Airblast Surface Treatment Solutions

What Airblast Surface Treatment Solutions does

Airblast Surface Treatment Solutions is a Netherlands-headquartered industrial manufacturer founded in 1974 that produces and sells a complete range of surface preparation equipment, abrasives, painting/coating equipment, and inspection instruments for anti-corrosion and surface finishing applications. Its core product portfolio includes blast pots, custom-engineered blast rooms, sandblasting cabinets, pipe-blasting nozzles (Circleblast, Spinnerblast, Jumbo, Miniblast), shot blasting machines, robotic blasting systems, dustless/vacuum blasting units, abrasive recycling systems, and a complementary range of consumable abrasives (steel shot, steel grit, brown and white fused alumina, glass beads, garnet, stainless steel media, and aluminum silicate). The company also offers painting and coating equipment, spray booths, and inspection instruments covering climatic conditions, surface cleanliness, surface profile, coating thickness, and adhesion. Steel shot and steel grit are produced in-house through the wholly owned subsidiary Airblast-Abrasives BV, and the company holds over 1,500 tons of abrasive stock at its Heerhugowaard facility.

The business operates a hybrid sales model combining direct sales through 12 company-owned regional offices (Netherlands HQ, Singapore, India, UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Poland, Australia, Finland) with a distribution partner network spanning more than 50 countries, including 30+ European distributors. All products are sold on a quote-based, project-specific pricing model with no public list pricing. The customer base is concentrated in oil and gas, shipbuilding and maritime, rail and transportation, infrastructure, and heavy manufacturing, with named reference customers including Maersk, Siemens, BP, Vestas, Philips, Caterpillar, Alstom, Damen, KLM, and Thyssenkrupp. The company serves both field/maintenance applications via portable blast pots and high-volume production environments via custom-engineered blast rooms delivered as turnkey projects.

Airblast has been owned by Kaitai since 2012, which funded the acquisitions of Sybrandy BV (2015), the establishment of Airblast-Abrasives BV (2016), and the acquisition of Blastman in Oulu, Finland (2017). The group operates manufacturing facilities in the Netherlands and Finland, maintains ISO 9001 certification (achieved 2019), and in 2024 consolidated its Dutch operations into a new purpose-built facility in Heerhugowaard while celebrating its 50th anniversary.

Name

Airblast Surface Treatment Solutions

Legal name

Airblast B.V.

Website

https://airblast.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1974

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

Airblast Surface Treatment Solutions is a Netherlands-founded industrial manufacturer of blasting equipment, in-house abrasives, coating systems, and inspection instruments serving oil and gas, shipbuilding, rail, and heavy manufacturing customers across 50+ countries via 12 regional offices and a global distributor network.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Industrial Surface Treatment Equipment

NAICS

Commercial and Service Industry Machinery Manufacturing (333310)

SIC

Industrial & Commercial Fans & Blowers & Air Purifing Equip (3564), General Industrial Machinery & Equipment, Nec (3569), Wholesale-Industrial Machinery & Equipment (5084)

akta.pro primary industry

Surface Preparation & Abrasive Blasting (Sand/Grit/Shot/Waterjet) (IMAIAKAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Surface Preparation Equipment (Shot Blasting, Scarifiers, Grinders) (IMAHALAL), Dust Collection & Air Filtration Equipment (Industrial) (IMAHALAF), Surface Treatment & Finishing Equipment (Coating, Plating, Deburring, Shot Blasting) (IMAHADAJ)

Keywords

• Industrial blasting equipment
• Surface preparation systems
• Abrasive blasting solutions
• Blast room manufacturing
• Coating inspection equipment

