Industrial laser cleaning contractors

Remove rust, paint and coatings without touching the metal underneath.

On-site and in-shop laser cleaning for steel, stainless and aluminum. Dry, abrasive-free and chemical-free, so there is no blast media or solvent to clean up afterward.

  • Dry processNo blast media, no solvents, no wash-down
  • On-site or in-shopWe bring the equipment to the work
  • Test patch firstApprove the finish before the full job
  • Written quotesScope, finish and exclusions in writing

What comes off. What stays.

Laser cleaning ablates the contaminant layer and leaves the part. Here is the work we take on most.

ContaminantTypically found onResult
Rust and corrosionStructural steel, tooling, frames, equipmentAblated off the surface. Base metal is left as found, not ground thin.
Paint and coatingsHulls, tanks, machinery, fixturesRemoved to bare substrate or to a sound primer, with a clean, controlled edge.
Mill scale and oxidePlate, weld joints, stainless, aluminumCleared before welding, coating or bonding so the next layer has something to hold.
Oil, residue and build-upMolds, dies, rollers, production linesVaporized in place. No solvent, no wash-down, no disassembly.

Services

One method, applied to the jobs where abrasives and chemicals cause more trouble than the contamination itself.

Close-up of a heavily rusted steel surface with orange and brown corrosion

Rust removal

Corrosion and mill scale lifted off structural steel, tooling and equipment without grit or chemicals.

Details
Rusted metal surface with peeling paint layers

Paint and coating removal

Layered paint, primer and coatings stripped back to the substrate, with controlled edges for repainting.

Details
Welder in protective gear working metal with sparks flying in an industrial plant

Weld prep and post-weld cleaning

Oxide and contamination cleared from joints before welding, discoloration and spatter cleared after.

Details
Industrial laser machine operating indoors under blue light

Tooling and mold cleaning

Residue and build-up removed from production tooling in place, with no disassembly and no abrasion of the cavity.

Details

All six services

Laser against the alternatives

No method wins everywhere. This is how the common options typically compare for metal surface cleaning.

Worker in protective gear grinding a large metal surface at a shipyard
The usual way: grinding and sanding by hand, with dust and wear on the metal.
Welder repairing a rusty metal machine outdoors
Rusted equipment is repaired in the field every day. Laser cleaning prepares it without grit.
FactorLaserAbrasive blastingDry iceChemical stripping
ConsumablesNone. Electricity only.Grit or media, every jobDry ice pelletsChemical strippers
Secondary wasteCaptured residue onlySpent media plus residueResidue onlySpent chemical to dispose of
Effect on base metalLow when tuned to the substrateAbrasive. Can change the surface profileGentleCan etch if misapplied
Heavy rust and coatingsYes, slower on thick build-upFast on bulkOften too gentleSoak time and rinse
Selective, precise areasStrong fitHard to maskModerateHard to contain

General comparison. Results depend on substrate, coating and setup.

From first photo to finished surface

  1. Scope

    Send photos, the base material, what is on it and the finish you need. We confirm access, power and location.

  2. Test patch

    We run a small area on your part. You approve the finish before the full job is priced and scheduled.

  3. Site and safety plan

    Laser work needs a controlled area, eye protection and fume extraction. We plan it with you before we arrive.

  4. Clean and inspect

    We clean to the agreed finish and walk it with you. Bare metal re-oxidizes, so we flag how soon to coat.

Who we clean for

Industrial and commercial work where downtime, waste and surface damage all cost money.

Workers refurbishing the rusted hull of a ship in a dockyard

Marine and shipyards

Hull plating, decks, anchor gear and fittings. Coatings come off to bare steel in dry dock or alongside, without blast media washing into the water.

Modern industrial laser machine in a manufacturing facility

Manufacturing and tooling

Molds, dies, rollers and production lines cleaned between runs, often in place, so the line stays down for hours instead of days.

Worker welding metal in an industrial plant with sparks

Fabrication and welding

Surface prep before welding and cleanup after it, on plate, pipe and structural sections, to your weld procedure.

Mechanic grinding a car body in a garage

Automotive and fleet

Chassis, frames, brake and drivetrain components, and restoration work where grinding or blasting would remove too much.

See the industries

When laser is the wrong tool

We would rather tell you before you pay for a job than after. These are the cases where we will point you elsewhere or change the plan.

Line of sight only
The beam cleans what it can see. Blind cavities and tight internal passages are better served another way.
It cleans metal, it does not rebuild it
Deep pitting stays pitted. We will tell you what the surface looks like once it is clean, before you commit.
Very thick build-up over large areas
Bulk stripping of heavy coatings across big surfaces can be faster by blasting. We will say so when that is the case.
Hazardous coatings need containment
Lead or chromate coatings are handled under containment and local disposal rules. Flag them early so we can plan it.

Questions we get first

Will laser cleaning damage the base metal?

Not when the parameters are set for the substrate. We run a test patch on your part first and agree the finish with you before the full job.

Can you work on-site?

Yes. On-site work depends on access, power and the safety controls we confirm at scoping. Smaller parts can also be cleaned in-shop.

What materials can you clean?

Mainly carbon steel, stainless steel, aluminum and cast iron. Masonry and stone are assessed case by case.

Is it safe to have laser cleaning running at my facility?

Industrial cleaning lasers are high-power. The work area is controlled, everyone in it wears the right eyewear, and fumes are extracted. We set this out in a site plan before we start.

What happens to the material that comes off?

It is vaporized or released as fine particulate, and captured by extraction and filtration. There is no spent blast media to sweep up. Hazardous coatings need extra containment, so tell us what is on the surface.

How is a job priced?

By scope: surface area, coating thickness, access and location. Send details and photos for a written quote.

Got a surface that needs to come clean?

Send the material, what is on it and a few photos. We will tell you if laser is the right method, and quote it.