Laser-based non-destructive testing (NDT) is revolutionizing how industries inspect, test, and restore critical structures. The use of lasers in this field is no longer limited to distance measurement, ultrasonics, shearography, and profilometry, but has extended to cleaning for defect exposure and surface preparation.
Fiber laser cleaning tools such as our flagship CleanTech products enable high-speed, thorough, and eco-friendly cleaning without damage to the base material. This non-contact technology employs a high-energy laser beam to ablate rust, paint, powder coating, soot, galvanization, and other layers from a wide range of materials. In the field of NDT services, this technique sets a new standard compared to abrasive and chemical cleaning.
Acuren, an established provider of critical asset integrity services with 110+ locations throughout the United States and Canada, is among the NDT providers who are actively integrating laser cleaning into their service offerings. How does Acuren use CleanTech and what does the company have to say about laser cleaning? Read on to find out.
Exposing Defects With CleanTech
CleanTech tools modernize NDT processes with fast and precise surface preparation. By instantly vaporizing rust and coatings at their ablation threshold, laser cleaning exposes cracks and defects rather than filling them with debris, and it does so without damaging the base material. The result you get with laser cleaning is superior to abrasive methods, which typically generate waste, conceal defects, and increase processing time and labor.
Find out more about how laser cleaning works here or check out this blog comparing laser cleaning to sandblasting.
Within NDT operations, laser cleaning is used during inspections and predictive maintenance of structures and equipment in daily service. This method can be part of routine procedures during plant shutdowns, risk minimization at facilities in operation, evaluations of asset integrity during uninterrupted exploitation, and many other applications.
Acuren: ‘It’s Quick, Clean, & Nondisruptive’
Acuren adopted laser cleaning tools to remove rust and scale from weld seams and various substrates for inspections. This includes the inspection and maintenance of boiler tubes, tank walls, gas lines, high energy piping welds, and coker welds.
The main upside: time efficiency. In coker weld cleaning, for example, Acuren noted an 80% reduction in surface preparation time, which accounted for both laser cleaning and buffing for the required finish.
Laser-cleaned surfaces are ready for NDT inspection or re-coating immediately. Acuren frequently deploys a laser processing team alongside a coating crew or NDT technicians, who follow shortly after. This coordination is unfeasible with abrasive blasting due to the significant mess it generates.
Comparing CleanTech tools to other surface preparation methods, Garrett Repchinsky, Blasting & Coating Service Line Manager at Acuren Canada, said “It’s quick, clean, and nondisruptive to other trades in the area.” He added that Acuren’s clients appreciate the expedited laser processing delivered by the handheld, mobile CleanTech IR-3050.
Here are the other advantages of laser cleaning highlighted by Acuren:
- Quick Installation & Setup
- Dry & Mess-Free
- Low Noise Levels
- Minimal Disturbance to Area
- Safe for Various Substrates
- Versatile for Coatings & Contaminants
- Unrivaled Level of Control
- No Unwanted Side Effects
- No Consumables
- Environment-Friendly
- Not Abrasive
- Suitable for Hard-to-Reach Areas
- Suitable for Use in Hazardous Environments
- Lower Setup Costs Compared to Most Alternatives
Sustaining Operations in Critical Sectors
According to Repchinsky, laser cleaning has “a huge impact” on the NDT market: “This is where the majority of our work comes from.”
Indeed, laser cleaning solutions in NDT today meet the demand for non-contact, no-damage technology in high-risk industries, including petrochemical, aerospace, nuclear, and defense sectors. This technique significantly speeds up operations, facilitates adherence to environmental guidelines, and delivers precision unmatched by alternative surface preparation methods.
Laser Photonics is proud to serve NDT providers like Acuren, which helps businesses across diverse sectors save time and money on critical projects and resume operations quickly. With 40+ years of expertise in non-destructive testing and inspection, engineering, and rope access services, Acuren continues to enhance its services by implementing progressive technologies, committed to delivering the right solutions.
And we, yours truly Team Laser Photonics, are committed to delivering reliable laser cleaning tools for your unique applications.
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