From wheat silos to boats, to components for industrial machinery, the final step in the production of metal articles and components is to provide them with a first-rate finish.

As a Surface Finisher, you will coat metal parts and surfaces using a number of different electrolytic and organic processes. You will learn how to pre-treat surfaces and blast clean them so that they are ready to be coated with a variety of metal finishes, and protect them against oxidation by galvanizing or anodising.

You can work as an Electroplater, coating metal parts and products with a layer of decorative or protective metal such as copper, silver, nickel or chromium. Alternatively you can work in Powder Coating where you will learn to use wet and dry coating techniques to prepare metal surfaces and then apply protective or decorative coatings.

The reward for your hard work is in knowing your products are protected from the elements and look great, and the skills you gain apply to many of the manufacturing sectors.