LAUNCHED late last year in New Zealand, the mepBLITz is an industrial mobile electro-polishing machine said to be eight times faster than electrochemical weld cleaning machines and weld pickling machines. Furthermore it uses food grade acids rather than the acutely toxic and highly hazardous chemicals used in pickling pastes. Decades of corrosion testing have proven that electro-polished surfaces will resist corrosion up to 20 times more than commonly specified chemical passivation (source: www.ableelectropolishing.com). Independent salt bath weld tests have shown that welds which have been electro-polished with the mep BLITz are significantly more corrosion resistant than mechanically finished welds and those cleaned with a weld pickling machine. Scanning electron microscopy has shown that pickling paste chemicals have an etching effect which can increase the surface roughness profile, resulting in an obvious contamination problem. Electro-polishing improves corrosion resistance and durability. It also reduces bacterial growth, friction and wear. Electro-polished stainless steel is easier to clean because of reduced build-up of products and contaminates on the surface. The mepBLITz is unbelievably fast and can achieve a superior mirror finish while you watch so it delivers labour savings and quality compared to alternative finishes. It also eliminates the need for mechanical finishing of welds. The mepBLITz uses a safe food grade/non-stain electrolyte solution which dramatically improves worker safety and environmental impact. The correct OH&S requirements for workers handling pickling paste are onerous in process, time and cost and while they reduce the health risk they do not remove it. With the mepBLITz there is no stain from pickling paste and it will ensure optimum reflectivity.• reader enquiries quote: D090202