Driven by the demands of the aerospace and semi-conductor industrial materials, scientists have developed many advanced technologies to coat and modify metal surfaces. Plasma spraying and ion implantation are two such technologies that, in certain applications, can outperform more established methods of improving metal surfaces. Ion implantation can extend the life of tools and moulds up to 10 times, while plasma spraying, originally developed to protect jet turbines, is unrivalled for coating medical implants.