Blast Cleaning Equipment - The Guide to Getting the Job Done Right

Incorrect kit choice, incompatible media, or poor setup can paralyse operations. SurfacePrep solves these risks at source, with advice, stock, and service you can trust.

Whether you're blasting rust off steel, prepping for a perfect paint finish, or cleaning industrial equipment, the results come down to one thing, the equipment you use.

1. The Cost of Blast Cleaning
2. SurfacePrep is proud to be a UK Manufacturer
3. The Core Kit: Blast Cleaning Equipment Overview
   • Blast Cabinets
   • Pressure Cabinets
   • Suction Cabinets
   • SmartCab
   • Tumble Basket Cabinet
   • Indexing Table Machines
   • Bespoke Cabinets and Engineered Systems
   • Blast Cabinet Comparison Table
4. Blast Rooms
   • Fully Configurable Systems
   • Media Recovery Options
   • Dust Extraction Done Right
   • Containerised Blast Rooms
   • Design, Installation, Training, Support
5. Portable Blast Machines
   • Standard Portable Blast Pots
   • Eductomatic Closed-Circuit Systems
   • Eductoblast (EDB60 / EDB75)
   • IBIX Blast Systems
   • Blast Pots: Core to Any Mobile Setup
6. Abrasive Blast Cleaning Supplies
   • Metallic
   • Aluminium Oxide
   • Expendable
   • Glass Media
   • Plastic
   • Specialist
   • How to Choose the Right Abrasive
   • Process Validation & Testing
   • Why SurfacePrep Abrasives Add Value
7. PPE and Operator Safety: Protection That Matches the Process
   • SurfacePrep PPE Solutions
   • Supporting Services
8. Training That Builds Confidence, Capability and Compliance
9. Why SurfacePrep? The Full System Advantage

Cutting corners on your blast cleaning setup does more than slow production. It eats into profit, increases rework, and puts operator safety at risk.

Too many teams rely on ageing cabinets, incompatible abrasives or makeshift solutions that weren't designed for their duty cycle. That leads to inconsistent results, high media waste and preventable delays.

And when equipment does fail, many businesses find out the hard way that spare parts are hard to source, training is lacking and support is nowhere to be found.

If you're researching blast cleaning equipment, this is your no-nonsense guide to:

• Understanding the range of kit available and what it does
• Choosing the right solution for your application and budget
• Exploring SurfacePrep’s full-service offer, from spares to training
• Learning how to reduce cost and increase throughput with the right system

Whether you're running a single cabinet or managing a blast room fleet, this page is your practical first step.

SurfacePrep is the UK’s leading manufacturer and service partner for abrasive blast equipment. With over 60 years of engineering heritage, we design and build cabinets, blast rooms and accessories right here in the UK. Our Sheffield facility houses a full spares warehouse, technical support centre, and service workshop.

We support some of the biggest names in defence, rail, marine and manufacturing. But we also work with independent job shops, bodywork repairers and fabrication firms. Our mission is simple, to deliver consistent, high-quality surface prep results with maximum uptime.

Whether you're restoring alloy wheels or processing aerospace parts, blast cabinet performance defines the finish. SurfacePrep offers one of the most comprehensive ranges of pressure and suction blast cabinets in the UK, built for reliability, safety and repeatable results.

From entry-level SmartCabs for small shops to fully automated, production-grade indexing machines, SurfacePrep has a cabinet for every application, media and throughput level.

Applications

Our blast cabinets are used daily by clients in:

• Corrosion removal from steel and non-ferrous components
• Powder coat stripping and surface preparation
• Plastic media stripping of aerospace components
• Glass bead finishing for medical or automotive parts
• Aesthetic surface texturing, peening and stress relieving
• Memorial stone cleaning and detailed architectural work

Pressure-fed cabinets deliver up to five times the cleaning rate of suction systems. These are ideal for heavy coatings, rust removal, or high-volume production environments.

