Preparation & fabrication
Industrial media blasting and surface preparation
Surface preparation built around the part.
ACS provides in-house surface preparation for small components and very large parts, coordinated with the required finish.
Small parts
Preparation for individual components and recurring work.
Large parts
Preparation for very large industrial parts.
Coordinated finishing
Preparation reviewed alongside coating and lining requirements.
CAPABILITIES
Blasting media and shot peening
Garnet blasting
Garnet is a hard, angular mineral abrasive used to remove rust, mill scale and existing coatings while creating an anchor profile for the next finish. It is a practical choice for preparing industrial steel, vessels and equipment before painting or lining.
Common uses
- Steel tanks, pipe spools and fabricated equipment.
- Surface preparation before protective paint, polymer coatings or rubber lining.
What matters for your part
Media grade and blasting parameters are selected around the substrate, starting condition and required profile. Provide the preparation specification and coating or lining system that will follow.
Aluminum oxide blasting
Aluminum oxide is a hard, sharp-edged abrasive with strong cutting action. It cleans and etches metal surfaces to create a defined texture for coating or bonding, making it useful when the next process needs an anchor profile rather than a cosmetic finish.
Common uses
- Components requiring surface etching before coating or adhesive application.
- Removal of surface oxides and existing finishes from suitable substrates.
What matters for your part
Grit size, pressure and exposure affect the finished profile and material removal. Identify thin sections, sealing faces, threads and machined fits that need protection.
Glass bead blasting
Glass bead uses rounded particles to clean and blend the surface, producing a uniform satin or matte appearance. Its action is gentler than angular cutting abrasives, making it useful for finishing suitable machined and fabricated components.
Common uses
- Uniform cosmetic finishes on stainless steel and other compatible metals.
- Light cleaning and blending of surface appearance on components.
What matters for your part
Bead size, pressure and the original surface condition influence the result. If a coating will follow, confirm its required anchor profile; a bead-blasted appearance alone does not establish suitable coating preparation.
Shot peening
Shot peening is a controlled surface treatment in which rounded media repeatedly impacts the metal to introduce compressive residual stress. Where specified by the design, it can improve resistance to fatigue cracking. It serves a different purpose from removing rust or creating a coating anchor profile.
Common uses
- Engineering components with a drawing-specified peening treatment.
- Parts requiring a defined treatment for fatigue performance.
What matters for your part
Provide the media type, intensity, coverage, protected areas and required documentation. ACS reviews the specification and process requirements before confirming scope.
QUOTE INFORMATION
What to include in your inquiry
Starting condition
Identify the substrate, existing coating, rust and contamination. Include photographs when available.
Required surface
Provide the cleanliness, surface profile or finish requirement and the coating or lining that will follow. For shot peening, supply the peening specification.
Protected areas
Identify threads, machined fits, thin sections and surfaces that must be protected, plus handling and access constraints.
Common questions
Which blasting media does ACS offer?
Capabilities include garnet, aluminum oxide and glass bead, plus shot peening. The substrate, contamination, required profile or finish and project specification guide the process selection.
What areas need protection during blasting?
Identify threads, sealing faces, bearing fits, machined surfaces and any other protected areas on the drawing. Provide the required surface condition and downstream coating specification so preparation can be coordinated.
