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What is “Finishing” or “Metal Finishing”?
Finishing is a critical sustainability tool!
Finishing is one of the most important yet least appreciated tools for sustainability in the modern world. Metal has been central to civilization for millennia, but every year vast amounts of metal are lost to corrosion and premature failure. That means more re-mining, smelting, rolling, casting, fabrication, packaging, shipping, and landfill waste, all because materials are often lasting 3 or 4 years when they could last 3 or 4 decades or more.
1958 Buick – The most chrome plating ever 🙂
courtesy of CharlesPhoenix.com
Proper finishing helps stop that waste at the source. Through processes like anodizing, electroplating, galvanizing, and powder coating, metal surfaces can be protected so they resist corrosion and keep performing for far longer. The result is not just lower replacement cost, but less energy use, less transport, less raw material extraction, and less environmental damage.
Finishing is not only about corrosion protection, either. It is about creating a surface or skin with the exact properties needed for the job. In some cases, finishing reduces friction and improves energy efficiency. In others, it lowers electrical resistance for complex electronics, helps control microbial contamination, improves wear resistance so engines and transmissions last longer, or creates cleanable surfaces that support hygiene and safety.
The value of finishing also goes beyond economics. Poorly protected surfaces can mean lost functionality, damaged heirlooms, increased injuries, uglier and less durable products, and even more accidents in transport and handling. A well-chosen finish preserves value, reduces waste, and supports better design across industries.
In that sense, finishing is not a minor detail. It is a practical, powerful way to make products last longer, perform better, and consume fewer resources over their lifetime.