Features

• Large capacity pressure blast vessels
• Abrasive regraders for media longevity
• AReverse pulse dust collectors for visibility
• AVacuum recovery units to reduce downtime
• APressure regulators and grit valves for fine-tuning
• ADoor interlocks and pneumatic foot pedals for safety and control
• ACompatible with iron grit, steel grit, alumina and other heavy-duty media

Explore our IND800 to IND1500 cabinet models with 15 to 50 litre blast machines.

Suction cabinets are cost-effective, lower air-consumption solutions. Perfect for light blasting, decorative finishes and smaller batch sizes.

Features

• Wide-opening doors, with optional vestibules for longer components
• Reverse pulse dust extraction for operator visibility
• Adjustable air pressure control
• Optional media recycling and classifier systems
• Ergonomic glove ports and high-efficiency BNP guns
• Compact footprint and easy installation

These are ideal for workshops or technical environments that need flexibility without heavy capital investment.

The SmartCab is our compact, economic suction blast unit, ideal for intermittent use or low-volume operations.

• Handles all common abrasives, including glass bead, crushed glass, plastic and aluminium oxide
• Fully assembled unit with reverse jet dust collector
• Clean, self-contained footprint: 1000 x 775 x 1710 mm
• Air consumption: 14–26 cfm depending on pressure

A perfect choice for job shops, maintenance teams or training environments.

For operations dealing with small components in batches, such as nuts, bolts or washers, our tumble basket systems offer automated blast coverage with maximum efficiency.

• Internal rotation exposes every surface of the parts
• Uniform, repeatable finish
• Available as retrofits or fully integrated automated systems
• Semi-automated and manual override modes for flexibility

Boosts throughput in manufacturing and MRO settings

Our high-output A200 indexing table machine includes:

• 6, 8 or 12 satellite stations
• Adjustable blast gun positioning for full part coverage
• Optional reciprocators and pick-and-place robots
• Handles awkward components up to 150mm x 300mm
• Compatible with aggressive and fine abrasives
• Designed for continuous production environments

When standard cabinets won’t cut it, SurfacePrep delivers engineered solutions, including:

• Rotary tables and conveyors
• Semi- and fully-automated systems
• Roller tracking for heavy components
• Dual-axis turntables and pick-and-place robotic loaders
• Bespoke blast vestibules and loading flaps

• Vestibules with rubber curtains for oversized parts
• Pneumatic or manual turntables
• External roller track systems
• Door interlocks for compliance
• Glove port customisations
• Dust collector capacity increases

Ask us about retrofit packages for existing cabinets.

SurfacePrep’s Sheffield demo facility enables you to test your components, media and blast settings before committing to a system.

We simulate real applications using both suction and pressure cabinets, validate media choices and provide a process performance report.

• Confirms finish quality, media suitability and cycle time
• De-risks capital investment
• Available on request with all blast cabinet enquiries

When scale, throughput, or specification go beyond what a blast cabinet can handle, SurfacePrep’s modular blast rooms take over. These systems are designed for high-volume surface preparation, fast turnaround and long-term reliability, and every room is built around your operation, not ours.

We manufacture and install the UK’s most versatile blast room systems, including:

• Steel Panel Blast Rooms - Heavy-duty, internal-use booths made from thick-gauge steel and structural framing
• Acoustic Low-Noise Booths - Composite panel enclosures with excellent noise reduction and thermal insulation
• Weatherproof Containerised Rooms - Ready-to-deploy, freestanding booths for yard use or temporary site installations

Whether you’re blasting locomotives, aircraft parts or structural steel, we tailor every room to your space, recovery needs and operator throughput.

SurfacePrep blast rooms are modular by design and can be fitted with:

• Scraper floor recovery systems
• Belt & bucket elevators
• Gravity hoppers, screw conveyors, or vacuum recovery
• Reverse pulse cartridge dust collectors
• Magnetic and dense media separation
• HEPA filtration and low-noise fans
• Lighting, operator access doors, vestibules, and underfloor media storage

All elements are sized and positioned to maximise efficiency and extend media life, whether you’re using steel grit, chilled iron, aluminium oxide or plastic abrasives.

