SF EXPO is the longest-running and most visited surface-finishing exhibition in China. The 17th edition will take place 10-12 May 2025 at the China Import & Export Fair Complex in Guangzhou. Organised by the Guangdong Electroplating Association, Wise Exhibition and the China Surface Engineering Association, the show occupies 40,000 m², hosts 800 exhibitors and expects 45,000 professional visitors from automotive, aerospace, electronics, construction-hardware and medical-device sectors that consume electroplating, anodising, powder coating and thermal-spray services. More than 60 concurrent events will run, headlined by the 2025 Asia-Pacific Surface Finishing Innovation Conference. Keynote speakers include Prof. Li Hongsong of Harbin Institute of Technology on green plating for hydrogen-energy parts, Dr. Ursula Klapper-Hall of Fraunhofer IST presenting low-temperature PVD coatings for battery housings, and Mr. Zhang Jian, chief engineer of BYD Auto Body, explaining integrated e-coat and powder top-coat lines that cut VOC emissions by 38%. A three-track technical agenda covers environmental compliance, digitalisation and new functional coatings. Daily workshops demonstrate trivalent chrome passivation, high-speed aluminium anodising and recyclable paint-sludge technology. An international pavilion groups suppliers from Germany, Japan and South Korea; a start-up zone showcases Chinese University spin-offs commercialising graphene-enhanced anti-corrosion primers and room-temperature black-oxide films. The 2025 show introduces an on-site “Green Plating Clinic” where certified consultants audit visitors’ process lines and recommend water-saving and heavy-metal-free chemistries. A VR theatre lets visitors simulate an Industry 4.0 plating shop, while a match-making app arranges one-to-one meetings between component buyers and certified coaters. The event is in-person only, with simultaneous Chinese-English interpretation in all conference rooms. Registration is free for trade visitors who pre-book; a two-day conference pass costs RMB 1,200 and includes proceedings and lunches.