Industrial Blasting Solutions for the Manufacturing Industry

Pet food dryers, printing presses, CNC machines, coffee bean silos, and rail loaders may seem to have little in common. But, despite their surface level differences, they share a similarity: all pose unique challenges to manufacturers when it comes to cleaning.

For many manufacturers, keeping equipment and facilities clean is a continual struggle defined by competing interests. Cleaning methods must be aggressive enough to remove hard-set buildup – but also gentle enough not to damage delicate machinery. Solutions must be efficient and minimally disruptive – but also cost-effective. These inherent challenges mean many traditional forms of cleaning – like hydroblasting or hand cleaning – are not viable options. 

Luckily, no manufacturing cleaning project is impossible. Solutions – including dry ice blasting, sponge blasting, abrasive media blasting, and hybrid methods – don’t force manufacturers to choose between efficacy, safety, efficiency, and cost-effectiveness. These innovative industrial blasting solutions can be used to thoroughly clean equipment and machinery in a range of manufacturing settings – without causing damage, triggering prolonged downtimes, or racking up eye-watering bills.   

Common Manufacturing Cleaning Challenges

Intricate Equipment & Challenging Materials

To avoid unnecessary downtime, manufacturing equipment must be properly maintained. When debris is left to accumulate on machines, they may malfunction or underperform.

Unfortunately, routine maintenance often isn’t straightforward. Manufacturing facilities are full of sensitive and complex equipment that is easily damaged by traditional cleaning methods that use water or abrasive chemicals. Because of this, many manufacturers struggle to keep delicate machinery free from accumulated operational by-products, dust and grime – or more stubborn materials like ink, paint and adhesives.

Regulatory & Environmental Considerations

Manufacturers must adhere to strict safety and regulatory standards – which further underscores the importance of keeping equipment clean. Certain contaminants and combustible dust can accumulate on machinery and threaten worker health – and the public.

Unfortunately, certain cleaning methods can exacerbate those concerns – and even introduce new safety and environmental threats. Some solutions do a poor job of containing dust – combustible or otherwise – and others produce toxic substrates or secondary waste that must be specially handled and disposed of.  

Partnering with providers of industrial cleaning services in Australia can help manufacturers meet these standards effectively, ensuring that cleaning practices are both safe and environmentally responsible.

Ensuring Safety While Minimizing Downtime

The steps that must be taken to keep equipment in proper working order and protect worker safety can come at the expensive of efficiency. Traditional cleaning methods – like hand cleaning – are labor intensive and lead to prolonged downtimes. Other solutions introduce secondary debris that must be cleaned up after the primary cleaning is conducted. These delays significantly impact production schedules and can be costly. 

The Benefits of Dry Ice Blasting for Manufacturing

Dry ice blasting uses pellets of frozen carbon dioxide to clean surfaces thoroughly – but gently enough to protect underlying materials. The force can be adjusted from a light dusting (to clean delicate and even electrical components) to a strong blast (to remove corrosion or weld slag, for example).  

The waterless, chemical-free process leaves no secondary debris or media residue behind. Because of this, dry ice blasting greatly reduces the labor costs associated with secondary cleaning and minimizes downtime. Further, because dry ice blasting is chemical-free and non-toxic, it is safe to use in manufacturing settings with the most stringent environmental and regulatory compliance requirements. 

If a more aggressive clean is needed (such as complete paint removal), or if hazardous materials must be contained, other solutions like abrasive blasting and sponge blasting may be used alone or in conjunction with dry ice blasting. 

Additional Manufacturing Cleaning Considerations

Every manufacturing cleaning job is unique – which means additional challenges may also be present. These include:  

• The need to contain debris 
• The requirement for technicians to work in confined spaces or at heights
• The presence of hazardous materials, like mold or asbestos

These circumstances often require additional training, precautions and, sometimes, certifications. To ensure compliance and safety, manufacturers should partner with a blasting expert staffed by trained, certified technicians – who understand the complexities of working in manufacturing settings.

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