Surface Technology, Process Equipment & Machinery Finance
Gable Asset Finance specialises in arranging tailored asset finance and lending for the UK surface technology and industrial process sectors. Whether you are a metal finisher, precision coater, surface treatment subcontractor or manufacturer investing in plating lines, coating booths, blasting cabinets, heat treatment furnaces, filtration systems or ancillary plant — we structure funding solutions that preserve cash, spread capital costs and align repayments to your business cashflow.
This comprehensive section of Gable Aaset Finance’s website covers the equipment used in the surface technology and process industries, the finance options available (loans, hire purchase, finance & operating leases, sale & leaseback, refinancing and project finance), tax and VAT considerations, environmental and compliance factors, lender expectations, case studies, FAQs and a practical application checklist so you can move from enquiry to equipment on-site with confidence.
What is surface technology and process equipment?
Surface technology refers to processes and equipment used to modify or finish the surface of components, parts and assemblies. This includes electroplating, anodising, passivation, powder coating, wet paint coating, chemical conversion coatings, thermal spray, electroless plating, shot blasting, vibratory finishing and polishing. The “process equipment” that supports these activities can also include material handling, conveyors, chemical dosing, filtration, effluent treatment, ovens, furnaces and automated process controls.
Process equipment is central to industries such as aerospace, automotive, defence, medical devices, oil & gas, electronics, precision engineering and general manufacturing. Modern surface technology installations combine mechanical, chemical and electrical systems and often require significant capital expenditure (CAPEX) together with environmental controls and safety technology.
Common types of equipment financed in surface technology & process sectors
Below is a representative list of equipment categories frequently financed for surface treatment and processing operations.
1. Plating & Surface Treatment Lines
Electroplating lines (racks, barrels, rectifiers)
Anodising baths and anodising lines
Electroless nickel plating systems
Chemical conversion coat lines (phosphating, passivation)
2. Coating & Paint Systems
Powder coating booths, ovens and recovery units
Wet paint application booths, spray booths and bake ovens
Automated robotic coating cells and electrostatic systems
Effluent treatment plants (ETPs), chemical dosing and neutralisation units
Fume extraction, scrubbers, bag filters and HEPA systems
Activated carbon and ion exchange systems
6. Material Handling & Automation
Pallet conveyors, overhead monorails and automated racks
Robotic handling and CNC integration for pre/post processing
Loading/unloading systems, gantries and hoists
7. Ancillary & Testing Equipment
Surface roughness testers, thickness gauges and coating inspection tools
Laboratory equipment for baths, titration and quality checks
Industrial water treatment, pumps and dosing systems
Why surface technology businesses use equipment finance
Surface technology companies often invest heavily in turnkey lines, environmental controls and automation. Equipment finance offers multiple advantages:
Preserve working capital: Spread capital costs over time while keeping cash available for raw materials, wage bills and growth.
Match payments to asset life: Align repayments with the productive life of the equipment and expected cash generation.
Maintain competitiveness: Upgrade to modern, more efficient equipment without prohibitive upfront costs.
Simplify budgeting: Fixed monthly payments make forecasting and contract pricing more predictable.
Tax efficiency: Depending on structure, rentals may be deductible and purchases may qualify for capital allowances.
Manage obsolescence: Leasing allows easier upgrading as technologies change.
Finance options for surface technology & process equipment
Gable Asset Finance arranges the full spectrum of funding options. Below we explain the key products and when each is generally appropriate.
Hire Purchase (HP)
Overview: With HP the lender purchases the equipment and you hire it, making fixed repayments. Ownership passes to you at the end of the term once the final payment is made.
Ideal for: Businesses that want to own equipment at the end of the term and claim capital allowances.
Typical assets: Plating lines, powder booths, furnaces, test rigs.
Finance Lease
Overview: A finance lease funds equipment where the funder retains legal ownership and you pay rentals. At the end there is often a purchase option.
Ideal for: Firms that want long-term use but prefer the funder to bear residual value risk.
Operating Lease
Overview: The lessee rents equipment for a term and returns it at the end. This is useful where technology changes rapidly or for shorter-term projects.
