Category: News

Selecting the right shot blasting machine is about more than just cleaning components—it’s about improving production efficiency, achieving a consistent surface finish, reducing operating costs, and ensuring your equipment is fit for the demands of your business.

With a wide range of blasting technologies available, choosing the right solution can seem overwhelming. Whether you’re replacing ageing equipment or investing in a new production line, understanding your requirements is the first step towards making the right decision.

1. Consider the Type of Components You Process

The size, shape and material of your components will have the biggest influence on the type of shot blasting machine you require.

For example:

• Small batch components may be better suited to a table blast machine.
• Larger fabrications often require hanger-type machines.
• Continuous production environments may benefit from roller conveyor blasting systems.
• Delicate or complex parts may require specialist blasting solutions to achieve the required finish without damaging the component.

Choosing equipment designed specifically for your products improves both productivity and blasting consistency.

2. Understand Your Production Requirements

Before investing in a new machine, consider:

• Daily production volumes
• Cycle times
• Automation requirements
• Future production growth
• Available workshop space

Selecting equipment based only on current demand can limit future capacity. Investing in the right solution from the outset can improve efficiency and reduce long-term operating costs.

3. Think Beyond the Initial Purchase Price

The cheapest machine isn’t always the most economical option.

Factors such as maintenance requirements, media consumption, energy efficiency and spare parts availability all contribute to the total cost of ownership.

A reliable machine that minimises downtime and requires less maintenance can provide significant savings over its lifetime.

4. Prioritise Reliability and Service Support

Even the most robust shot blasting equipment requires regular servicing and maintenance.

When selecting a supplier, consider:

• Availability of spare parts
• Technical support
• Preventative maintenance programmes
• Emergency breakdown assistance
• Refurbishment services

Having access to experienced service engineers can significantly reduce downtime and keep production running smoothly.

At Straaltechniek UK, we provide ongoing service support, machine refurbishment and maintenance solutions to help customers maximise the performance and lifespan of their equipment.

5. Plan for Future Flexibility

Manufacturing requirements change over time.

Choosing equipment that can be upgraded or adapted helps protect your investment as production volumes increase or product ranges evolve.

Discussing your long-term plans with an experienced supplier can help ensure your equipment continues to meet your operational requirements for years to come.

Customer Success

Recently, our service team responded to an emergency breakdown after a customer’s blast machine experienced an unexpected mechanical failure.

Our engineers attended site immediately, completed the necessary repairs and had the machine back in operation within four hours—minimising downtime and helping the customer resume production the same day.

This is the level of ongoing support customers receive when working with Straaltechniek UK.

Why Choose Straaltechniek UK?

With decades of experience, Straaltechniek UK supplies, installs, and services new and refurbished industrial shot blasting equipment for manufacturers across a wide range of industries.

Our team works closely with customers to understand their production requirements before recommending the most suitable solution—ensuring equipment delivers long-term performance, reliability and value.

From new machinery and upgrades to servicing, spare parts and refurbishment, we provide complete support throughout the life of your equipment.

Speak to Our Experts

Choosing the right shot blasting machine is an important investment, and expert advice can help you avoid costly mistakes.

If you’re considering new equipment, upgrading an existing machine or looking to improve the performance of your current blasting process, our experienced team is here to help.

Contact Straaltechniek UK today to discuss the right solution for your production line.

Strengthening Partnerships Through Shared Knowledge

In May, Andy Allen (Managing Director), James Lees (UK Sales Manager), Matt Naylor (Area Sales Manager), and Ryan Doxey (Machine Shop Manager) represented Straaltechniek UK at the 7th Siapro Group Business Conference.

The event brought together partners from across Europe to share knowledge, discuss industry developments, and explore opportunities for future collaboration. Beyond the business discussions, the conference highlighted the importance of the strong relationships that drive innovation and long-term success throughout the Siapro Group.

The team returned with valuable insights and ideas that will help us continue improving our services, strengthening partnerships, and delivering the best possible solutions for our customers.

A big thank you to the Siapro Group and all attendees for another inspiring and productive conference. We look forward to continuing to grow, learn, and succeed together.

Inside The Workshop – Table Machine Refurbishment Underway

Our workshop team is currently carrying out a comprehensive refurbishment of a table blast machine for our valuable customer, restoring it to optimum operating condition and extending its service life.

The project includes the replacement and refurbishment of key wear components, thorough inspection of critical systems, and the implementation of upgrades where required to improve reliability and performance.

Stay tuned for updates and the finished result!

Diablo Roller Conveyor Taking Shape at Customer Site

We’re currently installing a Diablo roller conveyor machine at one of our valued customer sites.

