Abstract: A method for the automatic application of a surface coating on a metallic component in which the material of the surface coating is deposited by a spraying process in liquid, doughy or only molten-on condition, wherein a coating thickness obtained is automatically measured after at least one surface-coating cycle, compared with a specified value and a residual coating thickness required is calculated, a further surface-coating cycle is subsequently performed as required, and this procedure is repeated to obtain the required thickness of the surface coating.