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in Vol. 26 - September Issue - Year 2025
Amapure: The Solution for Oil-Contaminated Blasting Systems
Amapure sample – dry mineral additive
Water-drop test used to detect oil and grease contamination in the abrasive mix
Agricultural machinery from Rauch Landmaschinenfabrik
Amapure absorbs oil and grease during the blasting process
Amapure packaging – 20 kg / 40 l paper sack
The Wheelabrator AddIt dosing unit for precise Amapure delivery
Contamination of your abrasive operating mix with oil and grease doesn’t just increase operating costs - it can also reduce productivity and compromise the performance of coatings on blasted components.
Backed by over a century of expertise in metallic abrasive manufacturing and shot blasting technology, Ervin introduces Amapure - a specially developed mineral additive designed to purify your abrasive mix.
The Problem: Oil in Your Blasting System
Oil and grease can enter the blasting system from various sources, most commonly from contaminated workpieces. Once introduced, these contaminants spread quickly through the abrasive mix, leading to widespread issues across all blasted components. The result? Dull, unclean surfaces that are poorly prepared for coating, increasing the likelihood of early coating failure.
Contaminated abrasives also lead to particle clumping, causing blockages in filters and reducing the efficiency of air-wash separators and filtration systems. This poor separation increases the presence of fine particles, which can negatively affect surface profiles, reduce blasting efficiency, and accelerate equipment wear - all driving up operational costs. Worse still, oily waste in the filtration system poses a heightened fire risk and shortens filter lifespan.
Warning Signs Your Operating Mix Needs Purifying
Look out for these indicators:
• Excessive dust on blasted parts
• Fine or clumped abrasive particles
• Poor results in surface tension or water tests
• Early coating degradation
• Ineffective filter performance
The Solution: Amapure
Amapure binds with oil and grease in the system, allowing contaminants to be effectively removed during air-wash separation. Whether used as a regular additive or for a one-time deep clean, Amapure restores purity to the operating mix and enhances overall system performance.
Used in combination with Ervin’s Amasteel or stainless abrasives, Amapure offers a comprehensive solution for:
• Desanding
• Descaling
• Deburring
• Surface preparation
• Shot peening
It is compatible with automatic wheel-blast machines and air-blast systems, and is suitable across industries - including foundry, forge, metallurgy, construction, transportation, fabrication, and energy.
The Benefits of Using Amapure
Incorporating Amapure into your blasting process brings measurable improvements:
• Clean, bright workpieces ready for optimal coating adhesion
• Enhanced corrosion resistance
• Reduced abrasive consumption and machine wear
• Improved air-filter performance and lower fire risk
• Potential elimination of secondary cleaning processes such as washing
Test Your System with the Amapure Check Kit
Ervin offers the Amapure Check Kit, enabling your Ervin representative to assess your operating mix and detect oil or grease contamination. A number of on-site tests can demonstrate the performance gains that can be achieved by adding Amapure to your blasting process.
Amapure – A Case Study
Blasting Efficiency Reimagined: How Rauch Optimized Surface Preparation with Amapure
With a legacy spanning over a century, Rauch has grown from its origins as a traditional blacksmith’s workshop into a global name in agricultural machinery. Renowned for the reliability, durability, and quality of its products, Rauch maintains strict internal standards - especially when it comes to surface treatment prior to coating. When ongoing contamination issues threatened both quality and cost-efficiency, Rauch turned to long-time partner Ervin for a solution.
The Challenge: Hidden Contamination, Rising Costs
At Rauch, ensuring oil- and grease-free workpieces before coating is a critical part of the production process. However, during standard operation, the abrasive mix in the blasting system was consistently found to be contaminated - primarily by oil residues entering from upstream processes.
Routine water-drop tests revealed the extent of the problem. In a clean abrasive mix, a water droplet will typically pass through within 20 seconds. At Rauch, it was taking nearly four minutes - despite the use of an existing degreasing additive. Not only were results falling short, but the volume of additive required was becoming increasingly expensive and unsustainable.
The Solution: A New Approach with Amapure
Seeking a more efficient and cost-effective solution, Rauch trialled Amapure, Ervin’s advanced degreasing additive designed specifically for metallic abrasives.
Comparative testing was conducted over several weeks in a continuous overhead-conveyor system equipped with twelve blast wheels.
Both Amapure and a leading competitor’s product were evaluated under identical operating conditions.
Daily water-drop tests tracked the effectiveness of each product in removing oil and grease contamination from the abrasive mix.
The Results: Better Performance, Lower Costs
The results spoke volumes. With the same dosage levels, Amapure delivered more than 50% improved cleaning performance compared to the previously used product. This improvement had a direct impact on both operational efficiency and environmental management. Waste disposal requirements were reduced, abrasive consumption remained low, and surface preparation quality reached new heights.
Combining Amapure with Ervin’s Amasteel medium-hard grit created an ideal solution for Rauch - delivering superior surface preparation with lower costs and greater sustainability.
Commenting on the trial, Robert Mult, Sales Manager for Ervin, said: “The switch to grit in combination with Amapure paid off for Rauch in two ways - optimized surface pretreatment and, at the same time, a more economical blasting process.”
Peter Huck, Technical Manager at Rauch, was delighted with the results: “Blasting with Ervin’s medium-hard grit and abrasive cleaning by Amapure took our surface pretreatment to a higher level.”
Product Details
Packaging:
Amapure is packed in paper sacks of 20 kg / 40 l.
Usage:
To purify a contaminated blasting process, add approximately 1–2 litres of Amapure per tonne of abrasive in the system at the abrasive curtain. It will take around one hour of operation for Amapure to decontaminate the system, with noticeable results after 30 minutes.
To maintain a purified blasting process, add approximately 0.25–0.5 litres of Amapure per blasting wheel per hour at the abrasive curtain.
These are typical values. Actual usage will depend on the level of contamination and the blasting system.
To find out more about how Amapure could enhance your blasting operations, contact Ervin.
AddIt – Precision Dosing for Maximum Effect
To get the best performance from Amapure, accurate and consistent dosing is essential. That’s why Ervin supported blast-machine manufacturer Wheelabrator to develop a purpose-built dosing system - AddIt.
The AddIt dosing unit introduces Amapure directly into the blasting process in a controlled and efficient manner. It ensures optimal mixing, reducing the risk of over- or under-dosing while enhancing process reliability and system cleanliness.
Unlike traditional rotating-cylinder systems, which are known to be prone to wear when used with any fine material, AddIt uses a wear-free rubber pinch valve, minimising maintenance downtime. A compressed-air accumulator compensates for network pressure fluctuations, ensuring smooth and consistent additive flow.
The system is designed with flexibility in mind: it can support multiple blast machines - even if they require different additive levels - using a single, centralised unit. For advanced control, the AddIt Plus version includes an enhanced display and extended setting options, making fine adjustments straightforward.
In extensive joint trials with Ervin, AddIt proved its ability to deliver Amapure with exceptional consistency. The result was improved system performance, reduced dust generation, and lower additive consumption - all while maintaining clean, oil-free blasting conditions.
Paul Abram, Technical Director of Ervin Europe, commented:
“We are delighted that Wheelabrator are bringing their new dosing unit to market, which offers significant upgrades to other commercially available units. Thanks to rigorous on-site testing, we are confident that together, AddIt and Amapure will deliver significant benefits to many customers who need to remove oil and grease from their blasting operations.”
For Information:
Ervin Germany GmbH
Rudower Chaussee 48
12489 Berlin, Germany
Tel. +49.30.400 37846
E-mail: info@ervin.eu
www.ervin.eu