We offer multiple media recovery solutions, from simple swept-floor vacuum systems to fully automated, high-duty grit recycling units.

• IND200P Vacuum Hopper
  A compact entry-level recovery system for up to 3 hours of continuous use. Spent media is swept into a floor hopper and vacuumed into the silo where it’s separated, cleaned and re-fed.
• Belt & Bucket Elevator System
  Heavy-duty steel construction for high throughput. Suited to contaminated or mixed media environments. Can support multiple operators. Low foundation requirement.
• Scraper Floor System
  Low-profile, pneumatically-driven recovery system. Ideal for retrofits or sites where excavation isn’t feasible. Quiet, easy to maintain and highly efficient.
• Screw Conveyor Systems
  Direct-driven systems for partial or full-floor recovery. Designed for bulk loading, high flow rates and minimal maintenance.
• Gravity Feed
  Simple and durable. Regulates media flow with no moving parts, ideal when switching between media types.
• Munkebo Electric Vacuum Units
  High-powered, automated vacuum recovery with reverse pulse filter cleaning. Suitable for large sites and high-abrasive retrieval demands.

Dust removal isn’t an afterthought. It’s integral to system performance and operator safety.

SurfacePrep’s reverse pulse cartridge dust collectors maintain air clarity by:

• Regulating air speed to prevent dust settlement
• Controlling airflow direction to optimise particle capture
• Cleaning cartridges while in operation to maintain suction power

All designs comply with COSHH and HSE best practices. Systems are configured for air volume, blast room size, and filter area ratio.

Need fast deployment or temporary coverage? Our containerised blast rooms are an economical, portable solution.

• Based on ISO freight containers
• Fully weatherproofed and insulated
• Can be sited indoors or outdoors
• Ideal for vehicle refinishing and temporary worksites
• Optional telescopic design for oversized items

From concept to commissioning, every SurfacePrep blast room includes:

• 3D CAD design and layout planning
• Site assessment and environmental planning
• Full installation by our in-house team
• Operator and safety training
• Ongoing service, repair and spare parts
• Upgrade paths for recovery systems, dust collection or automation

When fixed blasting systems aren’t an option, portable blast machines offer the flexibility to take performance on-site. SurfacePrep supplies a wide range of mobile blasting systems, each designed to operate safely, efficiently and reliably in the field.

Our portable machines are used across construction, marine, defence, utilities, and infrastructure sectors, anywhere that surface prep must be done at height, at scale, or in remote locations.

• Available in a range of sizes, from 20-litre site kits to 200-litre industrial models
• Compatible with steel grit, chilled iron, glass grit, aluminium oxide and expendables
• Designed for rugged use with safety valves, deadman controls and pressure regulation
• Supported with a full inventory of spares and blast pot maintenance kits

• Compact, dust-free suction blasting system for precision work Integrated vacuum recovery and dust filtration
• Ideal for maintenance in sensitive or enclosed areas such as tanks, pipes or power stations
• Compatible with low-dust abrasives like aluminium oxide or glass bead

• High-performance version of the Eductomatic with larger capacity and pressure
• Capable of operating with metallic abrasives like steel grit
• Built for high-volume flat surface blasting or coating removal

• Lightweight, portable blast machines with ergonomic backpack or trolley design
• Available in models IBIX 9, 13, 25 and 28
• Especially suited for marine, monument and heritage work
• Runs on low air volume, making them ideal for use with portable compressors

The blast pot is the heart of any mobile abrasive blasting system. SurfacePrep’s blast pots are engineered for continuous use in harsh environments and can be configured for a wide range of abrasive types and job sizes.