Ideal for: Pilot lines, temporary process installations, or when avoiding ownership is preferred.
Asset Finance Loans / Equipment Loans
Overview: Classic secured or unsecured loans to purchase equipment outright. These loans can be tailored to the asset life and business needs.
Ideal for: Companies that want immediate ownership and possibly lower overall cost of finance.
Sale & Leaseback
Overview: If you already own equipment, you sell it to a funder and lease it back. This releases capital while you continue to operate the asset.
Ideal for: Businesses needing liquidity for expansion, working capital or to finance environmental improvements.
Project & Development Finance
Overview: For large turnkey plant installations or factory refurbishments, staged development finance provides drawdowns tied to project milestones and commissioning.
Overview: Refinance existing assets or group facilities to release cash for new investments or to reduce higher-cost debt.
Ideal for: Established businesses with capital locked in equipment or property.
Selecting the right finance product — key considerations
Choosing a structure depends on multiple commercial and technical factors. Consider the following:
Ownership intentions: Do you want to own the equipment or preserve flexibility?
Useful life & obsolescence: Match term to the equipment’s expected life and upgrade plans.
Tax & accounting: Discuss capital allowances and the accounting impact of leases vs loans with your accountant.
Residual value risk: Who bears resale/obsolescence risk? Lenders pricing reflects this.
Security & covenants: Lenders may require charges over assets, personal guarantees or group debentures.
Project complexity: Large turnkey projects may require staged payments and longer due diligence.
Environmental, health & safety and compliance requirements
Surface treatment processes involve chemicals, effluents, fumes and energy-intensive equipment. Lenders and insurers scrutinise environmental and safety compliance because non-compliance can create material liability and asset impairment risks.
Planning and permitting: Ensure planning permissions and environmental permits (where required) are in place before funding.
Effluent treatment & emissions: Adequate effluent treatment, scrubbers and monitoring systems are essential for lender comfort.
Health & safety: Safe handling of chemicals, COSHH compliance, PPE and operator training protect operations and asset value.
Energy efficiency: Energy-efficient designs (LED curing, thermally insulated ovens, heat recovery) support operating cost reductions and green funding eligibility.
Pro tip: Early engagement with planners, environmental consultants and your lender reduces delays and avoids unexpected conditions or cost overruns during installation.
Tax, VAT and capital allowance considerations
Tax implications are an important part of structuring finance. Common considerations include:
Capital Allowances
Assets used in a business may qualify for capital allowances, reducing taxable profits. Annual Investment Allowance (AIA) and other schemes can accelerate tax relief on qualifying plant and machinery — check the current limits with your accountant.
VAT Treatment
VAT on equipment purchases can typically be reclaimed by VAT-registered businesses. Leasing arrangements involve VAT on rentals. Special VAT rules may apply to second-hand equipment or dealer margin schemes.
Research & Development (R&D) & Grants
Surface technology companies investing in process innovation may be eligible for R&D tax credits, capital grants or regional development programmes. Blending grant funding with asset finance reduces the net capital requirement.
Who are the typical lenders and funding partners?
Gable Asset Finance works with a broad panel of lenders experienced in industrial and process equipment funding:
High-street banks with industrial asset desks
Specialist asset finance houses focused on manufacturing equipment
Vendor and manufacturer finance schemes
Leasing companies offering operational and full-service leases
Private funds & institutional investors for larger project finance
Government-backed initiatives or regional growth funds where applicable
Lender due diligence — what funders will ask for
Preparing a comprehensive funding pack accelerates lender decisions. Typical due diligence areas include:
Financials: Historic accounts, management accounts, cashflow forecasts and sensitivity analysis.
Technical: Equipment specifications, OEM warranties, maintenance schedules and installation timelines.
Project: Supplier contracts, turnkey agreements, commissioning plans and test acceptance criteria.
Early preparation — including planning, technical spec finalisation and lender engagement — shortens procurement and commissioning timelines.
Case studies — how finance supports surface technology businesses
Case study 1: Precision plating line for aerospace sub-contractor
Client: Sub-contractor supplying plating to aerospace components
Requirement: New electroplating line with closed-loop effluent treatment and waste management to meet Tier 1 client specs.
