Steel beams and welded structures
Bridge sections, frames, brackets, weldments. Surface ready for primer the same day.
Laser Rust Removal
in Switzerland.
Get rid of rust on metal parts, tools, steel structures and machinery without sandblasting, acids or abrasives. Our mobile laser rust removal lifts only the oxide layer, the parent material stays untouched. We drive out to your site free of charge, anywhere in Switzerland, and reply to first requests within a few hours.
No chemicalsdry process, HEPA extraction
No abrasivesno sand, no media to dispose
Material-safeonly oxides absorb the beam
BeforeAfter
Proof before promise
Laser rust removal: before and after
Drag the slider across. The same pulsed fibre laser lifts the unwanted layer and leaves the material underneath intact, with parameters tuned to each job.
Method comparisonLaser vs. sandblasting,
Laser vs. sandblasting,
chemical pickling, wire brush
Most rust removal jobs are still done with grit, acid or a wire wheel. Each method has its place, but on metal parts that matter, laser rust removal is usually the option that protects the substrate, the operator and your schedule. Here is how the four compare on the criteria customers actually ask about.
| Criterion |
Laser
Pulsed fibre |
Sandblasting
Abrasive media |
Chemical pickling
Acid bath |
Wire brush
Manual / grinder |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Damage to base metal | None Only oxides absorb the beam | Erosion Surface roughened | Risk If over-exposed | Scratches Marks and gouges |
Chemicals or media | None Dry, contact-free process | Heavy use Sand, glass, slag | Acids Pickling paste, vapours | Discs Wire wool, abrasive discs |
Waste produced | Minimal Dry dust, HEPA filter | High Contaminated grit | Hazardous Acid sludge, rinse water | Moderate Metal swarf, fine dust |
Precision on small areas | Excellent Millimetre-level beam | Low Needs masking | Low Hard to localise | Manual Operator-dependent |
Threads, welds, thin sheet | Safe Geometry preserved | Damage Often deformed | Caution Embrittlement risk | Deforms Visible marks |
On-site, no dismantling | Yes Mobile unit, any location | Limited Containment needed | No Workshop bath | Yes Handheld tools |
Operator exposure | Low Enclosed beam, extraction | Medium Dust, noise | High Acid vapours, full PPE | Medium Dust, vibration |
Surface ready for paint | Same day Dry, no rinse step | After cleanup Grit removal first | After dry Rinse and full dry | Follow-up Often needs more prep |
Laser Recommended
Pulsed fibre · mobileBase metalnone, only oxides absorb
BestMedia / chemicalsnone, dry contact-free
BestWastedry dust, HEPA
BestPrecisionmillimetre-level
BestThreads, welds, thin sheetsafe, geometry kept
BestOn-sitemobile, no dismantling
BestOperator exposurelow, enclosed beam
BestReady for paintsame day, dry
BestSandblasting
Abrasive mediaBase metalsurface erosion
PoorMediasand, glass, slag
HeavyWastecontaminated grit
HighPrecisionlow, needs masking
PoorThreads, thin sheetoften damaged
PoorOn-sitecontainment needed
LimitedOperator exposuredust, noise
MediumReady for paintafter cleanup
AfterChemical pickling
Acid bathBase metalrisk if over-exposed
RiskChemicalsacids, pickling paste
HeavyWasteacid sludge, rinse water
HazardousPrecisionhard to localise
PoorThreads, thin sheetembrittlement risk
CautionOn-siteworkshop only
NoOperator exposureacid vapours, full PPE
HighReady for paintafter rinse and dry
After dryWire brush / grinder
Manual abrasionBase metalmarks and scratches
PoorConsumableswire wool, discs
DiscsWastemetal swarf, fine dust
ModeratePrecisionoperator-dependent
ManualThreads, thin sheetdeforms, visible marks
PoorOn-sitehandheld tools
YesOperator exposuredust, vibration
MediumReady for paintoften needs follow-up
Follow-up
How it worksLaser cleaning rust:
Laser cleaning rust:
three short stages
A compact technical view of what happens at the surface. The parent metal stays cold, only the oxide layer is converted into dry dust and pulled into the extractor. No slurry, no consumables, no secondary contamination.
Stage 01
Pulsed beam, tuned to oxide
A pulsed fibre laser at 100 to 500 W delivers short, high-energy pulses. The wavelength is chosen so that oxides absorb the energy while polished metal reflects it.
