A blasting machine for industry can be used to remove rust, mill scale, oxidation, old paints, processing residues and contaminants from components, metal structures, tanks, pipes, machinery and metal constructions. The choice depends on part size, cycle frequency, material, required surface profile and subsequent treatment. For small and repetitive components, a closed cabinet is normally indicated; for localised operations, a recovery blasting machine may be preferable, while large surfaces require open blasting and greater autonomy. Moulds and plants can instead benefit from dry ice cleaning when water and abrasives must be avoided.
Where industrial blasting is used
Blasting is used in numerous production and maintenance processes:
- ✓ Rust removal and mill-scale removal
- ✓ Paint stripping and oxide removal
- ✓ Casting cleaning and weld treatment
- ✓ Component cleaning and controlled roughening
- ✓ Satin finishing, shot peening and mould cleaning
- ✓ Machinery maintenance and recovery of structures or plants
- ✓ Treatment before painting, metallisation or protective coatings
FEVI associates the Industry sector with the processing of steel, iron, metal structures, components, structures, tanks and plants, identifying geometry, abrasive, cleanliness level and required productivity as the main selection criteria.
Blasting must be integrated into the industrial cycle
The machine must not be chosen in isolation. The blasting result must be consistent with the subsequent process, for example: liquid painting, powder coating, galvanising, metallisation, chrome plating, application of technical coatings, bonding, welding, dimensional inspection, assembly. A visually clean surface may not be adequate if it presents: soluble contaminants, oil, grease, residual dust, embedded abrasive, excessive roughness, insufficient roughness, ferrous particles incompatible with the material or oxidation formed after processing. For this reason, the following must be defined before the process: cleanliness level, required profile, permitted contaminants, interval between blasting and coating, abrasive, inspection method, handling and storage methods.
Cleanliness grade and treatment specification
The expression “blast properly” does not describe a measurable technical requirement. For steel surfaces, contract documents may refer to dedicated standards for visual assessment of the initial condition and the cleanliness grade achieved. ISO 8501-1:2007 specifies rust grades and visual preparation grades for steel surfaces; in July 2026 this edition still appears to be published, while the new revision is under development. ISO 8501-3:2025 instead concerns the preparation of welds, edges and other surface imperfections that can affect corrosion protection. Conformity must not be declared automatically from the choice of blasting machine alone. The following must be considered: contract specification, material, abrasive, roughness, measurement method, contamination, protective cycle and final inspection.
Treatable materials and components
The manufacturing and foundry sector deals with substrates and geometries requiring dedicated parameters:
Carbon steel and stainless steel
Carbon steel may present rust, mill scale, paints, primers, oxidation, contaminants, welding residues and process deposits. Blasting can be used to obtain a clean surface and a profile consistent with the subsequent coating. The following must be assessed: part thickness, corrosion grade, presence of welds, edges, geometry, required roughness, time before painting and environmental conditions.
Stainless steel requires separate management from carbon steel. The main risk is transferring ferrous contamination through abrasive already used on iron, shared cabinets that are not properly separated, contaminated floors, equipment, recovery systems, brushes and handling. When absence of contamination is a requirement, dedicated abrasive, a separate circuit, documented cleaning, compatible equipment and a chamber or cabinet configured for stainless steel must be provided. FEVI blasting rooms can be produced in configurations dedicated to stainless steel and integrated with systems for the use and separation of compatible abrasives.
Aluminium, cast iron and castings
Aluminium is more sensitive to deformation and etching than many steel structures. The following must be assessed: thickness, alloy, geometry, welds, hardness, required finish, deformation risk and ferrous contamination. On thin sheet metal, a concentrated and prolonged jet can generate heat and deformation. It is therefore necessary to control pressure, abrasive, distance, angle, exposure time and pass sequence.
Blasting castings can remove moulding sand, oxides, slag, encrustations, release-agent residues and surface contaminants. The choice between manual cabinet, rotary basket, automatic system or blasting room depends on size, weight, part quantity, geometry, cleanliness level, handling and production frequency.
Mechanical components, metal structures and moulds
Gears, supports, flanges, brackets, casings and other components must be assessed considering: surfaces to be protected, threads, tolerances, seats, holes, bearings, internal residues and permitted roughness. Areas that must not be treated must be masked or protected. Metal structures can include beams, profiles, frames, bases, welded structures, tanks, skids, walkways, parapets and oversized artefacts. The choice between open blasting and a blasting room depends mainly on size, frequency, weight, handling, available space, need to recover the abrasive and automation level.
