---
title: Robotica Saves Disposal and Labor Costs in Mexico
description: A pipe manufacturer in Mexico needed to remove mill scale and rust from steel pipe internals fast - they turned to Sponge-Jet and Robotica robotic blasting
image: https://blog.spongejet.com/hubfs/Mexico%20Pipe%20Project%20Header.jpg
---

- [+1 603-610-7950](tel:+1-603-610-7950)
- [Home](https://www.spongejet.com/)
- [Log In](https://www.spongejet.com/login)
- [Contact](https://www.spongejet.com/contact/)

English Espanol Japanese Korean Chinese Deutsch Netherlands

Search

- Products
- Resources
- Web Pages

Find the best products for your job

[![spongejet](https://blog.spongejet.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Spongejet-Oct2015-Theme/Images/logo.png?width=211&height=49&name=logo.png "spongejet")](https://www.spongejet.com/)

- [Home](https://www.spongejet.com/)
- [How It Works](https://www.spongejet.com/how-it-works/)
- [Videos](https://www.spongejet.com/video-gallery/)
- [Why Sponge-Jet?](https://www.spongejet.com/why-sponge-jet/) 
    - [Conservators & Historic Architects](https://www.spongejet.com/why-sponge-jet/conservators-historic-architects/)
    - [Construction & Project Managers](https://www.spongejet.com/why-sponge-jet/construction-project-managers/)
    - [Contractors & Service Professionals](https://www.spongejet.com/why-sponge-jet/contractors-service-professionals/)
    - [Corrosion & Maintenance Professionals](https://www.spongejet.com/why-sponge-jet/corrosion-maintenance-professionals/)
    - [Executives, Operations Managers](https://www.spongejet.com/why-sponge-jet/executives-operations-managers/)
    - [Health, Safety and Industrial Hygienists](https://www.spongejet.com/why-sponge-jet/health-safety-industrial-hygienists/)
    - [Reliability Engineers](https://www.spongejet.com/why-sponge-jet/reliability-engineers/)
- [Products, Tools and Media](https://www.spongejet.com/store/) 
    - [Sponge Media](https://www.spongejet.com/store/sponge-media.html)
    - [Portable Feed Units](https://www.spongejet.com/store/portable-feed-units.html)
    - [Integrated Systems](https://www.spongejet.com/store/integrated-systems.html)
    - [Portable Vacuum System](https://www.spongejet.com/store/portable-vaccum-system/cvr-p110.html/)
    - [Saber Nozzles](https://www.spongejet.com/store/saber-nozzles/saber-blast-nozzle.html/)
    - [Gorilla Nozzle Light](https://www.spongejet.com/store/gorilla-nozzle-light/gorilla-nozzle-lighttm.html/)
    - [SafeMan Systems](https://www.spongejet.com/store/safeman-systems/safeman-systemtm-a-safer-deadman.html)
    - [Internal Pipe & Tube Blasting – Robotica](https://www.spongejet.com/store/internal-pipe-tube-blasting-robotica/roboticatm.html)
    - [Accessories](https://www.spongejet.com/store/accessories.html)
    - [Portable Recyclers](https://www.spongejet.com/store/portable-recyclers.html)
