SFCHINA 2026: surface-finishing technologies

11–13 November 2026 · Area A, China Import & Export Fair Complex · Guangzhou, China. SFCHINA is an international trade fair for surface-finishing technologies, materials and services. The 2026 edition returns to Guangzhou.

Why SFCHINA matters

The show covers connected production stages: pretreatment, mechanical and chemical finishing, coating application, curing, inspection and environmental control. Visitors can compare technologies against substrates, finish requirements, production volumes and line constraints.

• In 2025, the organiser reported 303 exhibitors from 17 countries and regions.
• The organiser reported 7,321 visitors from 31 countries and regions in 2025. These describe the Shanghai edition, not a forecast for 2026.

Who should visit SFCHINA?

Surface-finishing and coating-process engineers

Bring the substrate, target finish, current process and quality checks you need to address. Compare pretreatment, application, curing, automation and inspection options; ask what evidence applies to your use case.

Manufacturers and plant managers

Prepare a brief covering component material, production volume, floor space and bottlenecks. Ask about utilities, maintenance, environmental controls and configured equipment.

Procurement teams and distributors

Use the organiser's exhibitor information to shortlist machinery, chemistry, coating and environmental-control suppliers. Compare product fit, service responsibilities and documentation.

What can you find at SFCHINA?

• Mechanical finishing: abrasive finishing, polishing, deburring, blasting and rust removal.
• Chemical processes: cleaning, pretreatment, conversion coating, anodising and electroplating.
• Coating systems: paint and powder application, booths, conveyors, curing ovens, automation and functional coatings.
• Plant support: emissions and effluent treatment, extraction, filtration, safety, testing and engineering.

How to prepare for SFCHINA

1. Define the production question

Write down the material, target finish, process issue and test evidence you need. Separate essential specifications from preferences.

2. Build a supplier shortlist

Group companies from official exhibitor information into must-meet, useful and exploratory, prioritised by application.

3. Ask comparable questions

• Which pretreatment steps suit the substrate and coating?
• What throughput, component size and finish range are supported?
• What test evidence is available for thickness, adhesion or corrosion?
• How are fumes, wastewater and residues managed?
• What utilities, maintenance and training are needed?

How to compare process proposals on site

Record company → process → application → evidence → next action. Compare like with like: a coating product, application line and treatment system solve different problems. Note the substrate and test conditions behind performance claims, then revisit priority suppliers to confirm technical follow-up.

Who should consider exhibiting at SFCHINA?

The published scope fits makers and service providers in finishing machinery, process chemistry, electroplating, industrial coatings, powder application, automation, testing, plant engineering, emissions control, safety and filtration. Exhibitors can set a measurable objective, such as qualified conversations in a target application, and confirm current participation conditions with the organiser.

After SFCHINA

Sort contacts into immediate technical follow-up, alternatives and market intelligence. Request drawings, process data, test results, safety information, compliance documents and service scope. Compare each response against one specification and assign an owner to the next action.

SFCHINA 2026 at a glance

A focused visit, with a clear objective

SFCHINA is most useful when you have a defined finishing challenge or supplier question. Decide what evidence would change your production or sourcing decision, then follow up systematically.

Surface-finishing opportunities in China

Market context

Industry media reporting data attributed to the China National Coatings Industry Association says China produced 34.602 million tonnes of coatings in 2025, down 7.1% year on year.

Possible avenues for exhibitors

Finishing, coatings and process-equipment suppliers may explore customer requirements and distribution or engineering relationships, subject to product fit and local requirements.

Possible avenues for visitors

Manufacturers may compare technologies for quality, throughput or environmental-control projects. Buyers may shortlist suppliers for a defined application and verify specifications independently.

The reported output indicates sector scale, while the annual decline cautions against assuming uniform demand.

Discover Guangzhou

Guangzhou combines a Pearl River setting with historic regional architecture and modern landmarks.

Chen Clan Ancestral Hall

A historic complex known for Guangdong architecture and decorative arts.

Canton Tower

A city landmark and observation point beside the Pearl River.

Shamian Island

A historic island area with heritage buildings and mature trees.

Plan time around fair commitments to explore a part of Guangzhou that interests you.