Welding is a fabrication process that joins two or more materials using heat, pressure, or a combination of the two, to form a strong, permanent bond.

When workpieces are joined together at high temperatures, the heat causes a weld pool of molten material. After cooling and solidifying, this forms an incredibly strong weld.

Although welding is relied on by countless industries that need to join metal, plastic or wood parts, it brings a higher degree of risk than other processes.

In this blog, Surface Finishing Equipment outlines some of the most common dangers associated with welding operations and what you can do to mitigate these risks – including acquiring the appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE).

Paint spraying is one of the most prevalent application techniques among industrial manufacturers – and it’s not surprising given its versatility.

As a leading supplier of spray painting equipment, perhaps you could call us biased. But here at SFEG, we believe that spraying is the best way to achieve paint perfection – unlike roller brushes which don’t always leave that smooth, even finish you want.

Although the process of spray painting is relatively straightforward, there are various methods currently in use, ranging from air-atomised spray and airless spray to high-volume, low-pressure (HVLP).

Let’s take a look at these different methods and how they work.

Air-atomised spray painting

When it comes to spray painting, this is one of the more conventional approaches, involving the use of a traditional

Looking for top-quality abrasive blasting equipment? Need a few replacement parts and spares for your paint sprayer? Perhaps you could do with some extra PPE for your workers?

Whatever it may be, the team at Surface Finishing Equipment Group (SFEG) can help. But don’t just take our word for it…

Here are just a few of the reasons why you should make us your no.1 choice for surface finishing equipment.

1. Locality

SFEG is made up of two companies in the UK: Hogg Blasting & Finishing Equipment Ltd in Tyne and Wear and Abraclean Ltd (including Jedtec and Complete Finishing Systems) in Manchester and the West Midlands.

However, we’re part of SurfacePrep Group, the largest national network of regional distributors of abrasive products and surface finishing equipment. This means that our extensive range of products and services are quickly

Abrasive blasting (sometimes known as sandblasting) is a process used by various industries, including automotive, construction, shipbuilding and welding, to name just a few.

It involves propelling abrasive media against a surface – either to add texture to a smooth surface, make a rough surface smooth, remove surface contaminants, such as paint or rust, or to clean and prepare a surface for a fresh new coating.

However, much like anything else, abrasive blasting equipment needs to be properly maintained if it’s to perform well. Otherwise, operations will be put on hold until replacement parts arrive or an engineer can come and fix it.

Below, the experts at SFEG outline exactly which components need to be maintained regularly to ensure optimal efficiency and performance.

· Blast cabinet

It’s good to get into the habit of inspecting your

Abrasive blasting is a technique frequently employed by industries to remove surface contaminants or to roughen or smooth surfaces, ready for a new coating.

The process itself involves propelling abrasive media at a surface at high speed, which is why it’s important to take safety precautions.

In addition to supplying the correct safety gear, employers need to make sure abrasive blasting equipment is safe to use – which includes having it regularly inspected and assessing parameters during the process.

Here at SFEG, we supply Elcometer blasting inspection equipment to test the surface profile and surface contamination of blasted profiles.

Allow us to explain more about Elcometer equipment, the different options available, and their uses and advantages.

Who is Elcometer?

Elcometer is a world leader in the design, manufacture, and

owder coating is a great alternative to paint spraying, dip coating, electroplating and many of the other types of finishing products you can use.

From protected rough and tough manufacturing machinery, to everyday items, it’s highly versatile and effective.

But what exactly is powder coating and why should you consider it?

What is powder coating?

The powder coating material itself is a mixture of curatives, pigments, levelling agents and other additives that have been ground together into a dry powder and is sprayed onto machinery or products.

An airless spray pump propels materials, at a surface using pressure from a hydraulic or pneumatic pump.

Airless sprayers work by drawing material, such as paint, into a pump under suction. This is compressed using hydraulics or pneumatics at high pressure. The material to be applied is then pushed through the top of the spray nozzle, through the tip, where it is atomised.

Atomisation refers to the process of breaking up fluids into small droplets. An everyday example of this is placing your thumb over the end of the garden hose, as you can see below on the right-hand side of the child. If you do this, you break the stream of water, forcing it into tiny droplets, and creating a mist.

The purpose of atomising is to increase the reach of materials, to allow them to cover a wider area. This helps it to go further and speeds up application time.

Abrasive blasting (also known as shot blasting) involves propelling an abrasive material against the surface – either to remove surface contaminants like rust, paint or residue, add texture or finish a surface.

Though there are several types of abrasives used for shot blasting, these typically fall into two categories – reusable and expendable.

Read on to find out more about the different types of abrasive media, including examples and common applications, and how you can determine the best blast media for your project.

Reusable abrasive media

Exactly as its name implies, reusable media can be used over and over again, helping to reduce waste and operational costs.

Here are just a few examples

Abrasive blast rooms (also known as blast booths) are large chambers used to prepare components that are often too big or complex for blast cabinets.

They provide safe working conditions for operators and are typically used to store abrasive blast pots – saving businesses time and money. In addition to this, they can recover and recycle abrasive media, which is great for the environment.

But what equipment is found in blast rooms, and how does abrasive blasting work?

Allow the team at Surface Finishing Equipment Group (SFEG) to explain all in this blog.

What components are blast rooms made up of?

Blast rooms can be designed to suit the specific requirements of your business, including application, part size, production rates and the types of abrasives required. However, they almost always consist of the following components:

• Blast e

Spraying is (by far) the quickest way to coat a surface with paint, ensuring you’re not left with unsightly brush strokes.

Unlike rollers and paintbrushes, sprayers release small particles of paint through the nozzle. This allows you to cover every single nook and cranny – not just larger areas.

There’s no denying that a paint sprayer can provide a smooth finish to the most uneven surfaces. However, the quality of the job often depends on the equipment and techniques you choose.

Unsure which paint spraying equipment is best for you?

Here at SFEG, we supply a wide range of spray painting equipment – including airless spray pumps, conventional systems, spray guns and spare parts.

Below, our team outlines the different types of spray equipment, along with their pros and cons, to help you to make an informed decision as to which is most suitable