Stage 02
Selective ablation
The rust layer is vaporised in microseconds, the literature calls this laser ablation. No blast media, no acid bath, no slurry, no thermal stress on the part. Threads, welds and tight tolerances remain intact.
Stage 03
HEPA extraction at the work point
Dry dust is captured at the beam exit by a HEPA-filtered extractor. Nothing reaches the floor or neighbouring stations. The surface is clean and dry, ready for paint, welding or assembly the same day.
Why customers switchSix concrete reasons to choose
Six concrete reasons to choose
laser rust removal
The same six points come back in nearly every quoting call. They map directly onto what makes the laser different from a sandblasting cabinet, a pickling line or a hand-held grinder.
Material-friendly
Mild steel, stainless and aluminium keep their geometry, dimensions and surface finish. The beam removes only oxides.
Chemical-free
No pickling paste, no acids, no solvents. Safe for the operator and the environment, with no hazardous waste at the end of the shift.
No abrasives
No sand, glass beads or dry ice. Nothing to dispose of, no masking of adjacent surfaces, no clean-up of contaminated media.
Precise and controlled
Millimetre-level control on threads, weld seams, thin sheet and parts with tight tolerances. No masking needed for neighbouring zones.
Mobile on-site
We bring the equipment to you. Fixed installations and large structures stay in place, no dismantling, no transport, no downtime for adjacent lines.
Clean workspace
HEPA extraction captures the dust at the beam. The floor stays clean, the air stays breathable, neighbouring stations keep working.
Use casesWhere rust laser cleaning
Where rust laser cleaning
is used in practice
Eight situations where we see rust laser cleaning regularly across Switzerland. Each comes with its own parameters, which we tune on a small test area before starting the actual job.
Machine parts and components
Shafts, housings, brackets. Dimensions and tolerances preserved, ideal for reassembly.
Tools, molds and fixtures
Injection molds, jigs, gauges. Working surfaces cleaned without altering reference geometry.
Car bodies, chassis, classic cars
Restoration of bodywork and frames, with no metal removal. Ideal for thin sheet and visible panels.
Pumps, valves and pipework
Flange faces, valve bodies, pipe sections. Cleaned in place, on the live installation.
Tanks, vessels and pressure equipment
External and internal surfaces, in coordination with the site safety officer. Documentation included.
Restoration and heritage metalwork
Antique tools, sculptures, machinery. Cleaning rust with a laser preserves patina and original geometry.
Stainless steel in food and pharma
Heat tint, weld discoloration, mild corrosion. Surface stays inside its original Ra range.
MaterialsMetal rust removal
Metal rust removal
and surface preparation
Four substrates cover the bulk of our work. Each one gets its own pulse energy, frequency and pass count, so the surface ends up at the preparation level paint, powder coating or welding can build on the same day.
Mild steel
Rust and mill scale removed completely. Substrate keeps its dimensions and hardness, ready for primer or welding.
Stainless steel
Heat tint and weld discoloration lifted without grinding marks. Food and pharma surfaces stay inside their Ra spec.
Aluminium
Oxide and surface corrosion lifted with reduced energy. A short test pass on a hidden area defines the parameters.
Cast iron
Deep-seated rust removed in several passes, layer by layer, without thermal stress. Common for heritage machinery.
We also work on copper, brass and galvanised sheet with adapted parameters. For thin-walled or coated parts we agree the energy settings with you in advance and document the result of a short test cleaning in writing, so the surface preparation step is predictable from the first run. The same logic applies to one-off restoration objects, where surface preparation is often the most sensitive part of the job.
How a job runsFrom first photo
From first photo
to a clean handover
Five short steps. Send a photo, get a free evaluation, then a transparent fixed-price quote. We bring a mobile laser unit to your site and do not leave until the surface is back to its original state.
01
Request
Take a photo of the surface and send it to us on WhatsApp. We confirm within minutes whether laser cleaning is the right and cost-effective solution for your case.
02
Evaluation
We do not guess. Qualified technicians read your specific material and corrosion grade to set safe, damage-free laser parameters for the job.
03
Fixed-price quote
A clear, firm proposal in CHF with timeline and scope. No hidden lines, no hourly rates, the number on the quote is the number on the invoice.
04
On-site work
We bring the autonomous mobile laser unit to your site. No heavy dismantling, no chemicals, no post-cleanup, minimal downtime for your operation.
