Laser Cleaning for Aluminum
in Switzerland.
We clean aluminum with a pulsed fiber laser. Aluminum oxide, tarnish layers, paint, powder coating, oil and release agents come off, the base metal stays untouched, geometry and tolerances are preserved. Mobile across all of Switzerland, on aluminum parts, extruded profiles, die castings, sheets and structures, without blasting media and without harsh chemicals.
- Mobile across Switzerland
- Reply within 24 h
- No chemicals, no blasting media
Laser cleaning for aluminum in action
Before and after: laser cleaning aluminum in action
Drag the slider from left to right. On the left, the oxidized, painted or release-agent-coated aluminum surface, on the right the same surface after laser cleaning. The base metal stays untouched, the surface is not roughened, no blasting media is involved.
What is laser cleaning for aluminum
and how does it work?
Laser cleaning aluminum (or aluminium, in British spelling) is a non-contact, dry process. The layer that needs to go, aluminum oxide, tarnish, paint, powder coating, oil or release agent, absorbs the laser light and is turned into vapor and fine particles in fractions of a second. The base metal underneath reflects a large share of that same wavelength and stays cool. With correctly set parameters there is no melting and no pitting.
Compared with blasting or grinding, no material is removed from the aluminum. The surface is not roughened, edges stay sharp, geometry and tolerances are preserved. That is the decisive point for functional surfaces, thin sheets, precision parts and weld seam preparation, where any mechanical removal changes the dimensions. When laser cleaning aluminum, the part stays exactly as it was designed.
The working environment is just as different. An integrated extraction unit with a HEPA filter pulls dust and vapor away right at the processing point. The workshop, production line or assembly hall stays clean, the floor is not covered in blasting media, the air is not loaded with solvents. After the job the aluminum can go straight to the next step, such as welding, bonding or coating, with no drying pause.
Benefits of laser cleaning for aluminum compared with blasting and pickling
No removal of the base metal
The laser takes only the layer, not the aluminum. Extruded profiles, sheets and die cast parts keep their dimensions. With blasting, thin material is measurably lost.
No harsh chemicals
No caustics, no acids, no solvents. Nothing that attacks the aluminum surface or stays behind as residue in gaps and bores.
Geometry and tolerances preserved
Edges, fits and functional surfaces stay sharp and dimensionally accurate. No edge rounding and no distortion of thin sheets, the kind blasting can cause.
Selective cleaning
Only the layer that needs to go disappears. We can expose just the weld seam zone or a bonding surface, the rest of the part stays untouched.
Clean workplace
Extraction with a HEPA filter right at the focal point. Parts and machines nearby stay clean, the hall stays dust-free with no blasting media on the floor.
Mobile on site
The system fits into a van. We bring the equipment to the object, so large aluminum structures or permanently installed profiles do not have to be moved.
Where we laser clean aluminum
- Extruded profiles and aluminum structures
- Die cast parts and housings
- Sheets and plates
- Weld seam preparation and seam cleaning
- Facades and aluminum windows
- Aerospace and automotive components
Suitable aluminum forms
and coatings
| Material | Suitability | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Extruded profiles | Very good | Wrought alloys such as EN AW-6060 or 6082, ideal for laser cleaning. Oxide, tarnish, paint and release agents disappear, the profile contour stays intact. |
| Sheets and plates | Very good | Thin sheets included. The laser lifts off the oxide layer and coating without distortion, without pitting and without melting the surface. |
| Die castings | Good | Housings and cast parts with release agent residues. Done with reduced pulse energy and adjusted travel speed, since the cast surface is more porous. |
| Weld seam zone | Good | Remove oxide and oil before welding, clean heat tint after welding. A clean, defined surface for a low-porosity seam. |
| Anodized surfaces | Limited | The anodized layer is hard and is often part of the component. Cleaning deposits off it is possible, deliberately removing the layer itself calls for a test cleaning. |
| Powder-coated aluminum | Very good | Old powder coating and paint can be stripped off. Always a test cleaning first, to match pulse energy to layer thickness and alloy. |
How your job runs
Photos and context
You send us pictures of the part, the alloy if known, the type of layer that needs to go, and the location. We get back to you within 24 hours with an initial assessment.
Written quote
You receive an offer with a fixed price or a clear hourly rate, plus travel and estimated job duration. Confirmation by email or WhatsApp.
Test cleaning on site
On site we start on a small, inconspicuous spot. You see the result, we fine-tune pulse energy and travel speed, then we move on to the main surface.
Cleaning and inspection
We work layer by layer, check the surface in raking light and adjust the parameters whenever layer thickness or alloy changes.
Handover
You inspect the result, we tidy the work area, empty the filter and hand over the aluminum dry and ready for the next step: welding, bonding, anodizing or coating.
Mobile laser cleaning for aluminum on site
Our system is transportable. Laser, controls, extraction and cables fit into a van, and a normal 230 V or 400 V socket is enough in most cases. For sites without power we bring a generator. We work all over Switzerland: Zurich, Bern, Basel, Lucerne, St.
Gallen, Winterthur, Aarau, Chur, Sion and every canton in between. The bigger or more permanently installed the aluminium parts are, the more an on-site job pays off. Structures, profiles, facade elements or heavy castings do not need to be removed, dismantled or transported, we come straight to the object. More about the mobile service at Industrial Laser Cleaning.
What does laser cleaning of aluminum cost?
The price depends on the surface area, the type and number of layers, the alloy and the accessibility. The example figures below show the typical range. A binding quote follows once we have seen the photos or after a short on-site visit. For a detailed overview of all factors, see Laser Cleaning Costs.
| Example | Guide price |
|---|---|
| Small part, approx. 0.5 m² Housing, cast part, bracket | from CHF 240 |
| Weld seam, preparation Oxide and oil in the seam zone | from CHF 180 |
| Extruded profile, per meter depending on layers and condition | from CHF 80/m |
What customers ask before the
first job
Ready to see the bare aluminum under
oxide and paint again?
Send us photos of the aluminium parts, the alloy if known, and the location. We get back to you within 24 hours with an initial assessment and a proposed date. You see right away whether laser cleaning for aluminum fits your project, before anything is locked in.