Custom-built features

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.