05
Handover
We do not leave until the surface is back to its original state. Clean, residue-free, ready for the next treatment step the same day.
CoverageMobile rust removal
Mobile rust removal
across Switzerland
The equipment fits on a trailer. You stay in your workshop, plant or yard, we bring the laser to you.
Mobile rust removal means no dismantling, no transport, no downtime for adjacent machinery. We work directly on the object, inside your production hall, on a construction site or in an outdoor area, with a mobile pulsed fibre laser unit and integrated HEPA extraction.
The service covers all 26 cantons, from Geneva to St. Gallen, from Lake Constance to Valais. A typical on-site appointment is scheduled within two to seven working days of order confirmation. Depending on the unit, we need either a 230 V single-phase or a 400 V CEE three-phase supply.
For broader applications in production environments, see Industrial Laser Cleaning. The same hardware is also used for paint, scale and weld discoloration on metals beyond rust, covered under Laser Cleaning for Metal.
PricingWhat does laser
What does laser
rust removal cost?
Fixed-price quotes only, never hourly. The factors that drive the price are listed openly, so you know what we check when reading your photos.
The final price of a laser rust removal job depends on a small set of variables: the treated surface area, the thickness and density of the corrosion, the substrate and its sensitivity, on-site access and the travel distance from our base. With those inputs we send a fixed, written quote in CHF within 24 hours.
We do not quote per hour. Hourly rates rarely match what the part actually needs, and they leave the customer guessing about the final invoice. For larger contracts and a full rust removal service across multiple parts we issue a single fixed price for the whole batch, payable on acceptance.
For typical price ranges and worked examples, see Laser Cleaning Price.
Factor 01Surface area and geometry
Factor 02Coating thickness, rust grade
Factor 03Material and sensitivity
Factor 04On-site accessibility
Factor 05Travel and logistics
Factor 06Documentation on request
FAQFrequently asked questions
Frequently asked questions
about laser rust removal
The six questions that come up before nearly every first order. If your question is not here, send a short message on WhatsApp or by e-mail and you will get an answer the same working day.
A pulsed fibre laser sends short, high-energy light pulses onto the rust layer. The oxide absorbs that energy and is converted directly into vapour and dry dust, while the parent metal below stays cold and unaffected. The dust is pulled off the surface at the work point by a HEPA-filtered extractor. The process, often described as laser cleaning rust, leaves no slurry and no abrasive residue.
No. Wavelength and pulse energy are chosen so that only rust, oxides and coatings absorb the beam. Steel, stainless steel and aluminium reflect most of it and keep their geometry and surface finish. That is the defining difference between rust laser cleaning and sandblasting or grinding, where a thin layer of parent material is always removed along with the corrosion.
Sandblasting removes material mechanically and generates contaminated blast media that has to be disposed of. The laser works contact-free, with no consumables, no dust cloud and no surface deformation. Threads, weld seams and thin sheet can be treated precisely, and there is no need to mask off neighbouring surfaces or take parts out of an assembly.
We quote a fixed price for the whole job, not an hourly rate. The figure is built from material, rust grade, treated area, accessibility and travel. Send a few photos of your project and you will receive a written quote within 24 hours, with each position broken out. For larger batches we issue a single fixed price for the full rust removal service.
Yes. We come to you with the mobile laser unit. Machines, tanks, beams or installed components stay in place. We work inside production halls, on construction sites and in restoration workshops, in coordination with the site safety officer. Cleaning rust with a laser on a fixed structure typically removes the need for any disassembly.
Beyond mild steel and stainless steel, we treat aluminium, cast iron, copper, brass and galvanised sheet. Pulse energy and frequency are adapted per material. On very thin or coated parts we run a short test cleaning on an inconspicuous area first, and document the result in writing before we start the main job.
Next stepReady for a clean,
Ready for a clean,
rust-free surface?
Send a photo of your project on WhatsApp. We confirm within minutes whether laser cleaning is the right fit, then send a transparent fixed-price quote. Free and non-binding.
Related
Other pages that fit your project
Process
Laser Cleaning for Metal
The main page on metal applications: paint, scale, oxides, weld discoloration and more, beyond rust alone.
Read more IndustrialIndustrial Laser Cleaning
How the same equipment is deployed inside production lines, with safety perimeter and documentation.
Read more PricingLaser Cleaning Price
A detailed breakdown of price factors with worked examples for the most common job sizes and surface types.
Read more