Refinery and industrial blasting · Perth & WA
Refinery and Industrial Blasting WA
Tanks, pipework, structural steel and plant prepped on site to the coating spec, with containment.
What comes off
Industrial work is judged on the spec sheet, not the look. We blast to the profile your coating system calls for, record what was done, and hand the surface over clean, dry and inhibited.
Containment, spent media collection and disposal are included on enclosed sites. We carry insurance, work to site inductions and can run around shutdown windows in Kwinana, Kalgoorlie and regional plants.
In short
Yes — we prepare tanks, pipework, structural steel and plant on site, to your coating specification. We run both wet and dry processes, work to Sa 2½ and stated anchor profiles, provide inspection records, and contain and dispose of spent media. Site inductions, SWMS and certificates of currency are routine.
Working to a specification
Industrial work is judged on two independent things and both have to be right: cleanliness, graded visually against ISO 8501-1, and anchor profile, measured in microns. A perfectly clean surface with no profile fails just as fast as a rough dirty one. Most systems specify Sa 2½ — near-white metal — with a profile somewhere between 50 and 75 microns.
Where the job requires it we take replica-tape readings across representative areas and provide the records with photographs. Tell us at quote stage if documented preparation is needed, because it changes how the job is run rather than just the paperwork at the end. There is a full explanation in surface profile and prep standards.
Wet or dry — the coating decides
We carry both setups, which matters more on industrial work than anywhere else. Inorganic zinc primers and many tank-lining systems will not accept a damp substrate, so those are blasted dry with the dust contained. Anything near occupied areas, live production or other trades goes wet, because suppressing the dust at the nozzle is the only way the job gets approved at all. Heavy mill scale over large areas cuts faster dry. Send us the coating datasheet and we will match the process to it — see wet vs dry abrasive blasting.
Soluble salts on coastal steel
Chlorides left on the steel draw moisture through the coating film and cause blistering that no amount of profile prevents. On anything that has lived near the ocean — most of the Kwinana strip — this is a real failure mode. Blasting alone does not remove salts; freshwater washing does, and wet blasting flushes them as it works. Bresle testing is available where the specification calls for it.
Coatings and passes
| Coating | Typically | Passes |
|---|---|---|
| Enamel and epoxy systems | Aged industrial coatings | 2 |
| Mill scale | New fabrication | 2 |
| Corrosion and pitting | Marine and refinery atmosphere | 2–3 |
| Grease and process residue | Plant and machinery | 1–2 |
Pass counts are for planning. Tim confirms on a site look, which is free inside the Perth metro area.
How the job runs
| Stage | What happens | Typical hrs |
|---|---|---|
| Site look | Access, water, waste and containment checked | 0.5 |
| Mask and set up | Glass, fittings and adjacent surfaces protected | 1 |
| Blast | Wet media at 6–9 bar, passes to spec | 4–8 |
| Wash and inspect | Rinse, flash-rust inhibitor, handover photos | 1 |
Bare steel wants a coat within 4–6 hours in Perth humidity. We can hold the job with an inhibitor if your painter is booked for the next morning.
Recent jobs
Real work from around Perth and regional WA. Every photo on this page is one of ours.
Common questions
Refinery and industrial blasting — your questions answered
Can you blast to a coating specification?
Yes. Send the coating spec sheet and we set media and pressure to hit the profile it calls for. We photograph the prepared surface at handover so the coating crew has a record of what they are coating.
Do you handle containment and waste?
Yes. Enclosed sites get containment, collection and disposal of spent media and slurry as part of the job. We can also work to a site environmental plan where one is in place.
Do you work during shutdowns?
Yes. Shutdown and night work is normal for plant jobs. Tell us the window and we will scope the passes to fit it, including staged handover so coating can follow behind us.
Related services and areas
Metal restoration
Gates, balustrades, wheels, trailers and machinery brought back to clean metal, ready for powder coat or paint.
Marine blasting
Anti-foul, rust and tired primer stripped from hulls, keels and running gear — on the hardstand or in your own yard.
Dustless blasting Perth
Coverage, travel and typical turnaround across the Perth metro area.