes. We offer chrome plating, PVD coating, and liquid painting on ABS, ABS+PC, and other engineering plastics. These finishes are common for car trim, consumer electronics, and appliance parts where you want a metal look on a plastic body. You can pair these finishes with our plastic injection molding services in one workflow.

For aluminum, Type III hard anodize gives 1,000+ hours of salt spray protection. For steel, electroless nickel (500 to 1,000+ h) and hot-dip galvanizing last the longest outdoors. E-coating is great for steel parts with hidden gaps that other finishes miss. To learn why some galvanized parts look darker than others, see our blog on why hot-dip galvanized steel turns dark.

Powder coating cost depends on part size, color, batch size, and prep work. Small batches cost more per part, while big runs drop the price fast. Color changes between runs also raise cost. For a full breakdown with sample prices, see our guide on how much powder coating costs.

A finish callout uses a check-mark symbol with a roughness value and, sometimes, a lay direction or process note. Our step-by-step guide to surface finish symbols shows how to read each part of the callout, while the machining surface finish chart shows which process can reach the Ra you need.

Yes. All Meco surface finishing services ship with full REACH and RoHS paperwork. We use trivalent chromium processes where applicable and maintain CMRT (Conflict Minerals Reporting Template) documentation for SEC/Dodd-Frank compliance on 3TG mineral sourcing.

Yes. Meco runs CNC machining, casting, stamping, surface finishing, and mechanical assembly as one workflow. This cuts lead time by 30 to 50 percent and gives you a single point of contact from start to finish. To see how this fits a larger build, read our guide on what industrial manufacturing involves.

Send us a STEP or IGES file using the form below with your material, finish, and quantity. We come back within 24 hours with a quote and free DFM feedback that typically saves 15 to 30 percent. No minimum order, so we run 10 pieces or 10 million. New to sourcing? Read how to find a manufacturer for your product.