Each pot includes:

• Heavy-duty vessel with certified pressure rating
• Abrasive metering valve for precise control
• Moisture separator to maintain flow quality
• Operator-safe deadman handle with pneumatic control
• Optional remote shut-off and pressure-release systems
• Compatible with most compressor outputs and nozzle sizes

Key Features:

• Easy loading and low maintenance
• Rebuild kits and replacement seals in stock
• Optional blast helmet, airline and RPE kit bundles available
• Field-serviced by SurfacePrep’s national support team

Typical Applications:

• Bridge refurbishment
• Ship deck and hull blasting
• Rail and rolling stock maintenance
• Wind turbine tower prep
• Structural steel cleaning prior to coating

Whether you're managing a one-off job or deploying a fleet for regular on-site maintenance, SurfacePrep can help you specify the right pot, abrasive and safety package to get started fast, and stay productive.

No blast cleaning system performs well without the right media. SurfacePrep holds the largest stock of abrasives in the UK, with over 30 media types in stock and ready for dispatch.

• Metallic: Steel shot, chilled iron, stainless steel grit
• Expendable: JBlast, stonegrit, calcium silicate
• Recyclable: Aluminium oxide (brown, pink, white), garnet
• Plastic: Avialite II, III, Gelblast
• Specialist: Walnut shell, glass bead, crushed glass, Sinterball, silicon carbide

We also offer media testing and sample processing to validate results before you buy.

Metallic

• Steel Shot - Recyclable and used for heavy cleaning or peening.
• Steel Grit - Angular, tougher, ideal for profiling and descaling.
• Stainless Steel Grit - Non-ferrous, non-contaminating stainless applications.
• Chilled Iron - High-impact cleaning, creates aggressive profiles.
• Profilium - High-strength metallic shot for demanding industrial tasks

Aluminium Oxide

• Brown, Pink, White grades - Versatile, durable, and recyclable; suitable for stainless, aluminium, and castings.

Expendable

• JBlast - Cost-effective and low-dust for light-scale removal
• Garnet - Medium-to-hard, fast-cutting, recyclable to extent
• Calcium Silicate, Calcium Carbonate - Soft, low-impact, ideal for gentle cleaning
• Stonegrit - Silica-free alternative for budget-friendly strippers

Glass Media

• Crushed Glass - Cost-effective, medium-cut, leaves matte finish
• Glass Bead - Recyclable, produces bright finish on castings

Plastic

• Avialite Gelblast, Type 2, Type 3, Type 5 - Soft, low-dust media for delicate substrates (e.g. composites, aerospace Kevlar)

Specialist

• Walnut Shell - Biodegradable and gentle on wood, stone or composites
• Black Silicon Carbide, Sinterball, Emery, Nyflash, Polyflash, Bauxite, Sodium Bicarbonate - From ultra-hard cut to soft soda blasting

1. Surface Profile & Cleanliness
   Harder, angular media (e.g. steel grit, aluminium oxide) deliver higher roughness, essential for coatings. Softer media (e.g. glass bead, walnut shell) deliver controlled cleaning with minimal substrate impact.
2. Recyclability vs Expendable
   Metals and aluminium oxide are recyclable, ideal for cost efficiency. Expendable media offer low initial cost but require larger consumption volumes.
3. Dust & Environmental Considerations
   Media such as calcium carbonate and soda blasting are silica-free and low-dust, better for heritage sites or food processing.
4. Surface & Compliance Requirements
   Stainless steel grit prevents cross-contamination on stainless parts. Soda blasting and walnut shell are asphalt-friendly and heritage-compliant.

Every application is unique. That’s why SurfacePrep offers media sample testing at our Sheffield facility. We test batch sizes under real working conditions, measuring:

• Surface profile depth
• Cleanliness and brightness
• Consumption rates
• Dust generation and collection performance

You receive a full validation report before investing in a full media delivery—mitigating risk and ensuring specification compliance.

