Ervin enhances surface treatment performance with Amapure: a customer success story

Oil and grease contamination in your abrasive mix doesn’t just drive up operating expenses—it can also hinder productivity and negatively impact the adhesion and durability of surface coatings.

With over 100 years of expertise in metallic abrasives and blasting technology, Ervin has developed Amapure—a specially engineered mineral additive designed to clean and restore your abrasive media.

Understanding the issue: oil in your blast media

Oil and grease often make their way into blasting systems via contaminated parts. Once present, these substances quickly spread through the abrasive mix, compromising the quality of all blasted surfaces. The result? Dull finishes that provide a poor base for coatings, increasing the risk of premature failure.

Oily contaminants also cause abrasive particles to stick together, clogging filters and reducing the efficiency of separation and air-filtration systems. This leads to more fine particles in circulation, which degrade blasting performance, damage equipment, and increase maintenance costs. Additionally, oily waste elevates fire hazards and shortens the lifespan of filtration units.

Signs your abrasive mix needs cleaning

Keep an eye out for these symptoms of oil contamination:

- Visible dust on blasted components
- Clumping or excessive fines in abrasive material
- Failing surface tension or water-drop tests
- Early breakdown of applied coatings
- Underperforming filtration systems

The solution: Amapure

Amapure works by binding to oil and grease particles in the abrasive system, making them removable during air-wash separation. It can be used as part of routine maintenance or for deep cleaning, restoring system performance and improving surface preparation quality.

When combined with Ervin's Amasteel or stainless abrasives, Amapure provides an all-in-one solution for:
- Desanding
- Descaling
- Deburring
- Surface prep
- Shot peening

It is compatible with both air-blast and wheel-blast systems and is suitable across industries such as foundries, forging, metal processing, construction, transportation, fabrication, and energy.

Why choose Amapure?

Integrating Amapure into your blasting process offers several key advantages:

- Brighter, cleaner surfaces ideal for coating
- Improved corrosion protection
- Reduced abrasive use and equipment wear
- Enhanced filter efficiency and lower fire risk
- Potential removal of secondary washing steps

Assess your system with the Amapure Check Kit

Ervin provides an Amapure Check Kit, enabling your Ervin rep to test for contamination and demonstrate the performance improvements Amapure can offer through on-site evaluation.

Case study: Rauch's blasting breakthrough with Amapure

Revamping efficiency: how Rauch improved surface quality with Amapure

Rauch, a leading name in agricultural machinery, has built its reputation on quality and durability. Strict internal standards demand pristine surface treatment before coating—so when contamination issues arose, Rauch turned to Ervin for a fix.

The challenge: hidden contaminants & climbing costs

Despite careful processes, Rauch found recurring oil residue in their abrasive mix—mostly introduced upstream. Water-drop tests confirmed the issue: clean media allow water to pass in under 20 seconds; Rauch’s mix took nearly four minutes, even with their current degreasing agent. Worse, the amount needed was becoming unsustainable financially.

The solution: introducing Amapure

To tackle the problem, Rauch tested Amapure in a continuous conveyor blast system featuring twelve wheels. Side-by-side comparisons with a competitor’s product were conducted under identical conditions, with daily water tests measuring results.

The outcome: efficiency up, costs down

The results were clear—Amapure delivered over 50% better cleaning performance than the existing additive. This enhanced efficiency reduced abrasive waste, lowered disposal volumes, and significantly improved surface prep quality.

By combining Amapure with Amasteel medium-hard grit, Rauch achieved cleaner finishes with reduced costs and a smaller environmental footprint.

Robert Mult, Sales Manager at Ervin, noted:
“Switching to grit and Amapure helped Rauch achieve both improved surface treatment and greater cost-efficiency.”

Peter Huck, Technical Manager at Rauch, added:
“The combination of Ervin grit and Amapure took our blasting results to a whole new level.”

Product overview

Packaging:
Amapure is available in 20 kg / 40 L paper sacks.

Usage guidelines:
Initial clean: Add 1–2 liters per ton of abrasive at the curtain. Full effect is reached after about one hour, with visible improvements within 30 minutes.
Ongoing maintenance: Add 0.25–0.5 liters per blast wheel per hour.
Actual dosing may vary depending on system type and contamination level.

AddIt: smart dosing for maximum results

Precision is key when dosing Amapure. That’s why Ervin partnered with Wheelabrator to develop AddIt, a purpose-built dosing unit that introduces Amapure into your blast system consistently and effectively.

Unlike traditional rotating-cylinder units, AddIt uses a wear-resistant rubber pinch valve, reducing maintenance. A built-in compressed-air reservoir ensures smooth, uninterrupted additive flow.

Designed for versatility, AddIt supports multiple blast machines with individual dosing needs. For advanced functionality, AddIt Plus offers enhanced settings and intuitive controls for fine-tuning.

Extensive testing with Ervin confirmed AddIt’s ability to deliver Amapure with exceptional consistency—leading to improved system cleanliness, reduced dust, and lower additive usage.

Paul Abram, Technical Director at Ervin Europe, remarked:
“Wheelabrator’s new dosing system marks a significant advancement. Together with Amapure, it gives customers a reliable, efficient solution for oil and grease removal in blasting systems.”