The Aerotech Group
Ian Harley
Sponge-Jet @ Europort 2011
Published Thursday 12 January 2012 | 
In November 2011 Jim Needham of Aerotech Inspection & NDT Ltd and Sponge-Jet UK joined forces with Simon Gijzel of Sponge Blasting Benleux BV of Holland to represent Sponge-Jet at the Europort 2011 Maritime Exhibition. Europort is rated as “the most complete maritime exhibition in the world. Over 30,00 maritime professionals from all segments of the shipbuilding industry, from naval to dredging and from fishery to offshore, are brought together in one state-of-the art exhibition.”
Sponge-Jet regularly showcases their technology at events such as these across the world in an effort to further increase the worldwide success story of low dust, dry abrasive blasting. This even heralded a new partnership between one of Sponge-Jet longest serving partners in Aerotech Inspection (over 15 years) and one of the newest in Benleux BV (new in 2010).
Sponge-Jet Saves Time & Money at BAE Scotstoun
Published Thursday 12 January 2012 | In July 2011 Interserve contacted Aerotech Inspection to see if Sponge-Jet could help them save time and money on a surface preparation project on the Type 45 Destroyer at BAE Scotstoun.
Large areas of internal decking with light corrosion needed to be cleaned and prepared for coating. Traditional blasting was not an option – the dust created could potentially damage sensitive equipment and dials already installed in the ship, the cost of any containment to protect these would be prohibitive.
It appeared the used of griding tools was the only option. Hand tooling had been the preferred choice for internal surface preparation for a long time. However this labour intensive method not only proved costly but provided unsatisfactory results.
Using a Sponge-Jet 100HP Feed Unit and 35P Recycler hired from Aerotech Inspection and a mixture of Sponge-Jet Silver 80 and Silver 30 medias Interserve successfully prepared over 200m of internal decking ready for coating. Minimal containment and clean up meant that the work was completed earlier than scheduled and under budget. BAE technicians noted that the quality of work was vastly superior to that of hand tooling and would request that Sponge-Jet be used for future projects of a similar nature.
Nuclear Decommissioning At Hunterston A
Published Friday 20 May 2011 | 
Aerotech Inspection & NDT Ltd installed and commissioned the first Sponge-Jet KwietKave system in Europe at the Hunterston A power station.
Magnox Ltd had been successfully using Sponge-Jet technology to process contaminated steel since 2006, the investment in the KwietKave system takes their process to the next level with fully automated collection, recycling and reloading of media allowing for increased production in a sealed, noise reducing booth.
Click here for more information on the Sponge-Jet KwietKave system.
If you would like to enquire about the Sponge-Jet KwietKave system contact:
Ian Harley +44 (0)1384 564021
Sponge-Jet Global Sales Meeting 2011
Published Friday 20 May 2011 | 
Jim Needham and Ian Harley travelled to Puerto Rico for the annual Sponge-Jet Global Sales Meeting. As always it presented a fantastic opportunity for the Sponge-Jet partners across the world to share information, skills and ideas. This year’s confernece hosted informal afternoon discussions, which made it possible for all the partners to share their practises for others to adopt and apply to their own oporations. As well as these planed discussions it was great to see impromptu meetings springing up around the hotel with partners of from nationalities excitedly discussing the potentials and passed success stories of Sponge-Jet.
This year Jim Needham presented to the on Sponge-Jet in the nuclear industry, in particular relating to the KwietKave installation at the Scottish power station, Hunterston.
Ian Harley also completed a presentation on surface preparation work he conducted at Ffynnon Ore Wind Farm, Wales.
Sponge-Jet at Ffynnon Oer Wind Farm.
Published Saturday 30 October 2010 | 
Aerotech Inspection & NDT Ltd were contacted by AmbaU Windservice to see if Sponge-Jet could help them deal with corrosion and coating failures on their wind turbines, as localised corrosion around the bolts and flanges of the turbines were causing a number issues.
Due to the positioning of the corrosion it was impossible to use hand tools to treat the surface. Traditional blasting was considered but it was feared the dust created would damage the workings of the turbines and disrupt grazing animals on the farm land where the wind farm was situated.
Using Sponge-Jet we were able to prepare flanges with much faster then expected with traditional blasting and without causing any disruption to grazing animals or damaging the turbines. Sponge-Jet allowed the opperator to work in close proximity to the painters and other technicians with no safety issues.