Moulds can be contaminated by release agents, resins, rubber, plastic, carbonaceous residues, glues, grease and process deposits. When the contaminant must be removed without modifying the mould profile, dry ice cleaning can represent an alternative to abrasive blasting. Compatibility must be verified according to mould material, coating, temperature, residue, geometry, need for disassembly and sensitivity of components and wiring.
Contaminants and required results
Industrial blasting and shot peening act on structural removal or on aesthetic and functional finishing:
- Rust and mill scale: Rust can be superficial, widespread, stratified, localised, accompanied by loss of thickness or present beneath a coating. Blasting removes accessible corrosion products, but does not rebuild lost material and does not solve structural defects. Mill scale can be strongly bonded to rolled steel; its removal requires suitable abrasive, impact energy, working angle, sufficient time and control of the cleanliness grade.
- Paints and coatings: Difficulty changes according to composition, elasticity, thickness, number of layers, adhesion, temperature, geometry and substrate contamination. An elastic coating can absorb part of the impact and be more difficult to remove than a brittle paint.
- Oxidation, contamination and finishes: Stainless steel, aluminium and alloys may present oxides, heat alteration, residues, ferrous contamination, welding deposits and surface impurities. Abrasive choice must avoid incompatible contamination. Blasting and shot peening can also be used to obtain an aesthetic or functional finish that depends on material, abrasive, grain shape, size, pressure, distance, recirculation, abrasive wear and pass uniformity.
Blasting technologies for industry
FEVI plant configurations respond to the volume and logistical constraints of the production department:
Blasting cabinet
The cabinet is a closed machine in which the operator works from the outside through gloves, viewing window, gun and dedicated controls. It is suitable for small and medium-sized parts, repetitive components, frequent work, cleaning, paint stripping, satin finishing, shot peening and oxide removal. The main advantages are abrasive containment, visibility, recovery, extraction, greater repeatability and a tidier work area. The FEVI cabinet category identifies these as solutions for workshops and production departments that treat small and medium-sized components with higher frequency and control than open blasting.
Recovery blasting
The recovery blasting machine works with a head kept in contact with the surface. It is suitable for welds, vertical surfaces, localised repairs, spot coating removal, in-department operations, maintenance work and relatively regular surfaces. The advantage is the possibility of recovering abrasive and dust directly during treatment. The main limitation is geometry. The head can lose effectiveness on edges, corners, narrow pipes, reliefs, strongly curved surfaces, undercuts and very irregular structures.
Open blasting and variable-autonomy or high-autonomy blasting machines
Open blasting provides the greatest freedom on geometry. It is suitable for metal structures, tanks, frames, structures, machinery, large surfaces, irregular parts and site activities. However, it requires more complex management of abrasive, dust, screening, safety, collection, ventilation and area cleaning. A machine with modular capacity can be used in a compact configuration for short operations or with greater capacity for prolonged work. Blasting machines with large-capacity tanks are indicated when the surface is extensive, the cycle is long and refills affect productivity, especially if the operator works far from the machine body.
Dry ice cleaning
Dry ice cleaning uses dry ice pellets accelerated by compressed air. The dry ice sublimates after impact and leaves no cleaning-medium residue. It may be suitable for moulds, presses, robots, production lines, panels, extruders, ovens, components, oils, grease, glues, carbonaceous residues, process dirt and production deposits. It does not automatically replace abrasive blasting. If the aim is to remove deep rust, remove mill scale, create a profile, roughen metal or remove highly resistant coatings, abrasive or hybrid technology may be necessary.
Blasting room
A blasting room is a closed industrial environment in which the operator physically enters to treat the part. It is suitable when the component does not fit inside a cabinet, the parts are heavy, metal structures are oversized, the cycle is frequent, abrasive recovery is required, open blasting cannot be managed in an open area, or handling and dust collection must be integrated. FEVI blasting rooms are designed according to part size, abrasive, recovery, frequency, space and automation level. They can include partial, semi-total or total recovery and configurations without masonry work.
How to choose industrial abrasive
The selection of abrasive media affects finish, recirculation and management of the direct operating costs of utilities:
- Steel grit and corundum: Steel grit offers high removal capacity, good durability, possibility of recirculation, productivity and a marked profile. It is normally used in suitably designed systems. Corundum is a hard and angular abrasive, useful when high cutting capacity, coating removal, controlled roughness and processing of resistant metals are required, producing wear on nozzles and components that must be considered in the process cost.
