Which surface treatment should you choose for stainless steel?
When finishing stainless steel, appearance is only part of the story. Cleanability, hygiene, reproducibility and sustainability are becoming increasingly important — especially in sectors such as the food industry. Two surface treatments that are often compared are glass bead blasting and ViwateQ® Finishing.
Although both techniques result in a uniform, matte surface, they differ fundamentally in process, surface properties and areas of application. In this article, we explain how both techniques work, what the differences are and when each surface treatment is the best choice.
Glass bead blasting is a surface treatment in which fine glass beads are blasted against the metal surface under controlled pressure. The aim is to clean the surface and create an even, matte, slightly satin-like appearance.
Unlike coarser blasting techniques, glass bead blasting removes very little material. Instead, the surface is lightly compacted, resulting in a uniform visual finish.
Key characteristics of glass bead blasting:
Matte, visually even surface
Cleans the surface and removes light contamination
Minimal material removal
Widely used for stainless steel in aesthetic and industrial applications
Glass bead blasting is often used as a final finish or as a preparation step for further surface treatments.
ViwateQ® Finishing is an innovative, chemical-free wet blasting technique developed as an alternative to traditional pickling and blasting processes. Instead of dry blasting media or aggressive chemicals, it uses a controlled wet process.
The result is a uniform, smooth and closed stainless steel surface with excellent technical and visual properties. ViwateQ® is specifically applied where hygiene, reproducibility and sustainability are critical.
Key characteristics of ViwateQ®:
Chemical-free surface treatment
Highly uniform and homogeneous surface
Closed surface structure
Reproducible quality
Sustainable alternative to pickling and glass bead blasting
Although glass bead blasting and ViwateQ® may appear similar at first glance, the technical differences are significant.
Surface structure
Glass bead blasting: lightly compacted, but microscopically still open
ViwateQ®: smoother surface with a more closed structure
Cleanability
Glass bead blasting: dirt and bacteria can more easily adhere to microstructures
ViwateQ®: improved cleanability due to a homogeneous, closed surface
Reproducibility
Glass bead blasting: result depends on blasting pressure, bead size and operator
ViwateQ®: highly reproducible process with consistent quality
Sustainability
Glass bead blasting: chemical-free, conventional blasting technique
ViwateQ®: chemical-free with a lower overall environmental impact
In the food industry, strict requirements apply regarding hygiene, cleanability and food safety. Surfaces must be easy to clean and free of areas where dirt or bacteria can accumulate.
Although glass bead blasting provides a visually clean finish, the micro-roughness of the surface can be a disadvantage in hygienically critical applications.
ViwateQ® offers clear advantages:
Closed and homogeneous surface
Reduced adhesion of dirt and bacteria
Improved cleanability
Suitable for critical food and hygienic environments
For food industry applications, ViwateQ® is therefore often a suitable and future-proof alternative to glass bead blasting.
Choose glass bead blasting when:
Visual appearance is more important than hygiene
The application is aesthetic or industrial
A matte finish is required without strict cleanliness demands
Choose ViwateQ® when:
Hygiene and cleanability are critical
The application is in the food, high-tech or process industry
A reproducible and sustainable surface finish is required
Chemical-free processing is important
Choosing between glass bead blasting and ViwateQ® Finishing comes down to selecting the right surface treatment for the right application. While glass bead blasting is a well-known technique, ViwateQ® offers clear advantages in the food and high-tech sectors, particularly in terms of cleanability, consistency and sustainability.
Van Geenen is an official preferred supplier of ViwateQ® Finishing and holds an official accreditation and food-grade declaration from ViwateQ. This means we are licensed by ViwateQ International B.V. to perform ViwateQ® Finishing in-house. Using this technique, we treat the surface of supplied machines and components to meet defined surface roughness requirements — including applications with direct or indirect food contact.
For food industry applications, ViwateQ® can be an interesting alternative to glass bead blasting. Our specialists are happy to help you determine the most suitable surface treatment for your project.
