ArcelorMittal – High-Performance Shot Blasting Plant

Location: Wilge, South Africa

Project Details:

Project Quick Summary 

Parameter  Details 
Client Name  ArcelorMittal South Africa 
Project Type  Tender-Based Shot Blasting Plant Replacement 
Industry  Steel Manufacturing & Heavy Industry 
Completion Year  2022 
Scope  Design, Fabrication, Installation, Dismantling & Commissioning 
Standard Achieved  ISO 8501-1:2007 Grade B, Sa2.5 

Project Overview 

Securing the tender for ArcelorMittal South Africa was one of our biggest strategic wins and a defining milestone for our organization. Competing in a technically rigorous evaluation process, we successfully demonstrated compliance with global steel industry standards and delivered a high-performance shot blasting system engineered for heavy structural steel applications. 

As per the Technical Contract (Buying Enquiry N221001), the project involved supplying and installing a new Pangborn-type shot blasting machine within the existing civil footprint while modernizing the facility to meet enhanced performance and environmental benchmarks. 

The solution was engineered to handle large steel workpieces up to 140 mm thickness and 18 meters in length, achieving ISO 8501-1 Sa2.5 surface preparation standards — a critical requirement for downstream coating and structural applications. 

This project reinforces our capability to execute technically complex upgrades for one of the largest steel producers in the world. 

Scope of Works 

As outlined in the technical contract: 

  • Supply of new heavy-duty Shot Blasting Machine  
  • Fitment within existing civil structure  
  • Dismantling & removal of old blast machine  
  • Conveyor system integration (roller + chain driven)  
  • Abrasive reclamation system (screw + bucket conveyor)  
  • High-efficiency shot separator system (>99.9%)  
  • Dust removal & pulse-jet filtration system  
  • Electrical control panel with PLC & HMI  
  • Commissioning & operator training  
  • Complete data pack & technical drawings  

Technical Specifications 

Workpiece Handling Capacity 

  • Maximum Workpiece Size: 140 mm × 140 mm × 18 m  
  • Minimum Workpiece Size: 80 mm × 80 mm × 6 m  
  • Conveyor Speed: Adjustable 9–19 m/min  

Blasting System 

  • 4 Blast Wheels 
  • 37 kW per wheel (Total ~148 kW blasting power)  
  • 1500 RPM operation  
  • Shot velocity approx. 78 m/s  
  • Blast chamber lined with SP Mn13 wear plates  
  • Surface Preparation: ISO 8501-1 Grade B, Sa2.5  

Abrasive Recovery System 

  • Bottom Screw Conveyor System  
  • Bucket Elevator System (200 t/h capacity)  
  • Top Screw Conveyor System  
  • Shot Separator Efficiency >99.9% 

Dust Collection & Environmental Control 

  • Total Airflow: 25,000 m³/h  
  • Dust Concentration: <100 mg/m³  
  • Pulse Jet Dust Collector – 360 m² filtration area, 38 cartridges  
  • Noise Level: <90 dB 

Electrical & Control 

  • PLC-Based Control System 
  • HMI Interface 
  • Manual & Auto Modes  
  • Safety Interlock on inspection doors  
  • Integrated conveyor & blasting control 

Engineering & Compliance Highlights 

  • 100% Compliance with Technical Contract Requirements  
  • Modernization within Existing Civil Footprint 
  • Heavy Wear-Resistant Internal Linings 
  • High-Efficiency Abrasive Reclamation 
  • Environmentally Compliant Dust Extraction 
  • Structured Dismantling & Upgrade Strategy 
  • Training & Commissioning Support 

Project Outcome 

  • Enhanced steel surface preparation quality 
  • Improved operational efficiency 
  • Reduced abrasive loss through optimized recovery 
  • Upgraded environmental compliance 
  • Strengthened our reputation as a trusted engineering partner to a global steel leader 

Strategic Significance 

Winning this tender from ArcelorMittal South Africa positions us among the few engineering firms trusted to execute heavy-duty surface preparation systems for one of the largest steel manufacturers in the world. 

This project stands as a testament to our: 

  • Technical capability 
  • Tendering expertise 
  • Compliance strength 
  • Heavy industrial engineering competence