- Glass beads and ceramic abrasives: Glass beads are used for satin finishing, uniforming, finishing or less incisive cleaning on stainless steel, aluminium and components. Ceramic abrasives can be suitable for repeatable finishes on non-ferrous materials and processes requiring high media durability.
- Mineral abrasives: Used in open blasting for rust removal, paint stripping, metal structures, sites and maintenance. They must be technical products, dry, classified and compatible with the machine.
Avoid unidentified abrasives: The use of generic sands or undocumented materials can involve irregular particle sizes, clogging, excessive dust, wear and non-repeatable results. NIOSH includes abrasive blasting among the activities that can generate exposure to respirable crystalline silica and serious health risks when silica-containing materials are used.
Pressure, nozzle and compressor
Pressure must be defined according to material, contaminant, abrasive, nozzle, roughness, thickness, productivity and geometry. High pressure can increase removal, accelerate wear, break the abrasive, deform thin sheet metal or etch the substrate. Nozzle diameter directly affects airflow, working strip, productivity, abrasive consumption and jet energy; a worn nozzle progressively increases air consumption and changes process output, so checking it is part of ordinary maintenance. The compressor must be sized considering nozzle consumption, effective pressure, hose length, pressure losses, number of operators, cycle continuity and any air required for extraction or filter cleaning. Condensate and oil can contaminate the abrasive, cause clogging and compromise the subsequent coating, requiring condensate separators and dryers.
Dust, recovery and department organisation
Dust can come from abrasive, rust, mill scale, paint, substrate, process residues, contaminants and broken-down material. Technical measures may include a closed cabinet, blasting room, localised extraction, dust collection, abrasive recovery, automatic filter cleaning, department segregation, ventilation, industrial cleaning and exposure monitoring. NIOSH recommends prioritising engineering controls such as segregation, localised extraction and containment methods, avoiding reliance solely on respiratory protective equipment for operator protection. When the same company treats carbon steel, stainless steel, aluminium and non-ferrous metals, dedicated abrasives, system cleaning, circuit separation and separate storage must be carefully assessed to reduce cross-contamination.
Technology decision table
| Requirement | Indicative technology | Why | Aspects to check |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small and repetitive components | Pressure cabinet | Control, recovery and repeatability | Size, weight, roller conveyor and abrasive |
| Localised repair in the department | Recovery blasting machine | Reduces dispersion and subsequent cleaning | Geometry and head adhesion |
| Jobs differing in size | Open blasting with variable autonomy | Adapts capacity to the operation | Configuration, compressor and transport |
| Metal structures and extensive surfaces | High-autonomy open blasting | Reduces loading pauses | Nozzle, air, screening and collection |
| Moulds and production lines | Dry ice cleaning | Works without water and traditional abrasive | Residue, material, CO₂ and compressed air |
| Oversized parts | Blasting room | Creates a dedicated environment | Space, recovery, access and handling |
| Stainless steel | Dedicated circuit and abrasive | Reduces ferrous contamination | Separation and system cleaning |
| Thin sheet metal | Controlled jet | Limits deformation and etching | Pressure, angle and sequence |
| Continuous processes | System with recovery and filtration | Improves continuity and operating costs | Maintenance, spare parts and capacity |
| Site operation | Wheeled blasting machine | Facilitates positioning | Autonomy, hoses and containment |
Five FEVI models recommended for industry
1. ITALJET PLUS – Pressure blasting and shot-peening cabinet
For small and medium-sized components processed frequently
ITALJET PLUS is a professional pressure cabinet designed to perform blasting and shot peening in a closed environment. The system integrates: treatment cabinet, pressure vessel, gun with tungsten-carbide nozzle, cyclone, abrasive recovery, dust-collector filter with self-cleaning cartridges and foot-pedal control. Pressure technology produces a more incisive jet than a normal suction cabinet and is suitable for frequent industrial processes.
Industrial uses: Mechanical components, flanges, brackets, castings, casings, wheels, tools, metal parts, satin finishing, shot peening, paint stripping, oxidation removal, treatment before painting.
Strength: The main advantage is integration of the process into a closed environment: greater control, continuous recovery, lower dispersion, good visibility, repeatability and orderly abrasive management.
Configuration to check: Consumption of approximately 1,100 litres per minute when working at 6 bar with a 4 mm nozzle. The following must also be assessed: internal dimensions, part weight, doors, rotating table, roller conveyors, basket, abrasive, electrical supply and productivity.
Limit to assess: It is not suitable for components that cannot be handled or that exceed the operating space of the cabinet.
