vacuum coating of plastics, including the corresponding pretreatment and after-treatment steps, determines the properties of the finished product in essential measure. However, the quality of the coating is a result of all of the previous production steps. When the individual recommendations made in VDI 3823 Part 2 are followed, the time required to provide coating services can be appreciably shortened, since preparation, coating and after-treatment can be performed more efficiently. For coating orders to be filled in an optimal manner, continuous communication between the customer and the coating service is an absolute requirement.