The Singapore Metal Finishing Society was founded in November 1981 with the mission to promote the development of the local electroplating industry. It was renamed the Singapore Surface Finishing Society (SSFS) in 1992. In 1994, we included PCB manufacturing as an integral part of our activity and admitted PCB manufacturers as members.
Today, the Society represents the interests of some 100 companies in the surface finishing community. It counts contract platers, surface finishers, suppliers of chemicals/equipment/ technology, academics and PCB manufacturers as its members.
To meet members' various needs, the Society organizes a wide spectrum of activities every year. These range from specialised courses, conferences, seminars and dialogues with government agencies to overseas business missions.
The Society is currently a member of the International Union of Surface Finishing (IUSF) and a Sustaining Member of the Institute of Metal Finishing, UK. The Society has a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Association of Electronics Industries in Singapore (AEIS) and an Association Member of the Singapore Manufacturers Federation (SMa).
Key Roles
The Society's key roles/objectives are as follows:
1. To help members spearhead growth through close interaction with local government agencies and international trade associations;
2. To assist members on common problems, particularly in the areas of manpower and training. This includes assisting members in need of financial assistance and technical guidance on relevant government schemes;
3. To promote industry research and development for the betterment of members and the surface finishing industry as a whole;
4. To represent the industry's interests through regular dialogue sessions with government agencies and other trade associations.
Milestones of the Organization
| 1981 | Formation of the Singapore Metal Finishing Society (SMFS) |
| 1982 | Study Mission to Japan - Tokyo, Osaka and Yokohama |
| 1984 | Electroplating Course commence |
| 1985 | Study Mission to United Kingdom, France, Switzerland |
| 1988 | Study Mission to USA - Los Angeles, San Francisco, Las Vegas, Denver and Detroit |
| 1990 | Asia Pacific Interfinish in Singapore jointly with Australian Institute of Metal Finishing |
| 1992 | Rename to Singapore Surface Finishing Society (SSFS) |
| 1994 | PCB Manufacturers joined the Society |
| 1997 | Cleaner Production for Metal Finishing Seminar |
| 1998 | Attended National Pollution Prevention Roundtable in Washington DC |
| 2000 | Study Mission to Germany - Hanover, Stuttgart, Franfurt, Munich, Cologne, Garmisch Partenkirchen |
| 2001 | Mission to Nanjing, Hangzhou, Suzhou, Wuxi, Shanghai |
| 2003 | Mission to Thailand, Hong Kong and Guangzhou-Panyu, Dongguan, Shenzhen |
| 2005 | The 1st Symposium on Surface Engineering for Industrial Applications (SEIA 2005) |
| 2006 | The 2nd Symposium on Surface Engineering for Electronics Applications (SEEA 2006) |
| 2007 | Trade Mission to Vietnam - Ho Chi Minh and Hanoi |
| 2007 | Joint International Conference of |
| The 3rd International Conference on Surface and Interface Science and Engineering (SISE 2007) | |
| The 3rd Symposium on Surface Engineering for Industrial Applications (SEIA 2007) | |
| 2008 | The 4th Symposium on Surface Engineering for Industrial Applications (SEIA 2008) |
| 2008 | Bidding Mission to World Interfinish in Busan, Korea |
| 2008 | Bidding Mission to National Association For Surface Finishers in Indianapolis, USA |
| 2009 | Mission to Dongguan,Shenzhen and Guangzhou |
| 2009 | Rename to Singapore Surface Engineering Association (SSEA) |
| 2009 | WSQ Diploma in Precision Engineering (Surface Engineering Option) with Singapore Poly |
| 2010 | Asia Pacific Interfinish cum ICASE in Singapore |
