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Laser Cleaning Systems

Laser cleaning systems deliver high-performance, eco-friendly surface preparation with unmatched precision and flexibility. Designed for modern production lines, laser cleaning technology helps manufacturers improve part quality, reduce consumables, and increase production capacity without damaging underlying materials.

Laser systems can remove all types of contaminants from metals, including oxides, coatings, rust, dust, oils, and electrolytes.

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Benefits Of Laser Cleaning Systems

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Optimal Performance

From 20 W to 3 kW, our laser cleaning systems scale easily to meet your cycle-time demands. By fine-tuning laser parameters and optical components, we deliver a laser system configuration optimized for speed, quality, and reliability.

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Unmatched Precision

Laser cleaning is a non-contact solution that brings unmatched precision and repeatability to manufacturing. With a laser, precise areas are cleaned without manual masking, and intelligent vision systems automatically adapt to part variations, complex shapes, and rough surfaces.

Substrate

No Damage To The Substrate

A laser system removes contaminants using precisely controlled energy that targets only surface layers. Since contaminants ablate at lower energy levels than the underlying metal, laser cleaning maintains substrate integrity and delivers a higher cleaning quality than traditional methods.

Sustainability

A Sustainable Cleaning Process

Laser cleaning offers a cleaner, more sustainable alternative to traditional surface preparation methods that depend on consumables. By combining low energy consumption, compact laser system designs, and long-lasting fiber laser sources, manufacturers can significantly reduce the environmental footprint of their operations.

How Laser Cleaning Works

Laser cleaning uses high-energy light pulses delivered over extremely short durations to remove surface contaminants without affecting the underlying material. The laser selectively vaporizes rust, paint, oxides, coatings, and oils through a precise, non-contact process that remains consistent even in high-throughput production environments.

The process relies on controlled laser ablation: contaminants are removed at their ablation threshold while the substrate remains untouched. By precisely tuning laser parameters, the laser cleaner delivers repeatable results without the need for manual masking. The beam can also be directed in multiple patterns to target specific areas with high accuracy.

Most laser cleaning systems today use a pulsed fiber laser, giving you peak power that works across different parts and batches with minimal variation, especially compared to manual or abrasive cleaning methods.

There are no consumables, reducing both cost and clutter. As a no-contact cleaning solution, you also avoid mechanical wear on tooling or the risk of material deformation. Adding a fume extraction system, you can ensure that any particles removed will not be released into the air.

To learn more, see How Laser Cleaning Works in 5 Steps.

How to Choose the Right Laser Cleaning System

The first step in choosing the right laser cleaning system is to consider the material and the contaminant to clean. Knowing the chemical properties, melting and flash points, and reactivity of your material will allow us to recommend a solution that removes contaminants efficiently and safely. 

You also need to define what “clean” means for your application. Some processes only require a visually clean surface, while others must meet strict cleanliness standards such as ISO 8501 for steel surface preparation or IEST-STD-CC1246 for contaminant-critical aerospace and defense components. These requirements directly determine the level of contaminant removal needed and, in turn, the laser parameters and system requirements.

Another consideration is whether you only need to clean the surface without affecting the substrate, or clean and add texturing for better adhesion.

Key elements to take into account:

  • Wavelength: determines how laser energy interacts with different materials. Most industrial systems use 1064 nm (infrared) for metals, rust, and paint removal, as contaminants typically absorb this wavelength more readily than the base material.
  • Extraction: Laser cleaning vaporizes contaminants, creating fumes, particles, and potentially hazardous airborne materials. A proper extraction system with appropriate filtration is key.
  • Automation: Do you need manual operations or robotic automation for high-volume production?
  • Precision and fixturing: Part geometry impacts your choice. Intricate parts may require multi-axis positioning or customer fixtures to ensure the laser reaches surfaces at the right angle and distance.
  • Power and spot size: Your material, contaminants, and surface area will help you define the right power, spot sizes, and precision needed.
  • Operating environment: Where you plan to locate the laser also matters. Certain environmental conditions may require specific specifications.
  • Cycle time: Your throughput and production time can also influence the type of laser you need and the pace at which it must operate.
  • Filtering: Depending on the contaminant, you may need fire detection devices or spark arrestors to reduce risks.

Even after assessing all these variables, lab testing is an important step to ensure your laser solution gets the job done properly and delivers consistent results.
 

Industrial Laser Cleaning Applications

Laser Paint Removal

Laser cleaning can remove most types of coatings, including powder coating, e-coating, and phosphate coating. The coating removal speed mostly depends on the type of coating and its thickness. It can be sped up by increasing the laser power.

