It is well documented that titanium and its alloys are characterised by low density (relative to other structural metals and alloys), excellent corrosion resistance and high specific mechanical strength. Prospective applications are boundless if its poor tribological functionality, caused by its low c/a ratio as a HCP metal, can be improved. As such, many attempts have been made to process titanium alloys through surface engineering technologies. This presentation will compare the various approaches and results, in particular focussing on metal-composite materials prepared with laser treatments.