BAe Systems Surface Ships has
increased the production capabilities
of its component finishing
department with the installation of a
high-capacity blast cabinet with
custom-built handling features from
Hodge Clemco.

The current work-load for the
company includes two Queen
Elizabeth class aircraft carriers and
vessels for the Oman Navy, all of
which involve larger components
than previous projects and resulted
in an increased use of sub-contractors.

BAe Systems estimates that savings
on sub-contractor costs will pay for
the new cabinet within 12
months. Inclusion of a track
for loading components and
an internal turntable for
rotating them while they are
being blasted has also
improved handling
procedures and productivity.

Fully opening doors at both
ends provide optimum
accessibility, and both doors and
chamber are double-skinned and
rubber-lined to cut noise.

The cabinet has an illuminated
chamber 2000mm wide x 1500mm
deep x 1000mm high with two pairs
of sealed glove ports to give
operators a choice of working
positions. By rotating the internal
turntable and changing working
positions, operators can clean most
components in a single operation
without removing them from the
chamber and repositioning them.