Recommended user: Workshop, metalworking industry, production department, foundry, industrial painting department, company treating components in series.
2. PRESSURE INFINITY – Industrial recovery blasting machine
For localised operations and relatively regular surfaces
PRESSURE INFINITY combines a 24-litre pressure blasting unit with a contact head and a 350 ICLEAN extraction unit equipped with automatic filter-cartridge cleaning. During treatment: the abrasive is projected onto the surface; the head confines the area; the material is recovered; the cyclone separates the reusable abrasive; dust is conveyed to the container.
Industrial uses: Weld seams, vertical surfaces, localised repairs, spot paint removal, installed metal structures, components that cannot be taken into the cabinet, operations inside the plant, maintenance work, limited areas on machinery and structures.
Strength: It allows localised blasting with immediate abrasive recovery, reducing dispersion, screening, subsequent cleaning and interruptions for manual filter maintenance.
Limit to assess: The head must maintain effective contact. It is not the first choice for complex edges, narrow pipes, gratings, reliefs, strongly curved surfaces, undercuts, very irregular structures or large areas to be treated quickly.
Recommended user: Maintenance department, metal-structure workshop, workshop, subcontracting company, company operating in environments where open blasting is difficult to manage.
3. TRANSFORMER 24/90/130 – Variable-autonomy blasting machine
For companies handling different industrial jobs
TRANSFORMER 24/90/130 is an open-blasting machine with a 24-litre base tank and removable additional tanks that allow autonomy to be increased up to 90 or 130 litres.
Industrial uses: Maintenance, metal structures, machinery, structures, frames, tanks, work at the customer’s premises, jobs of variable duration, site activities, companies alternating between small jobs and larger surfaces.
Strength: Variable capacity allows the compact configuration to be used when mobility and speed are required, the intermediate capacity for longer jobs and the 130-litre configuration when greater continuity is needed, avoiding the need to always move bulky machinery.
Limit to assess: Modularity does not eliminate the need to provide compressor, screening, operator protection, abrasive collection, dust management and space for the additional tanks.
Recommended user: Maintenance company, metal-structure workshop, subcontracting blasting contractor, company with variable jobs, technical department operating both internally and at customer sites.
4. SABIX 200 – High-autonomy industrial blasting machine
For metal structures, constructions and prolonged work
SABIX 200 is a pressure open-blasting machine with a 200-litre tank, designed for extensive surfaces and jobs where autonomy and continuity are decisive.
Industrial uses: Metal structures, structural steelwork, frames, tanks, pipes, machinery, plants, heavy maintenance, subcontracting work, sites, treatment before anticorrosive coatings.
Strength: The 200-litre tank reduces interruptions for abrasive loading. The advantage emerges when the surface is large, processing is continuous, the site is already organised and the compressor supports suitable nozzles and airflows.
Limit to assess: It is not the correct choice for small components, sporadic operations, departments without a dedicated area, companies with insufficient compressors, work requiring immediate recovery or parts that can be treated more effectively in a cabinet.
Recommended user: Blasting company, heavy metal-structure workshop, industrial maintenance, company treating large structures, operator with prolonged jobs, industrial or marine site.
5. SUBLIMA TOP – Industrial dry ice blasting machine
For moulds, presses, lines and specialised industrial cleaning
SUBLIMA TOP is a professional dry ice blasting machine designed for more continuous industrial applications than the compact models in the range. It works with compressed air, dry ice pellets, a dry process, no traditional abrasive and no chemical detergents.
Industrial uses: Plastic moulds, rubber moulds, presses, extruders, robots, production lines, ovens, panels and compatible components, carbonaceous residues, oils, grease, glues, process dirt and production deposits.
Strength: Dry ice sublimates and leaves no cleaning-medium residue. This helps reduce washing, drying, abrasive residues, disassembly operations and subsequent cleaning. The FEVI Store reports for SUBLIMA TOP a 9/12 kg tank, operating pressure from 1 to 14 bar and indicative air consumption from 800 to 3,500 litres per minute.
Limit to assess: It does not create the profile typical of abrasive blasting and is not automatically indicated for deep rust, mill scale, strong roughening, structural removal or coatings requiring abrasion. Ventilation, air consumption and CO₂ concentration must be checked.
Recommended user: Plastics industry, rubber industry, packaging, food sector, maintenance department, mould manufacturer, company with automatic lines, specialised industrial-cleaning company.
