In the bustling industrial heart of Salt Lake City, Utah, Brock was tasked with a challenging project: a 180-foot diameter tank, new steel, waiting to be prepared for coating. Their main objectives were clear – increase productivity while reducing the labor required for such a large task. Historically, the blasting team of four managed to cover 400 sq ft/hr, each blaster achieving around 100 sq ft/hr, falling short of the industry standard of 150 sq ft/hr. A new approach was needed.

The client had relied on GMA PremiumBlast for more than eight years but needed a coarser media to speed up removal of thick coatings while still maintaining the consistent quality and low-dust performance they trusted from GMA products. The goal was clear:

• Achieve the required surface profile
• Improve production rates
• Avoid sacrificing abrasive quality or efficiency
• Maintain performance despite tidal constraints

BlastOne recommended a trial of GMA ToughBlast, engineered to cut through heavy coatings and corrosion faster than standard grades. The abrasive’s increased cutting power offered the ideal balance of aggression and surface finish for high-build and ultra-high-build coating systems.