- [Industries & Applications](https://www.spongejet.com/applications-industries/) 
    - Applications 
          - [Buildings & Structures](https://www.spongejet.com/applications-industries/applications/buildings-structures/)
          - [Cleaning](https://www.spongejet.com/applications-industries/applications/cleaning/)
          - [Decontamination](https://www.spongejet.com/applications-industries/applications/decontamination/)
          - [Equipment & Machinery](https://www.spongejet.com/applications-industries/applications/equipment-machinery/)
          - [Flammable Atmospheres](https://www.spongejet.com/flammable-atmospheres/)
          - [Historic Preservation](https://www.spongejet.com/historic-preservation/)
          - [Marine Applications](https://www.spongejet.com/applications-industries/applications/marine-application/)
          - [Operating Equipment](https://www.spongejet.com/applications-industries/applications/operating-equipment/)
          - [Pipes & Pipelines](https://www.spongejet.com/applications-industries/applications/pipes-pipelines/)
          - [Structural Steel](https://www.spongejet.com/structural-steel/)
          - [Tanks](https://www.spongejet.com/tanks/)
    - Industries 
          - [Abatement](https://www.spongejet.com/abatement/)
          - [Buildings & Infrastructure](https://www.spongejet.com/buildings-infrastructure/)
          - [Chemical & Petrochemical](https://www.spongejet.com/chemical-petrochemical/)
          - [Contractors & Coating Professionals](https://www.spongejet.com/applications-industries/industries/contractors-coating/)
          - [Facility Maintenance](https://www.spongejet.com/applications-industries/industries/facility-maintenance/)
          - [Manufacturing](https://www.spongejet.com/applications-industries/industries/manufacturing/)
          - [Marine](https://www.spongejet.com/applications-industries/industries/marine/)
          - [Military](https://www.spongejet.com/military/)
          - [Oil & Gas](https://www.spongejet.com/oil-gas/)
          - [Power](https://www.spongejet.com/applications-industries/industries/power/)
          - [Restoration](https://www.spongejet.com/restoration/)
          - [Transportation & Automotive](https://www.spongejet.com/applications-industries/industries/transportation/)
- [Resources & Support](https://www.spongejet.com/support/resources-support/) 
    - [Blog](https://blog.spongejet.com/)
    - [Resource Library](https://www.spongejet.com/support/resources-support/resource-library/)
    - [Training](https://www.spongejet.com/training/)
    - [Contact](https://www.spongejet.com/contact/)
- [About Sponge-Jet](https://www.spongejet.com/about-sponge-jet/) 
    - [Event Schedule](https://www.spongejet.com/events/)
    - [Become a Distributor](https://info.spongejet.com/become-a-distributor)

