A look at mobile blasting and UHP units for horizontal surfaces

Environmental concerns with open abrasive blasting have led to many solutions to reduce the amount of dust and waste generated. An option that has been available for about 25 years is the use of mobile, fully enclosed blasting machines. Nowadays, these machines are recognized by the industry as fast, environmentally acceptable equipment for the dust-free preparation of horizontal concrete and steel surfaces before painting. This article surveys a selection of the units currently available on the market. The survey is based on manufacturers' data, which were not independently verified. However, before presenting the data on the machines, some general background information on their operation will be given.