According to the National Statistical Service of Greece the metal processing industry is characterized by the code 285.1 (according ΣΤΑΚΟΔ -03) and includes:
Coating, anodization, etc, of metals,
Thermal processing of metals,
Burrs removal, sandblast and metal cleaning and smoothing with rotation,
Metal colouring and carving,
Non-metal coating, plasticizing, varnishing etc,
Metal hardening and polishing.

The coating constitutes one of the more important stages in the metal finishing process. It is applied on several industrial sectors such as car and electronic industry, on the sectors of telecommunications and aeronautics, on the jewellery industry, etc.

The coating generally modifies the surface of the metal products and aims to provide resistance to erosion and deterioration, brightness and shine, electric conductivity or electric resistance, adhesiveness, resistance to chemical processing etc.

During the coating a large number of materials and processes are used for the cleaning, carving and coating of the metal. All these processes are used in order to create a final product with the desired superficial characteristics. The electrolytic and electroless plating and the coating with chemical and electrochemical methods constitute usual processes that are used in the metal processing industry. Additional processing includes desinfection, cleaning and carving of the metals.

Some of the used materials are solvents and cleaning agents, acids and bases for the carving, and solutions of metals' salts.