FEVI model comparison table
| Model | Technology | Recommended use | Strength | Limit to assess |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ITALJET PLUS | Pressure cabinet | Small and medium-sized components, frequent cycles | Recovery, filtration and repeatability | Part size and weight |
| PRESSURE INFINITY | Recovery blasting | Localised operations in the department | Abrasive recovery and self-cleaning filters | Irregular geometries |
| TRANSFORMER 24/90/130 | Modular open blasting | Variable jobs and operations at customer premises | Configurable autonomy | Organisation of open blasting |
| SABIX 200 | 200-litre open blasting | Metal structures and extensive surfaces | Continuity and reduced refills | Compressor, dust and collection |
| SUBLIMA TOP | Dry ice cleaning | Moulds, presses and production lines | No cleaning-medium residue | Does not create abrasive roughness |
Frequent mistakes when choosing industrial blasting machines
Mapping structural and operational criticalities protects continuity across production shifts in the department:
- Choosing a portable blasting machine for repetitive production: An open-blasting machine can perform the treatment, but may be inefficient if many small components are processed every day, ideally suited to closed cabinets that improve order and visibility.
- Buying a cabinet that is too small or choosing only on the basis of litres: The part must be assessed considering dimensions, weight, openings, roller conveyors and distance from the gun. In addition, litres indicate only loading autonomy, not absolute hourly productivity.
- Undersizing the compressor or not defining the cleanliness grade: An insufficient compressor causes pressure drops, reducing productivity and surface-profile regularity. Without a precise requirement and standard, the operator and quality control will interpret the expected result differently.
- Reusing contaminated abrasive or using recovery heads on incorrect profiles: Abrasive can transfer iron, paint or oil, which is critical on stainless steel and aluminium. Contact heads also cannot seal and work on complex edges or very irregular structures.
- Choosing dry ice when roughness is required or failing to calculate maintenance: Dry ice cleaning removes process contaminants but does not etch the metal. Spare parts must also be calculated accurately: nozzles, abrasion-resistant hoses, cartridges, gloves and viewing-window glass.
FAQ on industrial blasting machines
Which FEVI blasting machine should be chosen for small and medium-sized components?
For components treated frequently, ITALJET PLUS can be assessed. The cabinet keeps the process closed, recovers the abrasive and integrates filtration. Before choosing, internal dimensions, part weight, rotation method, abrasive and productivity must be checked. A cabinet must not be chosen only because the component physically fits inside: the operator must be able to handle it and reach it from all necessary angles.
Which industrial machine should be used to treat metal structures?
The choice depends on size and frequency. For variable work, TRANSFORMER 24/90/130 can be assessed. For extensive surfaces and prolonged cycles, SABIX 200 may be more consistent. If metal structures are treated regularly in the plant and are oversized, a dedicated blasting room may be preferable. Compressor, abrasive, collection and subsequent treatment must be checked.
When is it advisable to install the PRESSURE INFINITY recovery unit?
PRESSURE INFINITY is suitable for localised operations on relatively regular surfaces, especially when open blasting would produce dispersion that is difficult to manage. It can be used on welds, repairs, vertical surfaces and limited areas. It is not the first choice for gratings, complex edges, narrow pipes or large surfaces, because the head must adhere correctly in order to recover abrasive and dust.
When does a true industrial blasting room become necessary?
A FEVI blasting room is suitable when parts are too large or heavy for a standard cabinet and are treated frequently enough to justify a dedicated environment. The room can integrate abrasive recovery, dust collection, lighting, linings and customised access. Design must consider maximum dimensions, handling, abrasive, stainless steel, productivity and available space.
Can stainless steel and aluminium be blasted and cleaned safely?
Yes, but stainless steel requires separate management from iron to reduce ferrous contamination and subsequent oxidation. Dedicated non-ferrous abrasives, isolated circuits and documented cleaning are required. Aluminium, on the other hand, being softer, is sensitive to deformation and heat, requiring reduced pressure and exposure times combined with specific pass sequences.
Tell us the characteristics of your industrial process
The choice between ITALJET PLUS, PRESSURE INFINITY, TRANSFORMER 24/90/130, SABIX 200, SUBLIMA TOP and a FEVI blasting room depends on the real process. To assess the configuration correctly, it is useful to tell us the material, maximum and minimum part dimensions, weight, geometry, contaminant or coating to be removed, cleanliness level and required roughness, number of parts in the batch, cycle time, frequency of use, handling methods, need to recover the abrasive, available space and available compressor.
FEVI can verify the machine, cabinet or room, abrasive, nozzle, pressure, recovery, dust collection and compressed-air requirements together with the company, building the solution around the industrial process and not only around tank capacity.