Solution: Gable Asset Finance arranged a blended package: hire purchase for core plating racks and rectifiers, an equipment loan for the effluent treatment plant, and a small working capital facility to manage initial chemical stock. The package included staged drawdowns to align with installation milestones and an extended warranty for critical rectifiers.
Outcome: The client met aerospace approval timelines, increased capacity by 60% and secured longer-term contracts with improved margins.
Case study 2: Powder coating automation to serve automotive tier supplier
Requirement: Automated powder coating line including conveyorised pretreatment, robotic booths and high-efficiency ovens to improve throughput and quality control.
Solution: Project finance package with a specialist equipment fund, including finance lease for the robotic cells and an operating lease for conveyor systems. The funder required technical acceptance testing and a maintenance reserve to protect uptime.
Outcome: The client reduced cycle times by 40% and won new contracts requiring repeated high-volume throughput. The finance structure preserved cash for spare parts and operator training.
Case study 3: Refurbishment & sale & leaseback
Client: Family-owned surface treatment business upgrading premises and freeing capital
Requirement: Premises refurbishment, new shot blasting cabinets and upgraded fume extraction, but capital was tied up in older but functional equipment.
Solution: Gable arranged a sale & leaseback of selected plant to release capital and a short-term refurbishment loan to complete the upgrade. The company then leased back replacement units at competitive rentals and used the released capital to expand into new sectors.
Outcome: The company improved its premises, secured new clients in medical devices space and maintained operational continuity.
Risk management & warranties — protecting your investment
Key risk mitigation strategies for financed equipment include:
Comprehensive insurance: All risk cover for theft, accidental damage, business interruption and product liability where relevant.
Maintenance & service contracts: Full-service leases or maintenance agreements reduce downtime and protect residual value.
Performance guarantees: Supplier performance bonds, acceptance testing and warranty periods for critical process equipment.
Spare parts planning: Ensure key spares are stocked or contractually available to reduce mean time to repair (MTTR).
Application checklist — what to prepare before contacting Gable Asset Finance
Preparing this information will speed the process and improve outcomes:
Company accounts (last 2–3 years) and current management accounts
Bank statements (3–6 months)
Detailed equipment specification, supplier quotes and lead times
Project plan with installation & commissioning milestones
Cashflow forecast (12–36 months) showing seasonality and debt service
Evidence of planning, environmental consents and permits (if applicable)
Maintenance & warranty terms proposed by the supplier
Details of any existing charges, security or leasing contracts
Management CVs and quality accreditations (ISO 9001, ISO 14001 or industry-specific approvals)
Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
Q: Can you finance bespoke, one-off process lines?
A: Yes. We frequently finance bespoke turnkey plant. Lenders will require detailed specifications, supplier contracts, staged payment schedules and technical acceptance criteria.
Q: Do you finance used surface treatment equipment?
A: Yes. Used equipment can be financed, though lenders assess age, condition, service history and residual value more closely. Independent inspection reports help.
Q: How quickly can finance be arranged?
A: Small equipment finance (HP or leasing) can be arranged in days to a few weeks. Large project finance will typically take several weeks to a few months depending on due diligence and legal documentation.
Q: Can maintenance and installation be included in the finance?
A: Yes — many lenders allow installation, commissioning, training and service contracts to be included in the financed amount, simplifying cashflow during the project phase.
Q: What about environmental guarantees and decommissioning?
A: Lenders want assurance that environmental liabilities are managed. Decommissioning plans, reserves and environmental warranties can be part of the project finance structure where relevant.
How Gable Asset Finance works with you
We provide a pragmatic, sector-aware approach:
Initial consultation: Review your project, equipment list and financial position.
Structuring: Recommend hire purchase, lease, loan or blended solutions based on tax, cashflow and ownership objectives.
Market access: Introduce your case to our panel of specialist lenders, vendor finance houses and project funds.
Negotiation & documentation: We negotiate terms and manage the legal and technical requirements to completion.
Project coordination: Assist with drawdowns, supplier coordination and commissioning handover.
Ongoing support: Advise on end-of-term options, refinancing and growth funding as your business evolves.