[![spongejet](https://blog.spongejet.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Spongejet-Oct2015-Theme/Images/logo.png?width=211&height=49&name=logo.png "spongejet")](https://www.spongejet.com/)

- [Contact](https://www.spongejet.com/contact/)
- [Log In](https://www.spongejet.com/login)
- [+1 603-610-7950](tel:+1-603-610-7950)

- [How It Works](https://www.spongejet.com/how-it-works/)
- [Videos](https://www.spongejet.com/video-gallery/)
- [Why Sponge-Jet?](https://www.spongejet.com/why-sponge-jet/) 
    - [Reliability Engineers](https://www.spongejet.com/why-sponge-jet/reliability-engineers/)
    - [Health, Safety and Industrial Hygienists](https://www.spongejet.com/why-sponge-jet/health-safety-industrial-hygienists/)
    - [Executives, Operations Managers](https://www.spongejet.com/why-sponge-jet/executives-operations-managers/)
    - [Corrosion & Maintenance Professionals](https://www.spongejet.com/why-sponge-jet/corrosion-maintenance-professionals/)
    - [Contractors & Service Professionals](https://www.spongejet.com/why-sponge-jet/contractors-service-professionals/)
    - [Construction & Project Managers](https://www.spongejet.com/why-sponge-jet/construction-project-managers/)
    - [Conservators & Historic Architects](https://www.spongejet.com/why-sponge-jet/conservators-historic-architects/)
- [Products, Tools, and Media](https://www.spongejet.com/store/index.php/) 
    - [Sponge Media](https://www.spongejet.com/store/index.php/sponge-media.html)
    - [Portable Feed Units](https://www.spongejet.com/store/index.php/portable-feed-units.html)
    - [Integrated Systems](https://www.spongejet.com/store/index.php/integrated-systems.html)
    - [Portable Vaccum System](https://www.spongejet.com/store/index.php/portable-vaccum-system/cvr-p110.html/)
    - [Saber Nozzles](https://www.spongejet.com/store/index.php/saber-nozzles/saber-blast-nozzle.html/)
    - [Gorilla Nozzle Light](https://www.spongejet.com/store/index.php/gorilla-nozzle-light/gorilla-nozzle-lighttm.html/)
    - [SafeMan Systems](https://www.spongejet.com/store/index.php/safeman-systems/safeman-systemtm-a-safer-deadman.html)
    - [Internal Pipe & Tube Blasting – Robotica](https://www.spongejet.com/store/index.php/internal-pipe-tube-blasting-robotica/roboticatm.html)
    - [Accessories](https://www.spongejet.com/store/index.php/accessories.html)
    - [Portable Recyclers](https://www.spongejet.com/store/index.php/portable-recyclers.html)
- [Industries & Applications](https://www.spongejet.com/applications-industries/) 
    - [Applications](https://www.spongejet.com/?page_id=2191) 
          - [Buildings & Structures](https://www.spongejet.com/applications-industries/applications/buildings-structures/)
          - [Cleaning](https://www.spongejet.com/applications-industries/applications/cleaning/)
          - [Decontamination](https://www.spongejet.com/applications-industries/applications/decontamination/)
          - [Equipment & Machinery](https://www.spongejet.com/applications-industries/applications/equipment-machinery/)
          - [Flammable Atmospheres](https://www.spongejet.com/flammable-atmospheres/)
          - [Historic Preservation](https://www.spongejet.com/historic-preservation/)
          - [Marine Applications](https://www.spongejet.com/applications-industries/applications/marine-application/)
          - [Operating Equipment](https://www.spongejet.com/applications-industries/applications/operating-equipment/)
          - [Pipes & Pipelines](https://www.spongejet.com/applications-industries/applications/pipes-pipelines/)
          - [Structural Steel](https://www.spongejet.com/structural-steel/)
    - [Industries](https://www.spongejet.com/structural-steel/) 
          - [Abatement](https://www.spongejet.com/abatement/)
          - [Buildings & Infrastructure](https://www.spongejet.com/buildings-infrastructure/)
          - [Chemical & Petrochemical](https://www.spongejet.com/chemical-petrochemical/)
          - [Contractors & Coating Professionals](https://www.spongejet.com/applications-industries/industries/contractors-coating/)
          - [Facility Maintenance](https://www.spongejet.com/applications-industries/industries/facility-maintenance/)
          - [Manufacturing](https://www.spongejet.com/applications-industries/industries/manufacturing/)
          - [Marine](https://www.spongejet.com/applications-industries/industries/marine/)
          - [Military](https://www.spongejet.com/military/)
          - [Oil & Gas](https://www.spongejet.com/oil-gas/)
          - [Power](https://www.spongejet.com/applications-industries/industries/power/)
          - [Restoration](https://www.spongejet.com/restoration/)
- [Resources & Support](https://www.spongejet.com/support/resources-support/) 
    - [Blog](https://blog.spongejet.com/)
    - [Resource Library](https://www.spongejet.com/support/resources-support/resource-library/)
    - [Training](https://www.spongejet.com/training/)
    - [Contact](https://www.spongejet.com/contact/)
- [About Sponge-Jet](https://www.spongejet.com/about-sponge-jet/) 
    - [Event Schedule](https://www.spongejet.com/events/)
    - [Become a Distributor](https://info.spongejet.com/become-a-distributor)

![blog-banner.png](https://blog.spongejet.com/hubfs/Spongejet-Oct2015-Theme/Images/blog-banner.png "blog-banner.png")

# Blog

![Mexico Pipe Project Header](https://blog.spongejet.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Mexico%20Pipe%20Project%20Header.jpg?width=789&name=Mexico%20Pipe%20Project%20Header.jpg "Mexico Pipe Project Header")