Headquarters

HQ city

Singapore

HQ country

Singapore

HQ region

Asia

Offices10 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Blasting Equipment Sales: Sale of industrial blasting equipment including sandblasting machines, blast pots, blast rooms, blast cabinets, pipe blasting equipment, robotic blasting systems, and dust collectors. Equipment ranges from portable units for field use to large automated systems for industrial production environments.
2. Abrasives Sales: Sale of blasting abrasives including steel shot, steel grit, brown fused alumina, white fused alumina, glass beads, garnet, stainless steel grit/shot, and aluminum silicate. The company maintains stock of more than 1,500 tons in the Netherlands and has own production of steel shot and steel grit.
3. Painting/Coating Equipment: Sale of paint spray equipment, spray paint booths/rooms, pipe coating equipment, and paint spray accessories for industrial coating applications.
4. Inspection Equipment: Sale of inspection equipment for surface treatment quality control including climatic conditions monitoring, surface cleanliness assessment, surface profile measurement, coating thickness gauges, and adhesion testing equipment.
5. Blasting Accessories: Sale of accessories including blast hoses, couplings, nozzles, valve systems, remote control systems, lighting, and personal protective equipment (PPE) for blasting operations.
6. Custom Turnkey Projects: Design, engineering, and delivery of complete turnkey blast room solutions customized for specific customer requirements, including installation and commissioning services.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Airblast manufactures, sells, and distributes industrial surface preparation equipment and consumables including sandblasting machines (blast pots), custom-engineered blast rooms, sandblasting cabinets, shot blasting machines, pipe blasting equipment, robotic blasting systems, dustless/vacuum blasting, and abrasive recycling systems. The company also produces and supplies abrasive consumables (steel shot, steel grit, fused alumina, glass beads, garnet, stainless steel shot/grit, aluminum silicate) along with painting/coating equipment and inspection instruments. Products serve industrial customers in oil & gas, shipbuilding, infrastructure, and manufacturing sectors globally.

Product overview

Airblast Surface Treatment Solutions offers a comprehensive portfolio of industrial surface preparation equipment and consumables. The core product lines include blasting equipment (sandblasting machines/blast pots, blast rooms, sandblasting cabinets, shot blasting machines, robotic blasting, dustless blasting, vacuum recovery systems) and painting/coating equipment (paint spray equipment, spray paint rooms/booths, pipe coating equipment). The company also supplies a full range of abrasive consumables (steel shot, steel grit, brown/white fused alumina, glass beads, garnet, stainless steel shot/grit, aluminum silicate) manufactured in-house, along with inspection equipment for surface cleanliness, profile, coating thickness, adhesion, and climatic conditions. These products serve industries including oil & gas, shipbuilding, bridge construction, pipeline maintenance, and heavy manufacturing. The company operates as part of the Airblast Group with manufacturing facilities in Europe and the Far East, and maintains offices in 12 countries with distribution partners in over 50 countries.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Sandblasting Machines (Blast Pots) Industrial blast pots for professional on-site abrasive blasting, surface preparation, and industrial cleaning. Available in different capacities from compact field units to large systems for demanding industrial projects. Used by industrial contractors and maintenance teams across multiple sectors.
• Blast Rooms Custom-designed industrial blast rooms for large-scale surface preparation. Engineered and manufactured in-house with dust extraction, abrasive recovery systems, and options for multiple blasters. Configurable with sweeping pit, cross conveyor, U-shape, H-shape, or automatic floor recovery, down draft or cross draft dust extraction, and automatic grit recycling with magnetic separation. Used by shipyards, foundries, and large industrial facilities.
• Sandblasting Cabinets Enclosed blasting systems for smaller workpieces including vacuum injection and pressure blast cabinets. Available in manual and automatic configurations for dust-free, environmentally friendly blasting. Used by workshops and production facilities for smaller components.
• Pipe Blasting Equipment Internal pipe-blasting nozzles including Circleblast, Spinnerblast, Jumbo, and Miniblast for cleaning pipe interiors from 13mm to 1930mm diameter. Used by pipeline operators, oil & gas companies, and pipe manufacturers for internal pipe surface preparation.
• Shot Blasting Machines Wheel/turbine-driven shot blasting machines for high-volume industrial production environments, providing continuous and controlled abrasive flow for repeatable surface preparation. Used by industrial manufacturers for high-throughput production applications.
• Robotic Blasting Automated robotic blasting systems for large surfaces requiring continuous blasting operations, offering short return on investment and consistent quality. Used by manufacturers with high-volume repetitive blasting needs.
• Dustless Blasting Environmentally friendly dustless blasting equipment including vacuum blasting machines and wet blasting systems (Aquablast, WIN nozzles) that collect dust and recover used abrasive. Used in environmentally sensitive applications and locations with strict dust regulations.