Ready to discuss equipment finance? Contact Gable Asset Finance with your equipment specification, supplier quote and recent accounts. We’ll provide an initial feasibility assessment and outline likely funding routes and indicative pricing.
Gable Asset Finance are able to provide business finance and leasing solutions for surface technology and process equipment & machinery used by surface finishing engineers, manufacturers, re-manufacturers, sub-contractors and anyone involved in surface finishing and coating processes.
We can arrange business finance and leasing all new, reconditioned or used surface finishing equipment and machinery from some of the world’s leading manufacturers including as:
Surface Treatment Plant & Equipment
Electroplating equipment and treatment lines
Powder coating, Wet paint plant & equipment
All Process Plant & Equipment
Cleaning & Degreasing Machinery
Aqueous Ultrasonic Cleaning and Washing
Spray and Jet Cleaning
Aqueous Cleaning equipment
Solvent Ultrasonic Cleaning
Vapour Degreasing Machinery
Enclosed Vapour Degreasing
Solvent cleaning equipment
Polishing & Belt Linishing Machinery
Centreless Polishing and Belt Linishing Machinery
Through feed flat bed Linishing & Brushing Machinery
Automatic Polishing & Linishing Machinery
Manual Polishing Lathes and Machinery
Manual Linishing and Belt Grinding Machinery
Polishing Linishing & Grinding Machinery
Mass Finishing Equipment
Vibratory Deburring and Polishing Machines
Barreling and Rumbling Machinery
Associated Mass Finishing Equipment
Ovens & Furnaces
Industrial Ovens
Laboratory and Bench Top Ovens
Industrial Furnaces
Tool Room and Bench Top Furnaces
Associated Heat Treatment Equipment
Process Cooling Equipment
Air Cooled Chillers and Refrigeration
Heat Exchangers and Cooling Equipment
Shot Blasting Machinery & Equipment
Suction Venturi Blast Cabinets
Pressure Fed Blast Cabinets
Aqua/Wet Blasting Cabinets
Airless and Automated Blast Equipment
Associated Shot Blasting Equipment
Dust & Fume Extraction Equipment
Dry Dust Filters, Wet Dust Filters
Fume Extraction Fans & Scrubbers
Associated Dust Control Equipment
Air Compressors & Equipment
Air compressors
Rectifiers & Transformers
We can arrange business finance on new and used machinery and equipment used in the surface technology and process sector from manufacturers and suppliers such as:
Abrafin
AEW
Airflow Group
Airmaster
Alfa laval
Allkal
Almor Group
Barlow Whitney
Binder
Brentford
Caltherm
Camfil Farr APC
Chem Resist
Climavent
DCS
DeVilbiss
Disa ( Airmaster )
Disa (Norican)
Donaldson Torit (DCE)
Dreher
Duscovent
Dust Extraction Int Ltd
Environmental Cleaning Technologies
ERG Lancy
Fanuc Robotics
FinnSonic
Gallenkamp (Sanyo/Weiss)
GE (General Electric)
Guyson International
Guyson Marr
GWK
Hedinair
Hodge Clemco
Hunziker
ICI
Ipsen
J Reid
Jacquet Weston Engineering
JLS (Redditch) Ltd
Kerry ( Guyson International )
Leader Engineering
Mechatherm
Mechatherm
Memmert
Metalas
Morrisflex
Nabertherm
OMSG Group
Oscott Air
Permutit
Pickstone
Podmore
Proceco
RDM Engineering
Remec Engineering
RJH Engineering Ltd
Rosler
Safety kleen
SHL
Shotblast Engineering Services Ltd
Sillem
SNOL
Teijo
Tilghman (Wheelabrator)
Tool-Temp
Vacublast (Wheelabrator)
Vapormatt
Vindon Scientific
Vixen
W Canning
W.M.V.
Walther Trowal
Walther Trowal (Wheelabrator)
Westinghouse
York
Gable Asset Finance provide business finance and leasing solutions on new and used surface finishing machinery. We can arrange business finance and leasing on new and used plant & equipment from some of the world’s leading surface finishing and powder coating manufacturers.