The Singapore Surface Engineering Association (SSEA) (Originally, Singapore Metal Finishing Society, (SMFS) and Singapore Surface Finishing Society (SSFS)) was founded in November 1981. SMFS was renamed the SSFS in 1992. In 1994, we included PCB manufacturing as an integral part of our activity and admitted PCB manufacturers as members.

To reach out to more industries specializing in surface engineering technology, the Society changed its name to the Singapore Surface Engineering Association (SSEA) in 2009. With this change, the Association broadened its roles to include members from the powder coating, vacuum coating, corrosion protection, recovery of metals and other similar coating sectors. The Association, until now, bears the mission to promote the development of the local surface finishing industry.

To meet members' various needs, the association organizes a wide spectrum of face to face activities before the COVID-19 pandemic. These range from specialised courses, conferences, seminars, exhibitions, consultancy and dialogues with government agencies and the organization of overseas business missions. Currently, most activities are held online and we are optimistic that in-person activities will resume soon.

SSEA has multiple international partners to foster international cooperation and investments. For example, the Association is a member of the International Union of Surface Finishing (IUSF) and the Institute of Metal Finishing, UK.  In addition, the association has a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Association of Electronics Industries in Singapore (AEIS) and an Association Member of the Singapore Manufacturers Federation (SMF).

As an Association with almost 4 decades of experience in promoting local surface finishing companies, it has established a wide network of contacts dealing in the surface engineering field internationally. Hence, the association actively reaches out to surface finishing partners in the ASEAN and the rest parts of the world (E.g. China, USA etc.). 

We welcome established or establishing partners locally and internationally to join our association and foster new partner ships in the ever recovering post-pandemic world.