- What is your role at Instant Surface Recovery?
Technical Support Manager
- What does ISR do?
ISR operate an on-call laser cleaning company to support engineering and infrastructure maintenance cleaning solid surfaces such as Plastic, steel, alloys hardwood and composites. Contamination examples can be corrosion, coating, production waste, weld waste.
Use of laser avoids the need to disassemble parts for cleaning as if it can be seen it can be cleaned. In addition, laser can clean inside housings to prepare for fitting of bearings or inspection. ISR is suited to inspection recently cleaning welds on ROVs during recertification.
- What gets you out of bed in a morning?
With a military background its discipline followed by years in positions which required me to be on call as Technical lead for a national company in UK, after which I moved to China Russia and Outer Mongolia where I have spent 20 years in Quality control for equipment exported around the world. Seeing issues on sites over recent years on equipment delivered showing signs of distress I seen no one company taking recovery of equipment on so ISR is niche with client who have issues or face costs which are avoidable with technology that now exists.
- What makes ISR different?
Laser cleaning removes no parent material and only evaporate off the weak material such as rust or coating. In addition, it transfers no heat to the parent material so allows coating immediately.
- What are the businesses greatest strength?
When doing maintenance cleaning and leaving no heat within the system allows access for all at no risk and informed decisions to be made on the spot and work to recommence.
ISR offer a mobile service with an engineering-based laser system that uses 240 volt so compact and light which allows it to access machines and work areas with ease.
- What are your primary markets / sectors?
Industry for machine and tool maintenance.
Commercial and civil areas for removal of graffiti, marks from kick plates and aged surfaces, in addition to stain removal from porous surfaces such as rust on slate or decorative areas.
Domestic for removal of stains from decorative areas, delicate steel work, and delicate interfaces such as steel glass.
- Do you have growth plans for the future?
We have plans to develop in the Washington A1231 – A1 – 19 area to give easy access for a drop off service.
- How did you end up in the laser business?
Working for Fluor as Supply Chain Quality Manager I needed to manage issues on sites when distressed materials arrived which was frustrating. I then moved to site as Quality manager for GRQ 3 and 4 Data Centres in Eemshaven, followed by Air Products in Zuidbroek for a Hydrogen plant. During these builds world was in Covid lockdown so many companies imported new technology to keep production on the move and recover when they had issues. Here I seen lasers used to full effect as companies stopped chemical cleaning and blasting and moved to lasers. As Quality Lead I needed to be trained to understand laser use and be able to inspect works for acceptance with new technology so needed to move with suppliers and their development.
Here in the UK restrictions were not as strict as many European areas so little to no change has been taken on and lasers are very much an unknown.
- Environment
A 100W laser cleaner uses less power than some kettles and laser welds 30% less than a conventional welder, in addition when cleaning the only waste is the contamination removed so again no cleaning medium so no additional costs in removal and disposal.
Working in China and Outer Mongolia for over 20 years then into Europe for 4 years, on initial return to UK I worked as a Chinese interpreter for installation of machines in factories to support Nissans and Toyota. This was followed by time with a maintenance company which allowed me to review technology used within UK manufacture which differs from Europe so gave me direction into setting up the company.
