Abstract
The International Colloquium SURMAT 06 was organised by French Surface Treatment Organisations (CEM, SATS, CEFRACOR) at the Ecole Nationale Supérieure des Mines in Saint-Etienne (France) on 15–17 November 2006. About 120 delegates attended, 40% from outside France: from Europe (Austria, Belgium, Finland, Germany, Spain, Sweden), the USA and countries of North Africa (Morocco, Algeria).