Spray Process That Reduces Dust Formation

Stephan Rindfleisch / Product Marketing Manager AFTD - Graco BVBA

Graco's EcoQuip™ wet abrasive blasting process eliminates approximately 92% of airborne particles and provides removal rates comparable to conventional dry blasting. Many different techniques are used to prepare a surface for effective corrosion protection. The most common is sandblasting. This process can be performed conventionally or as low-pressure wet abrasive blasting. Other materials used in blasting include high-pressure water (water blasting), pressurized air with sodium bicarbonate-based abrasive (soda blasting), pressurized air with carbon dioxide (dry ice blasting), and even vacuum systems. Why have so many methods been developed? The primary reason was to eliminate the major disadvantage of significant dust generation during sandblasting operations. Beyond the health and safety concerns that dust clouds pose to both operators and nearby workers, dust management is also costly. The cost and management of abrasives must be considered. Graco has been addressing these issues for several years. In this context, it has developed a revolutionary alternative to sandblasting: wet abrasive blasting with EcoQuip™.

What is Wet Abrasive Blasting?

The difference between wet abrasive blasting and sandblasting is the use of water. No changes have been made to the wet abrasive blasting process; the same process has been applied since approximately 1941. However, this process has never been optimized. Graco took an existing technology and significantly improved it. Among the recent developments Graco has achieved in wet and wet abrasive blasting technologies are increased production rates to reduce water consumption, optimization of air, water, and abrasive ratios for best performance, and achievement of the same profile as conventional blasting methods. In brief, Graco's approach to the wet abrasive blasting process involves simultaneously adding abrasive material and water to a pressurized tank. The abrasive remains suspended in the water, and the mixture reaches high velocity through a powerful pressurized air stream. Each blasting particle is wrapped with water, adding extra weight to the material and thus increasing the impact of the blasting material on the substrate. Additionally, material cleaning and finishing become easier and less abrasive is used. Water reduces splashing and envelops the generated dust. Since dust is minimized, less containment is required and abrasive cleanup time can be reduced. Wet abrasive blasting uses less water compared to slurry or other water-based technologies, leaves no standing water behind, and reduces concerns related to toxic material runoff. The result is a cleaner process with better control.

Wet Blasting with EcoQuip

EcoQuip is Graco's wet abrasive blasting equipment. It has proven suitable for a wide variety of applications across different industries, including removal of paint, rust, corrosion, graffiti, industrial paints and primers, and road markings. It is ideal for general metal, stone, and wood cleaning, monument and heritage restoration, lead and asbestos abatement, and building and site maintenance. In all these applications, EcoQuip has demonstrated reduced project costs and increased blasting speed, effectiveness, and efficiency. Over the past two years, Graco conducted extensive research to make EcoQuip faster, easier to use, and more reliable in the field. As part of this research, Graco conducted surveys among its distributors, performed field tests at various customer job sites, and spent hundreds of hours on product testing. This resulted in the production of EcoQuip 2.

What Are the Features of EcoQuip 2?

The factory-preset tank pressure feature makes it easy to use, requires no field adjustment, and provides more consistent blasting power. The new vent-free tank has a more consistent blasting pattern compared to EcoQuip 1 and 50% greater usable tank capacity. Setup and tank pressurization are quick and seamless without external vent plugs. The tank features a new dual-layer coating for maximum corrosion resistance. The new and improved Blast Counter with MediaTrak™ provides faster and easier setup and enables more convenient and consistent monitoring of abrasive consumption. The machine controls have been simplified, making EcoQuip 2 easier and more intuitive to use compared to the company's previous product. Maximum blasting pressure has been increased from 8.3 bar (120 psi) to 10.3 bar (150 psi) to provide additional power for maximum production. The blasting circuit is designed with a quick-disconnect design allowing faster extraction rates and easier servicing, with minimal pressure loss. The new and flexible blasting valve is compatible with both coarse and fine abrasives (12-150 micron sizes) and provides greater application versatility. On Elite models, the shelf, step, and tank fill design is optimized for improved bag filling and management. The results are impressive: 50% faster reload process after running empty and 30% faster abrasive filling compared to EcoQuip 1. Elite models also include a water metering gauge to provide additional dust control.

One Mobile and Two Skid Systems

EcoQuip 2 EQm is a compact and fully portable entry-level product featuring an internal hand cart with oversized wheels for easy site maneuverability. Blasting pressure ranges from 1.7-12.1 bar (25-175 psi) and the 100-liter tank capacity accommodates approximately eight 25 kg bags of abrasive. Two versions are available for Graco EcoQuip 2 skid systems. The standard model, EcoQuip 2 EQs, features simple specifications with a coated carbon steel impact frame. EcoQuip 2 EQs Elite comes with a stainless steel frame and additional features for quick and easy setup. Both skid versions feature a 185-liter tank that accommodates approximately sixteen 25 kg bags of abrasive.

Two Satisfied Customers

The existing sidewalk structure on Denman Street in London was being damaged by high-end vehicles such as Bentley, Rolls-Royce, and Jaguar, which frequently pulled up to drop off hotel guests. To prevent further damage to the sidewalk, modifications were required and a curved walkway was added. Additionally, the cut sidewalk stones needed slight further adjustment to match the worn and deteriorated appearance of the existing ground. However, replacing granite sidewalk stones typically requires road closure and produces large amounts of waste—a time-consuming and expensive process. A new technique developed by D-Drill and patented as D-Kerb eliminated the need for costly sidewalk replacement, road closure, and waste disposal by cutting the stones in place. Using EcoQuip EQ300s, the granite surface was brought to a pitted form matching the structure of the existing sidewalk stones. The absence of waste generation allowed the street to remain open except for the cordoned work area. A 40-meter section was relaid in just a few hours. The conventional stone reshaping method using needle guns would have taken days for this process. D-Drill, the company that performed the renovation: "Compared to other technologies, EcoQuip results in less breaking and dust scatter while providing significant time savings during the work." Mat' Environnement, based in Orleans, France, which performs landscaping work on courtyards, pathways, terraces, and fences, recently purchased a Graco EcoQuip EQ600S wet abrasive blasting unit. One of their first projects was a farm renovation. This project required cleaning large quantities of stone, brick, and wood. The delicate work needed to be done quickly and effectively without damaging the structure. While completely renovating and cleaning the farm would take weeks using conventional methods, it took only three days. Thanks to EcoQuip's wet abrasive blasting technology, there was virtually no dust; the small amount of water remaining on the ground and the negligible amount of material were very easy to clean. Thanks to the unit's 435-liter reservoir, uninterrupted operation for eight hours was possible without refilling water. For more information about Graco's EcoQuip wet abrasive blasting solutions, you can visit Graco's website.