Imagine having the ability to strip coatings using no abrasives, no chemicals, no mechanical tools - with no secondary media of any kind. Imagine being able to reduce your waste volume by over 95%, reducing waste remediation, transportation, and disposal costs. Imagine a stripping process that minimizes consequential effects, such as environmental pollution and operator hazards. Imagine having a way to maximize operational efficiencies by utilizing a smaller equipment package, a work area requiring minimal encapsulation requirements, and being able to run conflicting processes (such as stripping and painting) adjacent to each other and simultaneously.

How? Laser technology….that’s how!

Lasers, first developed in the late 1950’s, have progressed to the point where they are used routinely in both the workplace and in our homes. Lasers are now used for welding, cutting, marking, eye surgery, not to mention CD and DVD players, bar code scanners, and a host of other products and processes used every day.

For coating removal, laser technology has matured to the point where stripping rates equivalent to methods such as chemical stripping or abrasive blasting can now be achieved, or surpassed, and all without the huge volume of waste material normally associated with them.

Laser systems are available in outputs ranging from 20 watts to 1000+ watts, but for serious coating removal it is suggested to go at least 500 watts. Stripping rates basically vary as a linear relation to output, so a 500 watt laser system will strip a coating twice as fast as a 250 watt system on the same coating. Complete systems come in sizes which are easily transportable, from backpack units to systems roughly the size of an office desk. Systems are also available with fiber-optic cabling which enable a workhead reach of 150 feet or more for very large jobs or for reaching distant areas without moving the equipment.

• Strips with no abrasives, no chemicals, no mechanical tools
  • No secondary media of any kind
    
• Total waste product is only the removed coating itself
  
  • Roughly the consistency of cigar ash
    
  • Compared to chemical or abrasive stripping, can reduce the total waste volume by over 95%
    
  • Minimizes waste remediation (in the case of hazardous waste)
    
  • Minimizes transportation and disposal costs
    
• Minimizes consequential effects such as:
  • Environmental pollution
  • Operator hazards
    
• Maximizes operational efficiencies
  
  • Smaller equipment footprint
    
  • Minimal work area encapsulation requirements
    
  • Can run conflicting processes adjacent to each other and simultaneously Such as stripping and painting
    
• Stripping rates equivalent to chemical or abrasive stripping
  
• Strips many different types of coatings
  • Urethanes, polyurethanes, epoxies, enamels, alkyds, powder coats, etc.
    
• Works on different types of substrates
  • Steel, aluminum, magnesium, copper, carbon fiber, composites, fiberglass, wood, etc.
    
• Done properly, raises substrate surface temperature minimally
  
• Reveals the substrate intact
  
  • Excellent for weld inspection
    
  • Excellent for retaining etched surfaces without the need to re-etch
    
• Available in outputs ranging from 20 watts to 1,000+ watts
  
  • Stripping rates generally proportional to output i.e., 500 watt laser strips twice as fast as a 250 watt unit
    
• Systems are easily transportable
  • Including backpack units
    
  • Fiber-Optic cabling enables stripping at distances of 150 feet or more