Structural steel components are prone to rust quickly and fail with potentially catastrophic consequences if not covered with a suitable, protective coating.
In preparing for use in construction, shipbuilding, and the production of all kinds of heavy duty vehicles, trucks, railway vehicles, agricultural implements or construction equipment, it is important to apply proper surface finishing processes to these components for safety and longevity.
Offering painting and shot blasting in a single source, preservation lines are a great option for structural steel components including steel plates, beams, round bar stock, and tubes.
In this installment of our Structural Steel FAQ Series, Rosler Metal Finishing will answer What are the key components of a preservation line?
The Basics
Preservation lines incorporate material handling, blast cleaning, and protective coating and/or painting in a single process. While customized options and accessories can be added in, preservation lines typically include six key components.
- Material Handling – These integrated transport systems utilize roller conveyors, cross transport units, and other methods to move sometimes large and heavy work pieces before and after processing within the preservation line.
- Blow-Off Units – Designed to remove water, dust, leaves, and other loose contaminants before blasting, these stations help ensure components are clean enough for the finishing process. They may also be combined with brush-off units.
- Pre-Heaters – Used in front of the shot blast machine to melt snow and ice, pre-heaters ensure that the work pieces do not carry any moisture into the shot blast machine. The pre-heater also serves a dual function, bringing work pieces to the optimum temperature of about 100° F for the subsequent coating process.
- Shot Blast Machines – Using propelled media, this section of the machine removes rust and scale from the work piece and creates the correct pre-paint surface profile/roughness.
- Paint Cabins –Automatic high speed paint systems apply paint and protective coatings in this step of the process. The paint cabin also contains any overspray and paint fumes through mist filtering, roller brush systems, and the air filtration systems.
- Paint Dryer – Post treatment of components within the drying station ensure that paint and coatings applied in the paint cabin are appropriately dried and cured for improved adhesion and life expectancy. These dryers frequently utilize excess heat from the pre-heater to minimize power use.
Record-Setting Experience
Rosler has extensive experience developing preservation lines for oversized pieces and complicated components including a record-setting preservation line for Meyer Turku Shipyard in Finland.
Developed by Rosler Germany, this 740-foot-long (225 meters) shot blasting line included all of the key components mentioned above as well as additional features to meet the customer needs.
Apart from the inter-linked work piece transport system, pre-heaters, two independent shot blast machines, and a paint station with dryer, the full line features leveling and straightening systems for plates, beams and profiles, all of which were incorporated into the overall system by Rosler.
The Rosler Way
Rosler Metal Finishing has the experience and expertise to meet your structural steel needs. We partner with you to find a better way, the best machine, and the best finishing results. Contact us today to discuss your unique challenges.
The complete Structural Steel Series includes:
- Part 1 – Why Surface Preparation is Necessary.
- Part 2 – Methods of Surface Preparation.
- Part 3 – Evaluating Rust and Mill Scale Pre- and Post-Blast.
- Part 4 – Evaluating the Presence of Dust.
- Part 5 – Assessing Surface Profile.
- Part 6 – Blast Media’s Influence on Surface Profile.
- Part 7 – Comparing Commonly Used Blast Machines.
- Part 8 – Are All Turbines Created Equal?
- Part 9 – Removing Residual Blast Media and Dust.
- Part 10 – Blast Rooms for Touch-Ups.
- Part 11 – Preservation Lines.
- Part 12 – Material Handling Options.
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