• Single-source supply of both hard and speciality media
• Recycling and Waste Disposal. Cut costs with SurfacePrep UK’s abrasive recycling system
• Quick delivery of over 30 grades from UK stock
• Process support: testing, validation, and expert media advice
• Compliance confidence: silica-free and food-grade options
• Cost certainty: media choice backed by reproducible performance data

Abrasive blasting is one of the most demanding surface preparation methods, not just for equipment, but for people. The right Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) is essential to protect your operators from airborne contaminants, noise, rebound media, and breathing air risks.

At SurfacePrep, we supply full PPE systems built specifically for abrasive blasting environments. These are fully compatible with our blast pots, cabinets, and rooms, and meet UK legislation and HSE guidance on safe working practices.

Why It Matters

Inadequate PPE doesn’t just compromise safety, it reduces operator confidence, productivity, and, ultimately, the quality of the finish. With the correct gear, operators can work longer, safer and more precisely, while employers stay compliant and reduce the risk of incidents or enforcement action.

• Full-head blast helmets (e.g. Apollo 600, RPB Nova 3 and Nova 2000) with robust visor systems
• CE-certified, impact-resistant design with replaceable lens covers
• Integrated air feed with built-in noise attenuation and cooling options
• Compatible with compressed air or powered air purifying respirators (PAPR)

• Systems remove oil, water vapour, and odours from compressed air
• Available as wall-mounted or portable units with multiple outlets
• In-line CO monitors and filter change indicators
• HSE-compliant to COSHH regulations for supplied breathing air quality

• Abrasion-resistant blast suits with heavy-duty canvas and leather reinforcement
• Lightweight, breathable underlayers for comfort in hot environments
• Blast gloves, gaiters and boot covers to protect extremities
• Optional anti-static materials for use in explosive risk zones

• Integrated into helmet systems or supplied as standalone
• High-dB noise reduction to protect against compressor and blast noise
• Optional dual-visor setups for additional eye protection and lens longevity

PPE isn’t plug-and-play. That’s why SurfacePrep offers:

• On-site RPE and PPE training
• Fit-testing and breathing air quality checks
• COSHH compliance documentation and inspection logs
• Stocked spares, visors, filters and lenses for quick turnaround
• Technical support for compressor compatibility and air delivery

We can also bundle PPE packages with any equipment purchase or hire, so your team is fully protected from day one.

No matter how advanced your blast equipment is, the results rely on the skill and safety of the people operating it.

SurfacePrep, in partnership with the Institute of Mechanical Engineers – Argyll Ruane (IMechE AR), offers a full programme of industry-recognised training courses.

These are designed to give operators, supervisors, health & safety teams, and maintenance engineers the technical knowledge and hands-on confidence to get the best from their systems.

Whether you’re running a small SmartCab or a full-size acoustic blast room, these courses make your team safer, faster, and more compliant.

• Safe system setup, use and shut-down
• Blast pot, cabinet and blast room maintenance
• PPE and breathing air compliance
• Fault-finding and efficiency improvements
• Best practice techniques to reduce media waste and improve consistency
• Paint inspection and airless spray application (ICORR certified)

• Half-day, one-day and week-long courses
• On-site training at your facility or in Sheffield
• Bespoke training built around your site, kit, and operators

All courses combine theory and hands-on practice, and are supported by flexible delivery options including:

• Practical demonstrations using your equipment or ours
• Fully documented training outcomes and optional certification
• Customised syllabus for different roles, operators, managers, inspectors, or health & safety leads

Choosing SurfacePrep, opens the full customer support system, backed by:

• In-house UK manufacturing and design
• Fast access to spares and consumables
• Nationwide service team
• Tailored maintenance packages
• Operator and compliance training
• Media stockholding and recycling support
• Site-specific system design and installation

Whether you're upgrading an old cabinet, fitting out a new workshop, or reviewing your abrasive spend, SurfacePrep has the tools and knowledge to help.

• Book a free equipment consultation
• Request a site visit from one of our technical team
• Download our Blast Equipment Selector PDF (Coming soon)

Call 0114 254 0600
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Your finish starts here. Let’s get it right.