Project Overview – NDT Weld Preparation for Heavy Equipment
Project Overview
NDT Weld Preparation for Heavy Equipment
Location: Alberta, Canada
Sector: Heavy equipment / NDT Preparation
Power Laser Inc. completed a targeted coating removal project for the heavy equipment industry. The objective was to expose critical structural welds and flanges for Non-Destructive Testing (NDT) by stripping away heavy-duty industrial paint and primer, replacing the facility’s legacy hot acid bath process.
The Challenge: Hazardous and Inefficient Stripping
To properly inspect high-stress welds using NDT methods like ultrasonic or magnetic particle testing, the metal surface must be completely bare.
The Old Method: Previously, components had to be submerged in hot acid baths. This process was time-consuming, required massive chemical handling protocols, created hazardous waste, and often risked corrosive damage to the underlying substrate or adjacent machined surfaces if not neutralized perfectly.
The Material: Heavy machinery is coated in exceptionally thick, durable, weather-resistant paint and epoxy primers designed not to come off, making localized removal extremely difficult.
The Solution: High Power Modulated Fiber Laser Ablation
Instead of chemical stripping, Power Laser Inc. deployed high power fiber laser system to perform targeted, localized cleaning.
Precision Targeting: The operator was able to trace the exact path of the weld seams and flanges, vaporizing the thick yellow paint and underlying primer right down to the bare steel, leaving the surrounding coating completely intact.
No Chemical Footprint: The laser process eliminated the need for acid entirely. The vaporized coating was immediately captured by a fume extraction system, resulting in a dry, safe, and environmentally friendly process.
Substrate Protection: The laser energy stripped the coating without altering the metallurgical profile of the weld or etching the steel, ensuring the NDT sensors would get a perfect reading.
The Result
The heavy equipment components were prepped for inspection in a fraction of the time it would take to prep, dip, wash, and dry them using the acid bath method. The resulting weld seams were perfectly clean, sharply defined, and ready for immediate NDT certification.
REMOVE. RESTORE. REBUILD.
Stop wasting time on outdated cleaning methods.
No chemicals. No damage. No downtime.
Power Laser delivers precision laser cleaning for industrial surfaces — fast, eco-friendly, and powerful enough to handle the toughest jobs.
Rust removal
Paint & coating stripping