Sector: National construction and civil engineering
Location: Multiple UK sites
Solution: EVP-A 800 vibratory finishing system
Project Lead: Adam Hurley, SurfacePrep UK (PDJ Vibro)
Carey Group moved from hand-chipping and wire-brushing scaffold fittings to a fully automated vibratory process. The EVP-A 800 bowl now delivers clean, rust-free hardware in a single unattended cycle, eliminating heavy manual work and consumable acids. Uptime is steadier, turnaround is faster and operators can focus on higher-value tasks.
The challenge
- Scaffold couplers and fittings live outdoors, exposed to concrete splash, rain and salt.
- On-site teams spent significant trade hours grinding, chipping and freeing seized fasteners.
- Damaged parts shortened scaffold lifespan and pushed up replacement costs.
- Inconsistent manual cleaning left compliance risks on safety-critical equipment.
The turning point
During a live trial at PDJ Vibro’s Sheffield showroom Carey engineers watched their own rusted clamps exit the bowl visibly as new. The system removed concrete and oxide scale in one cycle, generated no airborne dust and ran from a standard 415V three-phase supply. Four right-sized machines were quoted that same afternoon.
The solution
After a second proof-run Carey’s Managing Director ordered an EVP-A 800 vibratory finishing system held in SurfacePrep stock. Delivery took 48 hours, commissioning and operator training were completed on site and media was selected to suit mixed-metal scaffold parts.
"Purchasing the EVP-A 800 Vibro Bowl from PDJ Vibro has been a game-changer for us. The machine is saving hours of manual labour, now effortlessly deburring rusted scaffold and formwork components and cleaning multiple concrete pipe couplers at once with excellent results. Components that once would have been scrapped are now salvageable and reused. The customer service was excellent and Adam’s technical knowledge made the whole process smooth, from a very simple machine set-up to day-to-day operating."
Impact observed by Carey Group
- Manual deburring and wire-brushing largely eliminated
- Multiple parts processed together instead of one at a time
- Previously scrap-bound fittings now refurbished and reused
- Operators report a cleaner, quieter working environment
Why SurfacePrep UK and PDJ Vibro
- Proof, not promises, live demo with the client’s own parts
- Machines, media and spares held in UK stock for rapid delivery
- Consultative engineering, capacity was upsized once ROI became clear
- Lifecycle support, operator training, media optimisation and next-day spares
- Automate the mundane, free skilled labour for higher-value work
- Insist on live trials, real parts build real confidence
- Look at total cost, consider labour, downtime and asset life, not just purchase price
- Choose a partner, not a product, stock, service network and technical support matter
Call 0114 254 0600 or email
Or contact Adam Hurley directly on 01908 648757 or email
