Blog

Choosing the best Sponge Media Feed Unit™ can seem like an intimidating task. Sizes, features, and portability vary between models, but they all do the same overall task of mixing blast media with compressed air for abrasive blasting. Some units like the EX product line are for use in potentially combustable, flammable atmospheres, while other units like the Rasp Xtreme and the 100-HP are optimized for portability. 

Fires can happen anywhere. While the cause of fires vary, every year thousands of homes, commercial properties, and industrial facilities deal with the cleanup after a blaze. In the aftermath of a fire, structural engineers and insurance companies will work together to determine if a property can be salvaged. In many cases, a fire restoration specialist will work with the owner to resurrect the property from the ashes. 

When fires occur, the immediate focus should be on preserving the health and safety of those in danger. Fire departments do amazing work saving lives and preventing fire spread throughout buildings and into nearby structures. Despite firefighters’ efforts, buildings often require robust cleaning of smoke, fire, and water damage in the aftermath.

Imagine a 50 year old municipal water tank. It’s only been five years since it was last coated, but for some reason the paint is already starting to fail. Rust can be seen spotting all over the tank’s exterior. If we were to do a forensic style analysis on the surface of the tank and the flaking paint chips, we’d most likely see that poor surface preparation is to blame for the failure.

Nuclear decommissioning is the process of permanently shutting down the operations of a nuclear power plant. This process must be done safely, and is strictly regulated by government agencies. For example, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is the U.S. agency responsible for making and enforcing the rules, regulations, and procedures that govern nuclear power plant decommissioning. In the United Kingdom, it is the Office of Nuclear Regulation that oversees, regulates and monitors nuclear decommissioning.

Many advanced Certified Rebuild Centers (CRCs) and Heavy Equipment Refurbishment facilities are turning away from regular abrasive blasting and/or high pressure washing during their re-manufacturing process. Increasingly, these centers are focusing on cleaning the equipment using Sponge-Jet blasting prior to disassembly.

Building production capacity at Russia's largest steel and steel-related mining companies doesn’t happen without planning, staging, careful product selection and execution. PAO Severstal announced their plans to add a third blast furnace to the company’s Cherepovets Steel Mill in the Vologda Region, Russia. Corresponding with the install was construction of a wet cleaning scrubber and demister.

Now more than ever, Contractors are looking for ways to save money, increase worker safety, and reduce waste. For abrasive blasting projects like cleaning tanks, prepping pipe internals, or blasting walls and floors, robotic abrasive blasting is often a better choice than manual blasting.

Abrasive blasters who have properly sized air compressors have the best chance for maximizing productivity and efficiency. Contractors and others who blast with mismatched air volume can suffer lost productivity and profits.

As contractors and facility managers look for ways to save money, reduce waste, and increase worker safety on abrasive blasting projects, robotic abrasive blasting is becoming more prevalent. Robotic blasting allows for precise control, high productivity rates and reduced abrasive media consumption compared to manual blasting. In addition, robotic abrasive blasting is a safer alternative to manual blasting.