To improve productivity for contractors working in larger applications, surface preparation equipment manufacturer, National Flooring Equipment has released the A12. This ride-on shot blaster is a self-contained unit, fitted with all the equipment a contractor needs to successfully complete a job.
In surface preparation, shot blasters strip old coatings, clean the floor and profile the concrete in a single step. The machine projects steel shot towards the surface to prep the concrete for a new covering. Once the job is complete, the site requires little clean up, allowing contractors to immediately apply a new coating or polish the levelled concrete.
Contractors should choose a machine based on each surface preparation job. They should consider how the original covering, size of the work space and desired finish of the new floor will impact what machine they need to use.
The A12 will benefit contractors working in larger applications, such as airports, highways and bridge decks. This ride-on shot blaster is compact to manoeuvre around facilities and through doorways and powerful enough to efficiently complete the job.
“The A12 completes surface preparation jobs quickly and efficiently, reducing site downtime without compromising on the quality of the work”, explains Dave Bigham, director of national accounts at National Flooring Equipment. “Surface preparation in these areas is normally completed during off-peak hours to reduce disruption to commuters, travellers or employees.
“Contractors also need to be prepared to make way for other vehicles, for example a car on a highway or a plane landing on a runway. The main benefit of the A12 is that it is a single unit. It requires no additional equipment and has no cords — contractors can simply set up the machine, switch it on and go, reducing site downtime. Once finished, they can drive off site, quickly making way for other vehicles.”
The A12 is propane powered, removing the need for generators or batteries. With enough top-up fuel, contractors can easily run the machine until the work is complete, reducing downtime caused by charging batteries or moving generators and cords.
Health and safety is vital in surface preparation and most equipment attaches to dust collectors to reduce the amount of airborne silica dust. However, the A12 has an internal dust collector that has a high efficiency particulate arrestance (HEPA) filter to keep contractors safe.