PROCESS EQUIPMENT UPDATE
LASER FOCUS
M
ost manufacturers understand the value of pre-treating metal surfaces of parts to remove corrosion, grease, residue, old
coatings or to roughen the surface of metals prior to coating. By ensuring the items are cleaned down to bare metal, manufacturers can avoid costly warranty issues that result when coatings peel, fl ake, bubble or otherwise fail prematurely. Unfortunately, the traditional techniques used for this purpose – such as sandblasting, dry ice blasting, and chemical stripping – are messy and require expensive consumables, as well as substantial time for preparation and clean-up. T ese methods are also drawing scrutiny from regulators such as the EPA and OSHA since they can pose risks to the environment and applicators. Today, a more eff ective alternative is using industrial-grade, precision laser- based systems that can remove paint, contaminants, rust and residues with a high-energy laser beam that leaves the substrate unaff ected. Preparation and clean-up time are minimal, and the low- maintenance equipment can last decades. According to Vincent Galiardi,
owner of Galiardi Laser Clean, a surface cleaning operator based in Missouri, USA, people can be surprised to learn that clean technology lasers are the most cost-eff ective, effi cient and safest method of industrial surface preparation. “Many people are unfamiliar with the use of lasers to pre-treat metal surfaces,” says Galiardi. “When I do a demonstration, at fi rst the people in attendance are sceptical. But after I use the laser to treat a small area, everyone starts talking and getting excited. By the end, when I let them try the equipment,
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Laser systems remove
corrosion with less
Laser systems remove corrosion, grease, residue, and existing coatings from metal surfaces quickly, with less preparation and mess than traditional techniques
preparation and mess than traditional techniques
everyone is having a good time and saying how great the laser works.” Given its eff ectiveness pre-treating
metal surfaces, industrial laser systems are increasingly being used in manufacturing facilities. T e systems can be integrated into automated inline processing lines, or technicians can use mobile handheld units. With signifi cant advantages in safety and effi ciency, laser cleaning is poised to disrupt the surface pre-treatment market across more sectors. T ere are many applications in manufacturing that require pre-treatment of metal surfaces prior to coating. To improve coating adhesion, residue, oil or grease must be removed before coating application. In some cases, a manufacturer may seek to further enhance coating adhesion by roughening the surface. When defective metal parts are
produced, instead of discarding the product, manufacturers can strip the paint and re-coat the component. To refurbish existing metal parts or
recoat industrial infrastructure, removing the previous coating along with any
corrosion is usually required to facilitate the new coating’s adhesion to the surface. To pre-treat metal surfaces,
sandblasting, dry ice blasting or chemical stripping are traditionally used as industrial cleaning processes.
SAND BLASTING Abrasive sandblasting involves forcefully projecting a stream of abrasive particles onto a surface, usually with compressed air or steam. T e silica sand used in abrasive blasting typically fractures into fi ne particles and becomes airborne, which can cause serious or fatal respiratory disease. When workers inhale crystalline silica, the lung tissue reacts by developing fi brotic nodules and scarring around the trapped silica particles, causing a fi brotic lung condition called silicosis. Estimates indicate that more than one million US workers are at risk of developing silicosis and that
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