This exciting project will help improve efficiency, productivity, and overall surface treatment performance for the customer’s operation.

We look forward to sharing the completed installation soon.

Stay tuned for the finished result.

Did you know?

Alongside our shot blasting services, we also offer in-house CNC machining and fabrication services.

• CNC turning up to 320mm dia x 1080mm long

• Live tooling capability

• Manual turning up to 2000mm long

• CNC milling up to 1500mm x 650mm x 620mm

• Rotary table capability

• Manual milling available

• General fabrication

• Plasma cutting services up to 20mm thick

For machining and fabrication enquiries, please get in touch with our team.

Welcome to the April edition of the Straaltechniek newsletter. This month, we’re pleased to share a range of updates that highlight the continued progress, dedication, and teamwork across the business.

From key project milestones, including a successful Factory Acceptance Test at our manufacturing facility, to the delivery of multiple systems to customer sites, April has been a busy and productive month for the team.

We also take a moment to recognise and celebrate the people behind our success, including marking the retirement of a long-standing colleague whose contribution has made a lasting impact.

As always, thank you for your continued support and interest in Straaltechniek.

Double Delivery Success This Month

This month marked a significant achievement for our team, as we successfully completed the delivery of not just one, but two key pieces of equipment to separate customer sites.

A refurbished table machine and an automatic recovery system were both carefully prepared, transported, and delivered, ready for installation at their locations.

This accomplishment reflects the strong teamwork, coordination, and planning demonstrated by everyone involved. Their combined efforts ensured a smooth and efficient process from start to finish.

A great result and a testament to the team’s commitment and collaboration.

Factory Acceptance Test Completed

Last week, our Managing Director, Andy visited Croatia to conduct a Factory Acceptance Test (FAT) at our machine manufacturing facility. This represents a significant milestone in the production process, ensuring that the machine fulfills all necessary performance and quality criteria before shipment. A big thank you to everyone on-site for their dedication and support in reaching this vital stage. We are another step closer to delivery!

Thank You, Jay – A Remarkable Career

We would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to Jay for his 16 years of dedication at Straaltechniek.

After an incredible 38 years in the Surface Preparation Industry and 48 years of continuous employment, Jay officially retired on 2nd April 2026. His knowledge, experience, and guidance have made a lasting impact across the team, and he has built strong relationships with colleagues and customers alike.

We marked the occasion with a night out at the dogs and a buffet on his final working day to show our appreciation for everything he has contributed.

While Jay has retired from his front-facing role, we’re pleased that he will continue to support the business behind the scenes, sharing his valuable expertise and guidance on ongoing projects.

We thank Jay for his commitment and wish him a long, happy, and well-deserved retirement.

Welcome to our March Newsletter.

This month we’re pleased to share two recent developments. We have launched a new page on our website dedicated to Agriculture OEMs, highlighting how we support manufacturers in the sector with tailored solutions and supply chain expertise.

We’re also featuring a recent case study where a fully automated abrasive recovery system was installed to remove a production bottleneck in a customer’s shot blasting process. By eliminating the need for manual media recovery between components, the solution increased throughput from 6–7 components per day to 12 – an 84.6% increase in daily production capacity.

Eliminating a Production Bottleneck with Automated Abrasive Recovery

During a routine site visit, a customer highlighted a key challenge in their shot blasting process: operators were required to manually recover abrasive media between components, creating significant downtime. By installing a fully automated recovery system, the need for manual intervention was eliminated, increasing throughput from 6–7 components per day to 12 — an 84.6% improvement in daily production capacity while also saving around 30 minutes of manual labour per component.

Read more: Improving Shot Blasting Productivity with a Fully Automated Recovery System – Straaltechniek

Latest Updates and Customer Success Stories

Explore what’s new on our website. Alongside the launch of our dedicated Agriculture OEM support page, we’ve also added two new case studies highlighting how practical engineering solutions are helping customers remove production bottlenecks and improve productivity.

Take a look: Agriculture – Straaltechniek

Read our customer success stories here: Case Studies Archive – Straaltechniek

February highlighted Straaltechniek’s commitment to customer support. Our team responded quickly to two unexpected breakdowns at valued customer sites and recently supplied and installed a new table machine, with excellent feedback on the results. From urgent assistance to delivering new solutions, we remain dedicated to supporting our customers any day, any time.

Always There When It Matters

At Straaltechniek, customer service is at the heart of what we do.

This month, our team responded to two unexpected breakdowns at the site of a valued customer. With speed and expertise, our engineers quickly attended site to provide support and help restore operations.

Breakdowns are never planned – and neither is our commitment.

Any day. Any time. No exceptions.

Thank you for your continued trust in Straaltechniek.

