Recently, there has been a growing demand for new solutions that enhance the quality of surface cleaning. We're not only referring to the final result but also to the process itself. Whether it's industrial, commercial, or heritage cleaning, there's a significant emphasis on exploring new, efficient technologies. Many solutions available in the market presently fail to meet customer expectations.
The most popular method, such as sandblasting, due to its laborious nature, invasiveness, and issues related to industrial processes, in many cases, becomes impractical to use. Additionally, current EU regulations heavily restrict the use of this technology.
An alternative method to sandblasting is laser cleaning, which is gaining increasing recognition and rapidly expanding in global application. Substituting sandblasting with laser cleaning is inevitable because the benefits of using lasers are immense.
The laser pulse is powerful enough to clean old metal from rust and paint, while the removal of coatings occurs through evaporation, without affecting the processed surface, thus preventing damage. By using ablative laser cleaning, not only do we rid surfaces of old coatings, but we can also refine surfaces, polish, and change adhesion. Materials cleaned of rust or paint by laser are prepared for the application of new coatings.
In both the Polish and foreign markets, there are numerous companies offering sandblasting as a solution for businesses and individuals aiming to remove paint and old coatings. Below, we present the advantages of our technology compared to more traditional methods, indicating why laser cleaning is superior to sandblasting.
Advanced rusting typically compromises the structural integrity of materials. The process of rusting, once initiated, never ceases. While it takes nothing more than a bit of water, oxygen, and a metallic surface to stimulate its formation, there's yet to be anything that can halt this phenomenon. The issue becomes pronounced with sensitive materials that require periodic treatments to remove rust and its residues. No one wants to subject them to a process that could distort or even cause holes in the surface. In such cases, the alternative method of using lasers to remove rust becomes particularly appealing. This option allows the reliable removal of traces of old coatings and paints without the risk of damage, even to the most sensitive surfaces. An additional advantage is the 'cleanliness' of the process and the absence of the need to protect the workspace from unwanted sand particles. Consequently, we can achieve all the benefits of sandblasting without the risk of damage, while maintaining cleanliness in the workspace.
The guarantee of safe laser cleaning is possible because no additional abrasive media are applied to the cleaned surface.
In sandblasting, the high-pressure nozzle of the device ejects small grains onto the surface, which erode the coating or paint. These grains are also responsible for the aforementioned damages.
But what about lasers? During laser cleaning, there are no abrasives. Depending on the chosen parameters, we cover the material with series of light pulses with power and energy properly tailored to the material. Ultimately, we achieve a safer, more streamlined, and highly repeatable process.
Environmental concern is a natural human inclination. In the case of cleaning, the waste produced is in gaseous form, making it very easy to draw off and separate. Laser paint removal from material surfaces does not contribute to anything harmful to our environment. Additionally, there's no need to bear the costs of potential disposal of paint residues, old elements, or chemical waste. These are immeasurable benefits for all involved parties.
Devices produced by Flaser operate through a process called laser ablation. The laser is bright and focused enough so that anything that absorbs light will heat up, and the coating will evaporate. No additional materials are needed, apart from the equipment itself. These are huge environmental benefits that need to be considered. There's no need to use any chemicals or additional agents for proper functioning. This means no secondary waste that needs to be disposed of. Once the laser completes its task, the device can simply be set aside for the next use.
Sandblasting can be a precise technology; we won't deny that. However, this traditional method loses to the potential offered by lasers. Operators can focus on very specific areas, ensuring that only those metal fragments we want to clean are affected.
Flaser's devices are controlled in real-time, meaning they can be easily adjusted if necessary. Automating the process won't pose difficulties either. With laser cleaning, we have control even over the depth of ablation. We can precisely remove problematic coatings in many ways, in precisely defined areas that need it, without affecting the rest that doesn’t require it.
With high prices for electricity, water, or compressed air, low operational costs are crucial for anyone considering purchasing such a device or using services offered by Flaser. Therefore, it's crucial that lasers, for proper functioning, do not require any external materials, resulting in very low maintenance and operational costs.
Rust cleaning with lasers is just one of the applications. Thanks to its advantages, this technology works excellently for cleaning injection molds, sandstones, bricks, all types of historic details, or paint removal. The laser selectively removes various coatings layer by layer. It can refine surfaces, polish, and process not only metal details but also composites, paper, and many other materials.