Transmet Corporation, a specialty manufacturer of blast media for castings, paint removal, and automotive component remanufacturing, reported it has expanded its cast zinc shot production operation, a project that focused on the means of collecting and classifying cast zinc shot for packaging. The company noted that the expansion and improvements will make it possible to increase production of cast zinc shot material, and improve operator safety.
Transmet indicated the improvements were financed internally, aided by a grant from the Ohio Bureau of Workers Compensation. Columbus-based Applied Engineering Solutions designed new equipment. Specialty machining was done by Crist’s Machining in Lancaster, OH, and H.I.P. Mobile Welding, Stoutsville, OH, carried out the project installation.
Columbus-based Transmet Corp. produces “rapidly solidified metal flakes (aluminum and zinc), shot media, and particulates” by quenching molten metal at up to 1,000,000°C/second. Molten metal is pressured by pumps or air onto a casting substrate. The aluminum flakes, zinc flakes, and other particulates, including aluminum and zinc shot, are supplied as blasting media for paint or coating removal and surface finishing.
The cast zinc shot is a soft metallic shot for deburring, deflashing, and general cleaning of light metal castings and other nonferrous products. It has a bulk density comparable to steel, but can be used to remove burrs and flash without damaging product surfaces. The high-grade zinc cast zinc shot is similar in hardness to zinc cut wire and delivers an equivalent surface finish on castings, but will last up to 50% longer than zinc cut wire, according to Transmet.
A second variety of cast zinc shot is harder and more aggressive in its treatment of casting surfaces, but will last up to 300% longer than zinc cut wire in blast cleaning operations.