# Robotica Saves Disposal and Labor Costs in Mexico

Pipelines are crucial for transporting clean water from treatment plants to cities, businesses, and homes. By maintaining a closed piping system from the source to the faucet, water utilities reduce the risk of water contamination. During the manufacturing of these pipes, proper surface prep must be completed to ensure that they maintain their integrity after coating and installation. In Monterrey, Mexico, a pipe manufacturer needed rust and mill scale removed from 3,500 steel pipe![Photo Nov 18 2022, 10 19 25 AM](https://blog.spongejet.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Photo%20Nov%2018%202022%2c%2010%2019%2025%20AM.jpg?width=270&height=360&name=Photo%20Nov%2018%202022%2c%2010%2019%2025%20AM.jpg) internals after they had been manufactured - and [QuickJet](https://quickjet.com.mx/) was able to help. These pipes, measuring 84 inches (2.1m) in diameter, and 39 feet (12m) in length, needed to be blasted and coated quickly, as they had to be shipped to a local water facility to install underground. This was an estimated 3,001,792ft² (278,876m²) of pipe needing to be prepped, and time was of the essence. 

Initially, the pipe manufacturer began testing with garnet. Unfortunately, they found it to be too slow and dusty, creating much more waste than they had expected. On top of increasing waste disposal costs, the team could only blast about 5 pipes per day. Needing a faster, more effective solution, they looked to Sponge-Jet.

After trials with Sponge Media™, the pipe manufacturer was very impressed with the speed and efficiency of the production. Based on tests, the Sponge Media™ was much faster than garnet, while still being able to prepare the surface to its required specification. The manufacturer was also impressed with the small amount of waste accumulated during the process, thanks to Sponge Media's™ low-dust, recyclable capabilities.

The crew also utilized three Sponge-Jet [Robotica™ RB3's](https://www.spongejet.com/product/robotica-rb3/), which are specifically designed to work with Sponge Media™ in large diameter pipes, making this project a perfect application. Robotica allows for precise control, high productivity rates, and reduced Sponge Media™ consumption compared to manual blasting. An added bonus was that use of the Robotica™ meant that workers were almost always outside of the pipe during blasting, [increasing their safety](https://blog.spongejet.com/is-robotic-abrasive-blasting-safer-than-manual-blasting) and reducing injury risks.

Instead of blasting only 5 pipes per day with garnet, the use of Sponge Media™ and Robotica™ allowed for the workers to complete 60 pipes per day. This 12x faster production boost let to huge savings in labor costs. The pipe manufacturer and coating inspector were very pleased with the quality of work produced in this amount of time.

Further, the clients at the local water facility and the Government of Mexico were thrilled. At the completion of this project, the Government of Mexico approved this Sponge Blasting process to be used on future projects. Thanks to the high production rates and the highest quality surface prep, the client at the local water facility ultimately added 1,500 more [pipe internals](https://info.spongejet.com/sponge-jet-pipe-and-pipeline-video) to this project. At 54 inches (1.37m) in diameter and 39 feet (12m) in length, this added another 827,024ft² (76,833m²) to the scope of the project.  

Overall, using Sponge-Jet was quicker, safer, and less dusty than [garnet](https://info.spongejet.com/sponge-media-vs-garnet-blasting-short) for this pipe manufacturer. They were able to remove all invisible contaminants and rust from the large pipe internals 12x faster than with garnet, ultimately winning them more pipe internals to blast, and totaling the amount of steel pipe blasted to nearly 3,828,816ft² (355,709m²). ![Photo Nov 17 2022, 4 27 38 PM](https://blog.spongejet.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Photo%20Nov%2017%202022%2c%204%2027%2038%20PM.jpg?width=569&height=426&name=Photo%20Nov%2017%202022%2c%204%2027%2038%20PM.jpg)

 

- [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share)

[Robotica](https://blog.spongejet.com/topic/robotica) [Case Histories](https://blog.spongejet.com/topic/case-histories) [Robotic Abrasive Blasting](https://blog.spongejet.com/topic/robotic-abrasive-blasting)

