Frequently Asked Questions Over Grit Blasting and GMA Industries

Find quick answers to your most common questions in our FAQs section, covering both product-specific and company-related inquiries.

Company Based
FAQs

Do you serve outside of Michigan?

Yes, GMA Industries works with resellers across the United States to sell our abrasive products. Feel free to reach out to us and we would be happy to direct you to the closest location. Additionally, GMA acquires spent media from manufacturing facilities throughout the US, Canada and Mexico for our abrasive recycling program.

What is the turnaround time when ordering media?

From the time you place your order, it typically takes 3-5 business days to package and ship to your location.

We do not pre-package any of our abrasive blasting material due to various packaging options available. All orders are first come, first served. We do our best to fulfill orders within the 3-5 day turnaround. However, lead times may vary depending on product availability and committed packaging schedules.

What are GMA’s quality standards?

All recycled abrasives produced by GMA (brown fused aluminum oxide, steel shot and grit) are closely monitored and tested to meet ANSI and SAE product specifications. We have our own internal lab and quality manager who conducts daily product screenings and certifications. Learn more here.

Do you have any processes that help companies save money?

GMA’s abrasive recycling service is an easy way of helping companies save money. Businesses that are a part of our recycling program get paid for their used material while also lessening disposal costs. You will need to submit your used abrasive media for testing to be accepted into our recycling program. See our recycling page for more details.

Do you have a return policy?

GMA does not have a return policy.

What is the process to order products?

Contact us anytime to inquire about our product or services. After we collect your company information and product needs, we will be happy to direct you to our closest reseller to assist you. 

Product Based
FAQs

What is the benefit of abrasive recycled media over virgin material?

Cost savings are the main benefit of using recycled media over virgin materials. Customers can benefit from over 20% cost savings on brown fused aluminum oxide and over 30% on steel shot and steel grit blast media. All recycled abrasive blasting material supplied by GMA Industries matches the quality in sizing and cleanliness of virgin materials.

How do I know what abrasive media I should use for grit blasting?

There are several factors influence the type of abrasive material needed for blasting applications. These generally include characteristics of the object being blasted, desired finish, and type of equipment used for blasting. Contact us today so we can help you determine what abrasive media would benefit your next project.

What is the difference between virgin steel grit and recycled steel grit?
Virgin steel products (shot, grit, and NuSoft) supplied by GMA, are high-quality, steel abrasives engineered and manufactured by the largest steel abrasive manufacturer in the US, Ervin Industries.
Recycled steel products are steel shot and grit that were once used in manufacturing processes by customers throughout the United States. After the steel abrasives are broken down and no longer effective for cleaning parts in the customer’s applications, they are discarded from the blast machines and collected for GMA to recycle. At GMA’s facility, the used steel abrasives are processed through detailed procedures to clean and re-classify the particles to SAE specifications on sizing and cleanliness.
Are there substitutes a customer can use if a material is out of stock in GMA's catalog of products?

Availability of recycled products is dependent on the supply of sources that GMA recycles from. As a result, some sizes for brown fused aluminum oxide, steel shot, and grit are more difficult to keep in stock and supply in large quantities, while other sizes are always in stock and available. Many times, a size close to the one requested can be substituted to give the same results.

Contact us for additional support.

Do different steel abrasives have different impacts on equipment or impact during the job?

Equipment wear and tear from using steel abrasives is very common and needs to be frequently inspected and maintained for efficient blasting applications. GMA Industries supplies Nu-Soft Steel Shot, an abrasive media with less impact on blasting equipment, and is ideal for surface cleaning for soft metal parts. Learn more about the product here.

What should someone know in general about recycled abrasive blasting material?

Recycled abrasive media supplied by GMA should be considered as a suitable media for common blasting applications. Choosing recycled media will have a direct impact on lowering your manufacturing costs. All recycled sources are carefully analyzed for quality, particle shape, and free of any contamination prior to being processed at GMA. The result is high-quality brown fused aluminum oxide, steel shot, and steel grit that can be directly compared with virgin material. 

Is there a way to determine how much media a customer needs to order?

Orders will depend on customer equipment and usage needs. GMA has standard order requirements in 50 lbs. bags, fiber kegs, gallon drums, and supersacks. See product data sheets for packaging requirements.

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