Ferrous metals shot blasting

steelindustrialfor metal fabrication

Overview
Shot blasting (cleaning blasting) is a surface preparation process for removal of oxide, mill scale and legacy coatings prior to coating or metallization. Services are delivered on-site or in workshop and comply with recognized cleanliness standards.

At a glance
Process: Shot blasting
Standards: SSPC‑SP · ISO 8501-1
Deployment: On-site and workshop — 50+ countries · 24/7 AOG response · Bordeaux workshop
Scope: Execution · process qualification · operator training · tooling supply

How it works
Shot blasting projects use high‑velocity projection of abrasive media (steel shot, corundum, ceramic beads) via centrifugal wheels or air jets to clean, strip or prepare substrates. The objective is to achieve defined surface cleanliness and roughness for subsequent coating adhesion rather than inducing peening stresses. Cleanliness is graded Sa1 to Sa3 according to ISO 8501-1 and SSPC‑SP references.

Applicable standards

• SSPC‑SP
• ISO 8501-1

Typical applications

• Preparation before painting or metallization — generate specified roughness for coating adhesion.
• Oxide and mill‑scale removal on welded structures, forged parts, heat‑treated components.
• Rail and bridge steelwork cleaning prior to paint renewal.
• Automotive bodywork surface preparation before industrial painting.
• Industrial heritage and legacy structure restoration with controlled abrasive parameters.

Frequently asked questions

• Shot blasting and shot peening — same machines? — Equipment may be similar, but process parameters and controls differ. Shot‑blasting setups are not automatically qualified for shot peening; peening requires specific intensity, coverage and media traceability (e.g. NADCAP criteria).

Technical specifications

• Process: Shot blasting (cleaning blasting).
• Abrasives: steel shot, corundum, ceramic beads.
• Projection methods: centrifugal wheel or air jet.
• Primary goals: cleaning, stripping, surface preparation for coating or metallization; meet defined cleanliness, roughness and adhesion criteria.
• Standards: SSPC‑SP; ISO 8501‑1; cleanliness grades Sa1 to Sa3.
• Deployment: on‑site and workshop capability; operations in 50+ countries; 24/7 AOG response; Bordeaux workshop.
• Scope: execution, process qualification, operator training, tooling supply.