That is what one major jet engine manufacturer achieved when they replaced their manual wet blasting operation with a Vapormatt Leopard Cub for NDT preparation of stage one compressor hubs.

Carbon fibre leaves the autoclave with a hydrophobic resin surface. Release agents and waxy residues mean adhesives bead rather than wet out properly, and that's before you factor in fibre damage from aggressive prep methods.

Wet blasting solves both problems:

Surface energy: Wet blasting achieves a water contact angle of 43-48°, compared to 86° for dry grit blasting and 88° for manual sanding. Lower contact angle = better adhesive wetting = stronger bonds.

Come and find us in Hall 9, Stand E23, where our CEO - Robin Ashworth, Head of Sales and Marketing - Ryan Ashworth, and International Sales Manager - Henry Gomm will be on hand to discuss all things wet blasting and surface finishing.

If you're attending the show, we'd love to see you. Send us an email to arrange a meeting in advance.

[email protected]

A leading US aluminium window and door manufacturer was cleaning at that volume using dry blasting. The process was labour-intensive, inconsistent, and left operators waiting for dies to dry before they could even start. Micro-cracks were harder to spot. Polishing took longer. And every die that failed in the press meant downtime they couldn't afford.

They installed a Vapormatt Cougar+ wet blasting machine.

The answer is wet blasting - one of the most important steps in composite manufacturing.

When composite components need to be bonded, painted, or coated, surface preparation is everything. Bond failure rarely starts at the adhesive - it starts at the interface. And that interface is defined by how well the surface has been prepared.

Wet blasting delivers a controlled, gentle abrasive action combined with a water cushion that:

✦ Cylinder heads
✦ Pistons and valves
✦ Crankshafts and axles
✦ Gearbox housings and gears
✦ Brake, discs and calipers

Why does wet blasting work so well here?

It rapidly and thoroughly removes oil, grease, carbon, corrosion, old coatings and service residue to leave parts clean, uniform, and inspection-ready before repair, recoating or reassembly.

Compared with harsher dry processes, wet blasting can offer:

When a titanium hip implant fails, it's rarely the material that's the problem. It's the surface.

That's why wet blasting - a finishing process combining abrasive media, water, and compressed air - is rapidly becoming the gold standard in medical implant surface preparation. And the science behind it is compelling.

Unlike dry blasting, wet blasting eliminates embedded abrasive contamination and delivers a controlled, uniform surface texture with no thermal stress or damage to complex geometries.

Wet shot peening extends turbine blade life by more than 1,000%. It is a proven result, achieved by projecting small, hard, spherical media at turbine blades, fan blades, and other engine components. The impact introduces compressive stresses into the substrate, refining the grain structure and dramatically reducing the likelihood of fracture and cracking.

For aerospace MRO operations, the advantages over dry shot peening are significant.

Land systems take punishment that most equipment never sees. Armoured vehicles, support trucks, trailers, and ground systems accumulate corrosion, failing coatings, and years of operational wear that eventually compromise structural integrity and protective performance.

During engine overhaul, inspection quality is only as good as the surface preparation that comes before it.

Wet blasting is particularly effective because it combines water, abrasive media, and compressed air to clean components while controlling the impact of the abrasive. The water cushions the media, reduces heat, and prevents aggressive material removal.

The result is a clean, uniform surface finish without the risk of embedding contaminants or damaging critical surfaces.