AIFM - Italian Association for Metal Finishing

AIFM - Associazione Italiana Finiture dei Metalli (Italian Association for Metal Finishing) is an Italian trade association representing companies and operators in the galvanic (electroplating) and metal surface treatment industry. It was founded on 8 April 1988 as a separate arm and later continuation of the Associazione Italiana di Galvanotecnica (AIG), through the initiative of Prof. Eugenio Bertorelle, who had previously served as president of AIG. Since its foundation, the association has been presided over by Prof. Pietro Luigi Cavallotti, a full professor of Metal Science at the Politecnico di Milano. The association is open to all operators in the galvanic sector and aims to provide the broadest possible associative service to the galvanic industry and the metal surface treatment sector. It is particularly known for its commitment to spreading scientific and technical culture, chiefly through its journal "Galvanotecnica e nuove finiture" and through the organisation of conferences, seminars and training courses for galvanic operators. The journal itself was founded by Prof. E. Bertorelle in January 1949 as a monthly technical-scientific information publication for the galvanic sector, and since 1949 it has been the reference journal of the Italian galvanic industry. Today it is published by AIFM, with Prof. Luca Magagnin as editor-in-chief, as a bimonthly periodical and the official organ of the association. AIFM operates as a membership body and information hub rather than as a commercial manufacturer. Its website provides news, documentation, a company search, member listings, useful links, announcements and events. Recent activities highlighted on its site include participation in the P&E Coating Days 2026 with a course on sustainability, organisation of an area at MECSPE 2027 in collaboration with Senaf srl, and engagement with European regulatory developments such as the ECHA SEAC opinion on chromium(VI) and the role of CETS (the European Committee for Surface Treatments) as a regular observer at ECHA's RAC and SEAC. The association also addresses practical regulatory matters for its members, such as the deadlines for toxic gas handling licence examinations and preparatory courses. Based in Milan, AIFM functions as a non-profit industry association. Its historical roots and its journal link it to the post-war development of Italian galvanotechnics, while its current activities connect it to contemporary European chemicals regulation and sustainability themes in surface finishing.

AIFM - Associazione Italiana Finiture dei Metalli was founded on 8 April 1988 as a separate arm and later continuation of the Associazione Italiana di Galvanotecnica (AIG). The initiative came from Prof. Eugenio Bertorelle, who had already served as president of AIG. Since its foundation, the association has been presided over by Prof. Pietro Luigi Cavallotti, a full professor of Metal Science at the Politecnico di Milano. The association's origins are closely tied to the journal "Galvanotecnica e nuove finiture", which Prof. E. Bertorelle founded in January 1949 as a monthly technical-scientific information publication for the galvanic sector. Since 1949 the journal has been the reference publication of the Italian galvanic industry. Today it is published by AIFM as a bimonthly periodical and the official organ of the association, with Prof. Luca Magagnin as editor-in-chief. Both the association and the journal owe their existence to Prof. Bertorelle, described as a unique figure of scientist and teacher for his commitment to spreading galvanic culture and knowledge and to the associative form as a means of managing relationships that galvanic companies, typically SMEs, are not always able to activate and maintain individually. His main work, the "Trattato di Galvanotecnica", remains, even if somewhat dated, the "Bible" of operators in the sector in Italy and beyond. AIFM is open to all operators in the galvanic sector and aims to provide the broadest possible associative service to the galvanic industry and the metal surface treatment sector. It qualifies itself through its commitment to the dissemination of scientific and technical culture, using its journal and the organisation of conferences, seminars and training courses for galvanic operators. The association is based in Milan, Italy. In recent years AIFM has been active in European regulatory and sustainability matters. Its website reports that CETS, the European Committee for Surface Treatments, is now a regular observer at ECHA's RAC and SEAC; that AIFM is leading a course on sustainability at P&E Coating Days 2026 on 8 October 2026 at Kilometro Rosso in Bergamo; that it is organising an area at MECSPE 2027 in collaboration with Senaf srl; and that it is mobilising members around the public consultation on the ECHA SEAC draft opinion for chromium(VI). It also provides practical information on toxic gas handling licences, including exam application deadlines and a preparation course.

• Prof. Eugenio Bertorelle founds the journal "Galvanotecnica e nuove finiture" as a monthly technical-scientific publication for the galvanic sector.

• AIFM - Associazione Italiana Finiture dei Metalli is founded as a separate arm and later continuation of the Associazione Italiana di Galvanotecnica (AIG).

• Prof. Pietro Luigi Cavallotti becomes president of AIFM and has held the position since its foundation.

• AIFM issues a call to action on the public consultation on the ECHA SEAC draft opinion for chromium(VI).

• AIFM announces, in collaboration with Senaf srl, the organisation of an area at MECSPE 2027 for its members.

• AIFM announces it will lead a course on sustainability at P&E Coating Days 2026 on 8 October 2026 at Kilometro Rosso, Bergamo.

• CETS, the European Committee for Surface Treatments, becomes a regular observer at ECHA's RAC and SEAC.

Non-profit Italian trade association and technical reference point for the galvanic and metal surface finishing industry, focused on scientific culture, training and regulatory representation.

• "Galvanotecnica e nuove finiture" journal

  Founded in January 1949 by Prof. E. Bertorelle; bimonthly periodical and official organ of AIFM; editor-in-chief Prof. Luca Magagnin.

• Conferences, seminars and training courses

  Organised for galvanic operators, including a sustainability course at P&E Coating Days 2026.

• Company search and member directory

  Online tool on the AIFM website to search for companies in the sector.

• Public consultation on ECHA SEAC draft opinion for chromium(VI)
• MECSPE 2027 area with Senaf srl

1. 1AIFM | GalvanoTecnica e nuove finituregalvanotecnica.org
2. 2CHI SIAMO | AIFMgalvanotecnica.org
3. 3Ricerca azienda | AIFMgalvanotecnica.org
4. 4AIFM - Associazione italiana Finiture dei Metalli - Wikidatawikidata.org