AmbaU Windservice were very pleased with the results of the work and have now purchased Sponge-Jet equipment to use themselves for future projects.
Click here for more information on the Ffynnon Oer Wind Farm commission.
Sponge-Jet Global Sales Meeting 2010
Published Sunday 30 May 2010 | Jim Needham and Ian Harley once again visited the US for the Sponge-Jet annual sales conference. This year the conference was held at Sponge-Jet HQ in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. As always this was a fantastic opportunity to share information as 75 reps from 50 countries attended.
This year Ian Harley presented a case history on historical renovation and Sponge-Jet. The core of the presentation was based around work completed at Stirling Castle in the summer of 2009. This presentation alongside presentations from across the globe on applications from oil and gas, shipyards, nuclear and automotive industries showed the many uses for Sponge-Jet surface preparation.
Sponge-Jet UK and Sponge-Jet Scandinavia Join Forces Again
Published Wednesday 30 December 2009 | Sponge-Jet in SwedenAs part of Aerotech’s burgeoning partnership with Skandinavisk Industriutveckling Jim Needham visited Sweden for a day of knowledge sharing with the Scandinavian Nuclear Industry.
The presentation took place at the Ringhals Nuclear Plant, in Varberg, Sweden and was attended by experts in nuclear decontamination from all over Scandinavia. Tommy Thorn of Skandinavisk Industriutveckling said, “It was great to get Jim over to present his knowledge. His experience and knowledge of using Sponge-Jet within nuclear decontamination is unrivaled. I look forward to a long and fruitful partnership between our two companies.”
Jim Needham believes “Sponge-Jet has proven to be a very successful tool in this very new industry. Our major problem is getting people to share knowledge and experience. This is why our partnership with Skandinavisk Industriutveckling can be successful. By sharing our experience and knowledge, we can get the best out of Sponge-Jet and create long-term benefits for all.
Sponge-Jet on the BP Valhall Accommodation Block
Published Saturday 5 December 2009 | 
BP Valhall Platform, Valhall is a demanding field and has been under continuous development since start-up in 1982. A new high tech production and hotel platform is currently being built at SLP dry docks, Lowestoft and will be installed in 2010.
When Barrier Ltd were having problems using traditional blasting techniques on the platform they contacted Sponge-Jet. The high levels of dust were making it impossible for other disciplines to take place near by. Furthermore, a series of complaints had been made by near by businesses regarding the levels of dust.
Sponge-Jet Dry Blasting seemed the obvious alternative. After conducting, a series of successful trials Barrier Ltd and BP agreed that this was the way forward. Having purchased two Feed Units and Media Classifiers, Barrier intends to use the system for the rest of the project. The low dust properties of Sponge-Jet will allow them to perform surface preparation whilst other tasks can be performed near by. It should also keep the neighbours a lot happier!
Safe-man 2 Global Launch
Published Friday 31 July 2009 | Sponge-Jet Inc. is pleased to announce the launch of the Safe-man 2 system. Featuring a new-to-the-industry in-line deadman with remote safety and blow-down functions. The Safeman is recognised as the safest, ergonomic and productive abrasive blasting accessory of the decade.
The nozzle-mounted LED precision-light allows better visibility than ever before. Allowing perfect visability in the darkest of corners without any shadows; once again Sponge-Jet technology offers unrivalled first pass quality of work.
Different Safe-man packages are available making the system ideal for all kinds of abrasive blasting.
Please contact Ian Harley on +44 (0)1384 564021 for more details or demonstrations.
Sponge-Jet Global Sales Meeting 2009
Published Sunday 5 July 2009 | Jim Needham and Ian Harley recently attended the Sponge-Jet Annual Sales Meeting in Las Vegas. This 3 day conference gave opportunities for all Sponge-Jet partners to meet up and exchange knowledge and experiences. With Sponge-Jet Partners from all over the globe including Mexico, Sweden, Italy, Malaysia, Australia, Argentina, America and many more. Between them all there was a mountain of information to share. It also allowed Sponge-Jet to introduce their exciting new products and disclose their coming innovations that are on the horizon.
Jim and Ian were also invited to conduct presentation on nuclear decontamination. With over 10 years of Sponge-Jet experience and 30 years in the nuclear industry, it was possible to introduce other partners to ideas and techniques that have been proven to work in practise, in the industry. It is hoped that these techniques will now be used across the globe continuing from the success of Sponge-Jet in the UK.
