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What is vacuum blasting?

What is vacuum blasting and how does it work?

Vacuum blasting equipment is a specialized tool used in surface preparation processes, combining the traditional abrasive blasting technique with a built-in vacuum extraction system. This method is designed to clean and prepare surfaces for further treatment. It is eco-friendly, safe and economical, because abrasives can be reused and there is no dust or abrasives flying around.

Vacuum blasting combines two key components: abrasive blasting and vacuum extraction. In a typical abrasive blasting process, abrasive particles are propelled at high speed towards a surface to remove contaminants such as rust, old paint, and dirt. However, the vacuum blasting system takes this a step further by simultaneously vacuuming up the debris and dust created during the blasting process. The extracted materials are collected and either filtered for reuse or disposed of, ensuring a clean, dust-free environment.

The vacuum extraction is integrated directly into the blasting head, making the process efficient and minimizing the need for secondary cleaning or environmental remediation. This system not only enhances workplace safety but also promotes cost savings by allowing the recycling of abrasives, which reduces the amount of material needed for each job and also saves in disposal costs of the spend abrasive.

Advantages of Vacuum Blasting

  • Dust free. A major benefit of vacuum blasting is its ability to capture dust and debris at the source. No need for dust contamination and much less cleaning up after the blasting job.
  • Cost Efficiency. The closed-loop system recycles abrasives, reducing the cost of abrasive per m2 blasted and also save on disposal costs of spend abrasives. Powerful vacuum blasting machines like the AB1070 can even use steel grit, which is the most cost efficient blasting media on normal steel.
  • Increased Safety. By containing harmful particles and dust, vacuum blasting reduces the risk for personal.
  • Removal of harmful coatings. Coatings which are harmful for humans like chrome 6 coatings, can be removed because of the closed loop system.
  • Environmental Benefits. With less airborne dust and reduced abrasive waste, vacuum blasting is considered more environmentally friendly compared to traditional methods that leave debris scattered on the ground.
  • Can be integrated in machine park. it is possible to integrate the machine in a factory set up inside or on board of pipe laying vessels.

Conclusion

Vacuum blasting equipment is most suitable in situations where there is enough space to work and the work piece to be blasted is not to complicated. The blast head is rather large and not very flexible, because there is the need for blasting and vacuuming. Besides that the operator has to keep the blast head connected to the work piece, otherwise the abrasive will get out of the closed loop system. Products with a lot of welded parts are not that suitable for a vacuum blast machine and can better be blasted in the traditional way. Pipes, plates, beams, flat services can easily be blasted and sophisticated machines like the AB1070 have various interchangeable brushes, to blast inner corners, outer corners, flat parts or pipes.

Vacuum blasting is used in paint and coating removal, cleaning and creating an anchor profile for the coating to adhere. It can be uses on steel and concrete and strong machines like the AB1070 can even use the most  cost efficient blasting media, steel grit.

Find out if vacuum blasting is suitable for your application and contact our sales department for more information.