Search this site on Google

Search Google

### Categories

- [Case Histories (41)](https://blog.spongejet.com/topic/case-histories)
- [Historic Restoration (35)](https://blog.spongejet.com/topic/historic-restoration)
- [Tech-Terminal (35)](https://blog.spongejet.com/topic/tech_terminal)
- [Executive View (23)](https://blog.spongejet.com/topic/executive-view)
- [Lead Abatement (22)](https://blog.spongejet.com/topic/lead-abatement)
- [Application Station (21)](https://blog.spongejet.com/topic/application-station)
- [Cleaning (18)](https://blog.spongejet.com/topic/cleaning)
- [OSHA (12)](https://blog.spongejet.com/topic/osha)
- [Safety First (12)](https://blog.spongejet.com/topic/safety-first)
- [corrosion (12)](https://blog.spongejet.com/topic/corrosion)
- [Stone Restoration (10)](https://blog.spongejet.com/topic/stone-restoration)
- [Dustless Blasting (8)](https://blog.spongejet.com/topic/dustless-blasting)
- [Fire Damage (7)](https://blog.spongejet.com/topic/fire-damage)
- [Marine Industry (7)](https://blog.spongejet.com/topic/marine-industry)
- [Robotica (7)](https://blog.spongejet.com/topic/robotica)
- [Granite (5)](https://blog.spongejet.com/topic/granite)
- [Coal Slag (4)](https://blog.spongejet.com/topic/coal-slag)
- [Robotic Abrasive Blasting (2)](https://blog.spongejet.com/topic/robotic-abrasive-blasting)
- [Railcar (1)](https://blog.spongejet.com/topic/railcar)

see all

### Recent Posts

### Sign up for our blog.

<https://www.facebook.com/pages/Sponge-Jet/162072597150509> <https://twitter.com/spongejet> <http://www.linkedin.com/company/sponge-jet> <https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJUPs-JPZyHtN_3UEvQkcxA>

![](https://blog.spongejet.com/hubfs/Spongejet-Oct2015-Theme/Images/find-rep-bg.png) ![](https://blog.spongejet.com/hubfs/Spongejet-Oct2015-Theme/Images/find-rep-img.png)

[Distributor Locator](https://www.spongejet.com/find-rep/)

![](https://blog.spongejet.com/hubfs/Spongejet-Oct2015-Theme/Images/white-paper-bg.png) ![](https://blog.spongejet.com/hubfs/Spongejet-Oct2015-Theme/Images/white-paper-img.png)

[Resources](https://www.spongejet.com/support/resources-support/resource-library/?k=&type=document-library&document-type%5B%5D=24&searchsubmit=Search+resource)

![](https://blog.spongejet.com/hubfs/Spongejet-Oct2015-Theme/Images/online-traing-bg.png) ![](https://blog.spongejet.com/hubfs/Spongejet-Oct2015-Theme/Images/online-traing-img.png)

[Online Training](https://www.mytestcom.net/app/myTestcomURL.cfm?accountLogin=SpongeJet123&joinPasscode=SpongeJet123)

[![spongejet](https://blog.spongejet.com/hubfs/Spongejet-Oct2015-Theme/Images/logo.png)](https://www.spongejet.com/)

- <https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJUPs-JPZyHtN_3UEvQkcxA>
- <https://www.facebook.com/pages/Sponge-Jet/162072597150509>
- <https://twitter.com/spongejet>
- <http://www.linkedin.com/company/sponge-jet>

- [+1 603-610-7950](tel:+1-603-610-7950)
- [Contact us](https://www.spongejet.com/contact/)

Phone: +1 603-610-7950 | 14 Patterson Lane, Newington, NH 03801 USA

- [© 2015 Sponge-Jet, Inc.](https://www.spongejet.com/copyright-info/)
- [Contact](https://www.spongejet.com/contact/)
- [Support](https://www.spongejet.com/support/)
- [Privacy Policy](https://www.spongejet.com/privacy-policy/)
- [Terms & Conditions](https://www.spongejet.com/terms-conditions/)