Foreign-owned
Proprietary zinc multi-slide die casting, invented in 1936
Dongguan · DalangIn-house + partnersMass production
Die castingInjection moldingCNC machiningSurface finishing
English-speaking salesSource ↗
PR-09 · Process hubs
Surface finishing 表面处理
Colour, coating and printing that turn a raw part into something that looks like a finished product.
- Typical lead time (how long it takes)
- 2–7 days, added to part lead time
- Typical cost
- Per part and per surface; colour matching and multi-step finishes cost more
- Minimum order (MOQ: the smallest order a shop will accept)
- Varies; small batches possible
- Best for
- Any visible part, and corrosion or wear protection
What is it?
Surface finishing is everything done to a part's surface after it's made, so it looks good and lasts. Examples: anodizing (colouring and hardening aluminum), painting or powder coating, plating (a thin metal layer), and printing or laser-engraving logos. It's often the difference between a part that looks like a prototype and one that looks like a real product.
Design tips (DFM: designing so it's easy to make)
- 01Give colour references (Pantone, RAL or a physical sample)
- 02Mark which surfaces are cosmetic
- 03Allow for coating thickness on tight fits and threads
- 04Approve a finish sample before the batch
Shops for this process
Fanstar Mold
范仕达Multi-cavity pen molds and two-shot keycap molds
Dongguan · Chang'anMakes in-houseMass production
Injection moldingSurface finishingMold / tool makerFactory
English-speaking salesSource ↗
Sino-British founders (CEO Vader Yu and James Murphy) and English-speaking project managers
Shenzhen · Bao'anMakes in-housePrototypesLow volumeMass production
CNC machining3D printingUrethane / vacuum castingSheet metal fabrication
English-speaking salesSource ↗
Chinese
Five-axis machining, including a new 800 mm-travel five-axis centre
Shenzhen · Bao'anMakes in-housePrototypesLow volumeMass production
CNC machiningSheet metal fabricationSurface finishingFactory
English-speaking salesSource ↗
Chinese
Automotive stamping dies since 2004 (chassis, body, door, seat, sunroof)
Shenzhen · Bao'anMakes in-houseMass production
Metal stampingSurface finishingMold / tool makerFactory
English-speaking salesSource ↗
Chinese
Automotive white-body stamping prototypes and full-size show-car models
Shenzhen · Bao'anMakes in-housePrototypesLow volume
Rapid prototyping (multi-process)CNC machiningSheet metal fabricationMetal stamping
English-speaking salesSource ↗
Kaierwo
凯尔沃New-energy prototypes: battery packs, charger housings, inverters, cooling modules
Shenzhen · GuangmingMakes in-housePrototypesLow volumeMass production
Rapid prototyping (multi-process)CNC machiningUrethane / vacuum casting3D printing
English-speaking salesSource ↗
Instant online PCB quotes, prototypes from US$5 for 10 boards
Shenzhen · Bao'anMakes in-housePrototypesLow volume
PCB fabricationPCB assembly (SMT/PCBA)CNC machining3D printing
English online orderingSource ↗
Chinese
Instant online quotes with automated DFM feedback for mechanical parts
Shenzhen · Bao'anIn-house + partnersPrototypesLow volumeMass production
CNC machiningInjection moldingSheet metal fabrication3D printing
English online orderingSource ↗
Get 3 quotes
Get 3 quotes: Surface finishing
Describe the part once. We send it to up to 3 shops that fit, and they quote you directly.
11 guides
Guides & articles
Everything we've written about Surface finishing, starting with the basics.
Start here9 min
What is anodizing? A plain-English guide
How anodizing works, why it looks and wears the way it does, the difference between Type II and hard anodizing, and how to order anodized parts in Shenzhen. Written for first-timers.
→
01Choosing · 8 minAnodizing vs powder coating vs painting
Three common ways to finish a part, compared in plain words. What each one is, which materials it works on, how it looks and wears, and how to choose for your product.
02Design · 8 minHow to specify colour and finish
How to tell a factory exactly what colour, gloss and texture you want, using colour codes, physical samples, texture standards and a simple written spec. For first-time hardware teams.
03Basics · 11 minWhat is CNC machining? A plain-English guide
How CNC machining works, what it's good (and not good) for, what it costs, and how to get CNC parts made in Shenzhen. Written for first-timers.
04Basics · 10 minWhat is die casting? A plain-English guide
How die casting works, which metals it uses, what it's good and bad at, what drives the cost, and how to get die-cast parts made in Shenzhen and Dongguan. Written for first-timers.
05Basics · 10 minWhat is sheet metal fabrication? A plain-English guide
How flat metal sheets are cut, bent and joined into brackets, chassis and enclosures, which materials to use, what it costs, and how to get sheet metal parts made in Shenzhen. Written for first-timers.
06Cost · 9 minHow much does CNC machining cost? (and how to lower your quote)
What actually drives the price of a CNC part, rough price ranges for first-timers, and simple design and ordering changes that make quotes cheaper.
07Design · 8 minChoosing a material for CNC parts
A beginner's guide to the most common CNC materials (aluminum, steel, brass and engineering plastics), what each is good for, and how they affect price.
08Design · 9 minDesigning a sheet-metal enclosure
Practical design rules for a first sheet-metal enclosure, explained in plain words. Bends, flanges, holes, hardware, vents, grounding and finishing, so your first quote comes back without surprises.
09Design · 8 minSpot UV, soft-touch and lamination: packaging coatings explained
A plain-English guide to box coatings and laminations. Gloss, matte and soft-touch film, spot UV, UV coating, aqueous coating and varnish, what each does, how they combine, and the Chinese terms factories use.
10Choosing · 7 minZinc vs aluminum die casting
Should your die-cast part be zinc or aluminum? Weight, detail, finish, tooling life and cost compared in plain words, with a simple way to decide.
Common questions
Can my machining shop arrange finishing?
Usually yes. Many shops subcontract to local finishing lines and manage it for you.
Why does anodized colour vary?
Alloy, surface prep and batch all affect colour. Agree a colour range with limit samples.