Installation Success: Cycle Time Reduced by 50%!

We’re excited to share another successful machine installation for one of our valued customers.

Our team recently supplied and installed a new table blast machine, and the results have been outstanding. Prior to the upgrade, the customer was processing their component in 4 minutes per cycle. With the new system now fully operational, that time has been reduced to just 2 minutes.

This improvement represents a 50% reduction in cycle time and effectively doubles production capacity – a significant boost to efficiency, output, and overall workflow.

Most importantly, the feedback from the customer has been exceptional. They have reported noticeable gains in productivity and performance, and we’re proud to have delivered a solution that creates real, measurable value for their operation.

Delivering efficiency improvements like this is exactly what we strive for – helping our customers work faster, smarter, and more competitively.

If you’re looking to improve your blasting processes or explore equipment upgrades, our team would be happy to help.

As we step into 2026, we’d like to thank our customers, partners, and colleagues for their continued trust and collaboration. The new year brings fresh opportunities, new projects, and ongoing innovation in surface preparation and blasting technology. In this first newsletter of the year, we’re pleased to share a recent equipment modernisation programme delivered for a valued customer in the North East.

Minimised Downtime, Maximum Performance: GN Wheel Upgrade Completed Before Festive Shutdown

Straaltechniek successfully completed a pre-Christmas upgrade to our GN wheel technology for a valued customer in the North East. The project saw four wheel assemblies and associated shot gates upgraded, delivering improved blasting efficiency, reliability, and consistency.

Planned and executed to minimise downtime, the installation was completed ahead of the festive shutdown, allowing the customer to start the new year with enhanced performance and reduced maintenance demands.

This upgrade highlights Straaltechniek’s commitment to proven technology, high-quality installations, and customer-focused solutions that deliver real operational value.

Transform Your Blasting Process with Automation

Did you know we can automate your blasting process? Depending on the components and application, automation can improve consistency, reduce manual handling, and deliver meaningful reductions in overall blasting time. Each solution is assessed on a case-by-case basis to ensure efficiency gains are achieved without compromising surface quality or specification.

Contact us today to find out how we can help improve your blasting process.

Customer Feedback

Our collaboration with Straaltechniek UK commenced with the purchase of four blast wheels, aimed at enhancing the maintenance programme of our aging roller conveyor system. The performance gains were significant- so much so that the same wheels have been successfully transferred and operated across two separate machines over a 25-year period, consistently delivering exceptional results.

We acknowledge Straaltechniek UK for their confidence in a system that has demonstrated exceptional reliability and operational integrity. We now believe that the equipment has gone far beyond its designed service life, and continues to maintain consistent performance, with no failures attributable to the design or manufacturing.

Any component replacements for this particular machine have been exclusively due to operator error, rather than deficiencies in the media type or process parameters.

Previously the level of downtime suffered due to blade or impellor wear would easily result in shift being lost, the commercial impact of this in an already competitive industry can be significant.

Straaltechniek UK have consistently provided us with products and services that are second to none in the marketplace, setting a benchmark for quality, reliability, and technical support.

Meet the Finance Team

Enhanced Performance: Swing-Out Table Machine Modernised with High-Performance, Long-Life Blast Wheels, Resulting in a 60% Reduction in Blasting Time

We have successfully completed an equipment modernisation programme on our valued customer’s swing-out table machine. This upgrade included replacing the existing wheels with our high performance long life GN Wheels and installing new abrasive gates designed by Straaltechniek.

In addition to these enhancements, we carried out a full refurbishment to give the machine a refreshed, like-new appearance.

Since retrofitting the blast wheels, the customer has achieved a significant productivity improvement- reducing blasting time from 25 minutes with their old conventional wheels to just 10 minutes, delivering faster throughput, improved efficiency, and consistent blasting performance.

Why choose the GN Wheel®?

• Increase Production Uptime

• Reduce Production Downtime

• Reduce Maintenance Downtime

• Improve Blast Quality

• Reduce Energy

• Reduce Consumable Spares

• Reduce Abrasive Usage

• Prolong Machine Lifetime

• Overall Improved Efficiency of the Machine

• Overall Reduction in Operational Costs

Christmas Jumper Day 2025

We were delighted to support Save the Children through this years Christmas Jumper Day.

Our team showed great festive spirit with some fantastic jumpers, and all donations went directly to the charity.

Thank you to everyone who took part and contributed!

Straaltechniek UK Limited Christmas Party 2025

This year we hosted the Straaltechniek UK Limited Christmas Party at Bramall Lane. We had a fantastic time celebrating with our brilliant team and reflecting on what has been an amazing year.

Meet the Production Management Team