Quantifiable outcome

• Abrasive recycling reduces material costs and disposal expenses
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers24 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature7 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered major and core.

• GracomajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAirblast appointed as Graco Gold Distributor in 1989. Graco is a leading manufacturer of fluid handling equipment. The partnership enables Airblast to distribute Graco products alongside their own surface treatment solutions.
• SybrandymajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSybrandy, located in Amersfoort, Netherlands, was acquired by the Airblast Group in 2015. The acquisition expanded Airblast's capabilities and product offerings in the Netherlands market. Sybrandy relocated to Heerhugowaard headquarters in 2024.
• BlastmanmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBlastman, located in Oulu, Finland, was acquired by the Airblast Group in 2017. Specialized in blast room systems, the acquisition strengthened Airblast's manufacturing capabilities in Northern Europe and expanded technical expertise in automated blasting solutions.
• Airblast-Abrasives BVmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEstablished in 2016 in Alkmaar, Netherlands, as a subsidiary focused on abrasive production and supply. Own production of steel shot and steel grit. Relocated to Heerhugowaard headquarters in 2024.
• Regional Distribution PartnerscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAirblast operates with more than 30 distribution partners across Europe and partners in more than 50 countries globally. These partners provide local sales, support, product availability, and regional certifications for their respective markets.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Rösler Group: German-headquartered manufacturer of mass finishing, shot blasting, and surface treatment equipment with global operations. Comparable to Airblast across blast rooms, consumables, and turnkey surface preparation solutions serving automotive, aerospace, and heavy industry.
• AGTOS: German manufacturer of shot blasting machines and surface preparation systems with strong presence in Europe and worldwide. Comparable to Airblast's Blastman subsidiary in blast room engineering and to Airblast's broader wheel blasting portfolio.
• Pangborn Group: A leading global manufacturer of shot blasting and surface preparation equipment for foundries, forging, and steel industries. Directly comparable to Airblast's blast rooms and shot blasting machines in product, customer base, and turnkey project delivery.
• Wheelabrator Group: Major supplier of shot blasting, wheel blasting, and surface preparation equipment for foundries, forging, and steel processing. Highly comparable product portfolio and customer verticals to Airblast's industrial surface treatment business.
• Sinto Surface Treatment: Japanese surface treatment equipment manufacturer (Newcast/Shot Blast division) producing shot blasting and wheel blasting machinery for foundries and steel industries. Comparable to Airblast in industrial blasting systems with strong Asia-Pacific presence.
• Clemco Industries: US-based manufacturer of abrasive blasting equipment (blast pots, cabinets, PPE) and supplier of abrasives. Direct competitor to Airblast in portable and field-applied blasting equipment across oil & gas, marine, and industrial maintenance.
• Empire Abrasive Equipment: US manufacturer of abrasive blast equipment, blast cabinets, and parts serving industrial and marine markets. Directly comparable to Airblast in product categories and B2B distribution model, though primarily North America-focused.

Broad incumbents

• Graco Inc. Global fluid handling equipment manufacturer. Airblast has been a Graco Gold Distributor since 1989; the two companies' paint spray and fluid handling lines overlap, and Graco is a much larger established player in industrial coating application adjacent to Airblast's spray painting segment.

Emerging players

• Vapormatt: UK-based specialist in wet blasting and aqua-blasting equipment for precision surface finishing. Comparable to Airblast's dustless/wet blasting products (Aquablast, WIN nozzles) with a more focused niche in aerospace and electronics cleaning applications.

Regional players

• Burwell Technologies: Australian supplier of abrasive blasting equipment, abrasives, and surface preparation solutions. Comparable product offering to Airblast in blast pots, cabinets, and PPE but primarily serves the Australian and Asia-Pacific markets where Airblast also has regional presence.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/airblastasia
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/airblastasia

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Subsidiaries3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Airblast Surface Treatment Solutions