When it comes to surface finishing, the story begins with British engineering excellence - and continues across the globe. At Vapormatt, our technology and expertise have travelled far beyond our home base, supporting customers and partners across industries and continents.

From aerospace in North America to tooling in Europe, and from additive manufacturing in Asia to composites engineering in the Middle East, our wet blasting systems are helping teams achieve cleaner, more consistent, and more sustainable finishes.

Our global presence means:

In wheel refurbishment, speed and consistency often pull in opposite directions. Push too fast, and you risk uneven surfaces or missed contamination. Take it slow, and productivity drops. Wet blasting is changing that balance.

By mixing fine abrasive media with water, the process delivers controlled, even cleaning in a single step. Instead of multiple rounds of dry blasting, sanding, and degreasing, technicians can move from prep to coating far more quickly.

Here’s where the time savings come from:

In the fast-paced world of aluminium extrusion, precision and consistency are everything. For award-winning New Zealand manufacturer Altus, keeping extrusion dies perfectly clean between production runs isn’t just maintenance - it’s mission-critical to ensuring the flawless finish their customers expect.

With a wide product range and demanding production schedule, Altus needed a way to clean dies quickly, thoroughly, and safely without altering their geometry. Their solution? The Vapormatt Cougar wet blasting machine.

Here’s what made the difference:

Most people don’t realise that aerospace composite components are essentially high-tech sandwiches - carbon fibre, resin, perhaps some honeycomb, all layered for strength and lightness.

Now imagine trying to finish that without damaging it.

You can’t simply sand or polish - this is precision surface engineering for parts that fly at very high speeds.

That’s where wet blasting comes in.

It’s like calibrating a surface rather than abrading it:
• Water cushions the abrasive
• Energy is carefully controlled

Sustainability is no longer just a focus for consumer industries. It’s fast becoming a priority across the defence sector too. As environmental regulations tighten and expectations continue to rise, defence manufacturers are realising that eco-friendly practices are not a compromise on performance but a genuine strategic advantage.

From cutting hazardous waste to improving workplace safety, greener manufacturing and maintenance helps meet compliance standards, strengthens reputation, and supports long-term efficiency.

In aerospace maintenance, safety depends on detecting even the smallest cracks. For inspections to be reliable, surfaces must be cleaned without masking or altering potential defects.

This is where wet blasting proves its value. It delivers a clean, inspection-ready surface that supports accurate Non-Destructive Testing (NDT):

• Flushes out oils, corrosion and debris from cracks with precision

• Does not peen over or smear cracks shut, keeping them open for detection

• Prevents abrasive particles from embedding into the surface, which could interfere with NDT

In additive manufacturing, producing complex components is only half the battle. The real challenge often comes after printing: ensuring trapped powder is fully removed and surfaces achieve the high-quality finish that today’s industries demand.

The rising price of tungsten carbide is putting significant pressure on many industries, from cutting tool manufacturers to component suppliers. What was once considered a manageable input cost has now become a strategic concern.

One area often overlooked is the potential for reclamation. By recovering and reprocessing worn carbide parts, businesses can:

• Reduce reliance on fluctuating raw material markets
• Lower overall material costs
• Extend the life cycle of valuable resources

Back in the 1940s, the Fairey Barracuda was a true workhorse of the skies. These British carrier-borne bombers flew daring missions against the German battleship Tirpitz, supported the invasion of Italy, and patrolled across the Atlantic, Mediterranean and Pacific.

And yet, not a single complete Barracuda made it through to the present day.

Until now.

Keeping your wet blasting equipment running smoothly often comes down to one thing: reliable spare parts. At Vapormatt, we understand the importance of minimising downtime, reducing costs, and ensuring consistent performance. That’s why we’ve built our spares service around three key benefits:

• Proven quality: Every part is engineered and tested to meet the high standards expected in demanding production environments.

• Faster availability: With a wide stock holding, we help customers get what they need quickly, so production isn’t held up.