Abrasive blasting

Abrasive blasting, also known as sandblasting or grit blasting, is the process of propelling abrasive media (such as steel grit or garnet) at high speed to clean, roughen or prepare a surface. It is widely used to remove old coatings, rust, and contaminants so that new protective coatings can adhere effectively.

When is abrasive blasting relevant?

You need abrasive blasting whenever steel structures, pipelines or equipment suffer from corrosion or coating failure. It is used across multiple industries:

• Oil & Gas – for pipelines, offshore rigs, storage tanks.
• Chemical & Petrochemical – for vessels, reactors and piping.
• Wind Energy – for towers, nacelles, and substations, onshore and offshore.
• Marine – for ship hulls, ballast tanks and deck structures.
• Power generation – for boilers, turbines and industrial steel infrastructure.

For you as an operator or asset owner, abrasive blasting is essential because it ensures the long-term performance of protective coatings and prevents costly downtime due to corrosion damage.

Extra explanation

Traditional open blasting creates heavy dust emissions and spreads paint debris into the environment. This often leads to safety risks for workers and pollution of soil, air and water. Regulations such as ATEX (for explosive zones) or standards like ISO 8501 (surface cleanliness) require safer and cleaner surface preparation methods.

Pinovo’s closed-loop abrasive blasting technology combines blasting with vacuum recovery, ensuring:

• Dust-free operation – no airborne particles or microplastics.
• ATEX-certified safety – suitable for Zone 1 environments.
• Media recycling – abrasive grit can be reused up to 80%, reducing costs and waste.
• Parallel working – blasting can take place while other teams continue their tasks nearby, reducing downtime.

Products with abrasive blasting

• PiSys™ Vacuum Blasting Machine – Pinovo’s core system for dust-free abrasive blasting.
• PiWalk™ – for larger flat or curved surfaces.
• PiPoint™ – for spot blasting and corrosion under insulation (CUI).
• PiCo Pipe™ – for blasting pipelines in a closed circuit.
• PiHab™ – flexible enclosure for rope access or confined space blasting.

Cases with abrasive blasting

• REV Ocean Case – sustainable surface preparation on a large vessel without microplastic emissions.
• Vacuum blasting succes on Piper Bravo platform
• Addressing safety risks in the port of Rotterdam