Even As The Industrial Cleaning Industry Shifts From Abrasive To Laser, There Are Risks Involved – Laser Photonics Places Safety First

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A constant challenge to the maintenance of infrastructure and machines is the prevalence of rust. The industrial sector struggles with corrosion that can cause safety risks and limit the lifetime of a structure or machine. Dealing with problems associated with corrosion in the industrial sector costs around $276 billion annually. The offshore oil and gas industry seems poised for its most growth in a decade, so there is an ongoing need for infrastructure to clean and maintain equipment.

Industrial cleaning was traditionally accomplished using abrasive cleaning methods like sandblasting, dry ice blasting or chemical cleaning. However, these methods are time-consuming, produce air pollutants and toxic waste, and can carry safety risks for the workers.

Lasers are a more industry-friendly solution for coping with corrosion, as they can get the same results as the abrasive cleaning methods while being more energy efficient and less polluting. They are also safer for workers to use, though industrial-grade lasers carry their own risks. An awareness of these risks is why restrictions around laser safety have been tightened over the years. In 2013 the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) began discussions about aligning standards with the more stringent international regulations, while local regulations have been refined since the 1990s to create a safer environment for laser workers.

Today, laser regulation is governed by the FDA and Center for Devices and Radiological Health (CDHR), and they are assisted by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), which works to educate and support laser workers. Regulations are strict, and compliance is key for industry operators to succeed.

Laser Photonics LASE recently got renewed approval from the FDA and CDHR for its CleanTech products. Laser Photonics primarily produces lasers for industrial cleaning and other material applications, which fall in the Class IIIb and Class IV laser categories.

CleanTech Products Unite Efficiency With Safety

Laser Photonics’ primary line is its CleanTech products, which are a more Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)- and OSHA-friendly cleaning alternative than their abrasive counterparts. Laser Photonics says it meets or exceeds the current CDHR regulations to ensure both strict compliance and the highest safety levels for its products. With decades of expertise in the industry, the company says its products are both reliable and decrease health and safety risks. Product safety features include a Remote Interlock Connection to remotely deactivate the laser, Key Control to ensure authorized use only, and a mechanical Attenuator to block radiation emission.

“The safety of the end-user has always been a top priority for Laser Photonics, from the introduction of our CleanTech line of laser systems, with safety features including integrated safety glass, door contact sensors, keyed access control and direct connection to fume extraction. Additionally, our OEM systems are built and tested to stringent safety standards at their core, with visual in-use indicators, keyed access control, and direct input for OEM safety system integration,” said Laser Photonics CEO, Wayne Tupuola. 

Laser Photonics says it goes above and beyond to provide safety equipment and to cooperate with operators, setting high standards for safety. It is positioned at the heart of the industrial cleaning industry to deploy its CleanTech products. It's currently expanding its network of business partners and has already supplied its products to a range of Fortune 500 and 1000 companies.

Other companies producing industrial lasers include Lumentum Holdings Inc. LITE, CyberOptics Corp. CYBE and IPG Photonics Corp. IPGP.

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