Paint and coating removal

Laser cleaning uses short pulses of laser light to remove rust, coatings, carbon, grease and other buildup from a surface. The settings are adjusted to the material so the buildup comes off and the surface underneath is preserved as much as possible. It's a non-contact process, so there's no blasting media or chemical stripper involved.

The laser itself uses no chemicals and no blasting media. The removed material becomes fumes and fine particles, which are pulled away by fume extraction at the work point. Food-contact parts still get a normal wash, rinse and sanitize afterward.

It can if the settings are wrong. Too much power, too much overlap or repeated passes can roughen a surface or leave heat tint on stainless steel (PMC study on 304L stainless). That's why every job starts with a test spot and settings matched to the material.

Plastics, most rubber and clear glass are usually poor candidates, and deep cavities the beam can't see are out of reach (Tri-State Laser Cleaning). Laser cleaning also removes cast-iron seasoning, so seasoned surfaces have to be re-seasoned. If another method fits the job better, we'll say so.

For baked-on carbon on metal parts, a laser can remove buildup without soaking the area or producing greasy wash water. Pressure washing is cheaper for large, simple surfaces, but grease-laden wash water has to be kept out of storm drains (Nashville stormwater guidance). The right answer depends on the item and what's on it.