Ship Building Logo Bar

Featured Engineered to Order Ship Building Solutions

Clemco's stationary 10 cubic foot blast machine with metering valve

Blasting for Inspection

  • A shipbuilder serving both commercial and private maritime clients needed portable abrasive blasting equipment to restore the hulls, decks, and structural surfaces of valued vessels, including yachts, workboats, and legacy ships. These vessels often exhibited corrosion, marine growth, old coatings, and surface fatigue due to years of service or environmental exposure. The restoration process required reliable, high-performance surface preparation that could be deployed flexibly across dry docks, shipyards, and marina settings—ensuring vessels could be repaired, repainted, or reoutfitted to owner expectations.

  • Clemco worked directly with the shipbuilder’s quality control, fabrication, and maintenance teams to develop bulk blast machines engineered for shipyard-scale surface preparation. The design process included:

    • Evaluating typical vessel sizes, weld layouts, and surface access constraints

    • Selecting the appropriate blast pot size to support long blasting cycles without frequent media refills

    • Configuring systems for multi-operator use to accelerate prep work on extensive hull seams and interior compartments

    • Ensuring rugged durability and ease of transport within a busy, often uneven shipyard environment

    • Integrating abrasive flow controls and moisture separators for consistent blast profile and media quality

  • Clemco delivered a series of application-specific bulk blast machines designed for intensive shipbuilding operations, featuring:

    • 160-cuft pressure-hold blast pots to provide extended run times with multiple blast nozzles operating simultaneously

    • Skid- or trailer-mounted configurations for easy movement across dry docks, fabrication halls, and outfitting areas

    • Precision abrasive metering valves and remote-control systems to support operator safety and blast quality

    • Media reclaim compatibility for environmentally responsible abrasive use and reduced cleanup

    • Comprehensive training and technical support to ensure compliance with inspection standards and shipbuilding workflows

    The result was a high-throughput blasting system that enabled the shipbuilder to prepare welds and seams to inspection-ready conditions, ensure structural quality and classification compliance, and confidently move vessels into final outfitting and launch phases—supporting timelines, safety, and performance expectations.

Clemco's Bulk Blast Machine, the Big Clem, fastened to a trailer for mobility and a media storage hopper on top
  • The U.S. Navy required high-capacity bulk blast machines to support the removal of corrosion, coatings, and marine growth from steel hulls, decks, and structural components across its fleet. The objective was to restore bare metal surfaces and create an optimal profile for repainting and recoating—critical steps in maintaining ship integrity, ensuring combat readiness, and preventing future corrosion. These systems needed to operate reliably under intense shipyard workloads, support multiple operators, and comply with military safety and performance standards.

  • Clemco collaborated with Navy maintenance engineers, shipyard personnel, and logistics officers to design bulk abrasive blasting systems that could handle large-scale surface preparation operations in dry docks and waterfront facilities. The design process included:

    • Determining optimal blast pot sizes and abrasive flow rates for extended runtimes with minimal refill interruptions

    • Engineering for multi-operator functionality to maximize productivity on large vessels and subsystems

    • Selecting durable construction materials to withstand harsh marine environments and daily military-grade use

    • Integrating safety systems such as remote deadman controls, pressure relief valves, and metered abrasive flow

    • Ensuring compliance with NAVSEA and OSHA regulations for safe, effective operation in shipyard environments

  • Clemco delivered a fleet of application-specific bulk blast machines purpose-built for the Navy’s corrosion-control needs, including:

    • 160-cuft pressure-hold blast pots capable of supporting multiple simultaneous operators for continuous blasting

    • Skid-mounted and towable units designed for easy transport and deployment across shipyards and dry docks

    • Precision abrasive metering systems and moisture separators for consistent media performance in all weather conditions

    • High-durability components, including hardened valves, blast hoses, and nozzles, engineered for long service life

    • Full operator training, technical documentation, and support to ensure proper usage, maintenance, and readiness

    The result was a battle-tested surface preparation solution that enabled the U.S. Navy to extend the service life of its vessels, reduce maintenance cycles, and ensure ships remain mission-ready—supporting both fleet performance and national defense readiness.

Corrision Control

Clemco's classic series 6 cubic foot blast machine with metering valve
  • A shipbuilder serving both commercial and private maritime clients needed portable abrasive blasting equipment to restore the hulls, decks, and structural surfaces of valued vessels, including yachts, workboats, and legacy ships. These vessels often exhibited corrosion, marine growth, old coatings, and surface fatigue due to years of service or environmental exposure. The restoration process required reliable, high-performance surface preparation that could be deployed flexibly across dry docks, shipyards, and marina settings—ensuring vessels could be repaired, repainted, or reoutfitted to owner expectations.

  • Clemco worked closely with the shipbuilder’s service and maintenance teams to develop compact, durable, and field-ready blast machines optimized for vessel restoration. The design phase focused on:

    • Understanding the range of vessel types and hull materials, including steel, aluminum, and fiberglass

    • Selecting abrasive types and blast pressures that could safely strip coatings without damaging substrates

    • Engineering for portability, allowing easy movement between vessels, docks, and restoration bays

    • Ensuring operator safety and control, including deadman switches, pressure relief systems, and moisture separators

    • Configuring systems for single or dual-operator use to scale depending on project size and timelines

  • Clemco delivered a fleet of application-specific portable blast machines tailored to the shipbuilder’s restoration needs, including:

    • 6 cu ft and 10 cu ft pressure-hold blast pots offering long blasting cycles with minimal interruption

    • Rugged skid-mounted or wheeled frames for flexible deployment in varied shipyard or marina environments

    • Metering valves and remote controls to optimize abrasive flow and ensure operator safety

    • Compatibility with vacuum recovery, containment, and dust collection systems for environmental compliance

    • Full training and technical support to enable shipyard staff to operate efficiently across multiple vessel types and conditions

    The result was a portable, high-performance blasting solution that allowed the shipbuilder to restore valued vessels with care, speed, and precision—delighting owners, preserving maritime assets, and maintaining the shipyard’s reputation for craftsmanship and excellence.

Restoration

Proven Performance. Rugged Reliability.

Generations of Excellence Transforming Our World, Worldwide since 1949

Generations of Excellence Transforming Our World, Worldwide since 1949

Generations of Excellence Transforming Our World, Worldwide since 1949

Generations of Excellence Transforming Our World, Worldwide since 1949 • Generations of Excellence Transforming Our World, Worldwide since 1949 • Generations of Excellence Transforming Our World, Worldwide since 1949 •

Clemco logo with the slogan 'Transforming Our World' beneath it.