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Laser Oxide Removal

Laser cleaning can remove aluminum oxides and stainless steel oxides, making it ideal to prepare surfaces for other processes like laser welding and coating to make sure no contaminants penetrate the welds or lower adhesion. Laser can also be used for post-weld cleaning for performance or aesthetic purposes.

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Laser Rust Removal

Fiber laser cleaning systems can remove rust and general corrosion. These contaminants can be completely removed without damaging the substrate.

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Laser Surface Texturing

Laser texturing is a surface treatment that can be done at the same time as laser cleaning to modify the surface texture. Micropatterns can be etched on the surface to improve properties like adhesion, wettability, conductivity, and friction. It is used as a pre-treatment for processes like thermal spray coating, adhesive bonding, and laser cladding.

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Battery Laser Cleaning

Whether it’s for cylindrical cells, prismatic cells, or pouch cells, laser cleaning can remove contaminants from battery connections, including electrolytes, dust, oils, and oxides. Battery manufacturers turn to laser cleaning to prepare surfaces for assembly steps like bonding and welding.

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Laser Cleaning Vs. Traditional Methods

Cleaning MethodHow it WorksKey Limitations Vs. Laser Cleaning
Abrasive BlastingMedia (sand, grit, glass beads) propelled at high velocityCreates dust and waste, requires consumables, can damage delicate substrates, needs masking
Mechanical Scraping / BrushingPhysical contact (wire brushing, grinding, scraping)Labor-intensive, scratches/deforms surfaces, inconsistent, poor for complex geometries
Chemical CleaningSolvents or acids dissolve contaminantsHazardous waste, health risks, longer processing time, possible substrate attack
Ultrasonic CleaningCavitation in liquid bath removes contaminantsTank size limits, uses chemicals, no selective cleaning, not line-integrated
Dry Ice BlastingCO₂ pellets sublimate and lift contaminantsRequires dry ice supply, messy, less precise, weak on thick rust/coatings
Thermal CleaningHigh-temperature ovens burn off residuesHigh energy use, long cycles, risk of oxidation/warping, emission controls needed

Laser Cleaning vs. Abrasive Blasting 

Abrasive blasting removes contaminants by propelling media such as sand, grit, or glass beads at high speed. While effective, it generates dust and waste, can damage sensitive substrates, and often requires manual masking to protect surrounding areas.

Laser Cleaning vs. Mechanical Scraping or Brushing 

Mechanical methods like wire brushing, grinding, and scraping require physical contact to remove contaminants. These processes are also labor-intensive and can scratch or deform the substrate. In addition, they don’t work well for complex geometries or when consistency is important.

Laser Cleaning vs. Chemical Cleaning Methods 

When solvents or acids are used to dissolve contaminants, it generates hazardous waste. This can pose health and safety risks to workers and may alter substrates. Chemical cleaning often means longer processing times, including multiple rinses after cleaning.

Laser Cleaning vs. Ultrasonic Cleaning 

Ultrasonic cleaning uses high-frequency sound waves in a liquid bath to remove contaminants through cavitation. While gentle and effective for small parts, it is difficult to scale for selective cleaning or in-line production. Chemical solutions also require handling and proper disposal.

Laser Cleaning vs. Dry Ice Blasting

Dry ice blasting uses frozen pellets that sublimate on impact to lift contaminants without abrasion. While non-toxic and residue-free, it requires a continuous dry ice supply, can be messy, and lacks the precision needed for selective cleaning. It is also less effective on thick rust or heavy coatings.

Laser Cleaning vs. Thermal Cleaning 

Thermal cleaning removes organic coatings and residues by heating parts to high temperatures. While effective for heavy buildup, it requires long cycle times, consumes significant energy, and can cause oxidation or substrate distortion. Emissions may also require additional environmental controls.

Industries Using Laser Cleaning

Automotive Manufacturing

Removes oils, coatings, and oxides from automotive parts before welding, bonding, painting, or assembly to improve consistency and adhesion.

Aerospace

Precise stripping of coatings and contaminants from components while preserving surface integrity and tolerances.

Battery & EV Production

Prepares electrode tabs, busbars, and housings for welding and bonding by creating clean (oxide-free) surfaces.

Heavy Industry & Foundries

Eliminates rust, scale, and mold residues from tooling and castings with no damage to the base material.

Electronics & Semiconductors

Cleans sensitive components without mechanical contact or chemical exposure.

Medical Device Manufacturing

Removes residues and surface contaminants for cleanliness and compliance.

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