Zero containment required
Safe and silent in a public environment
The Gabba Stadium Light Tower project involved the full coating removal of the Light Tower at Gate 9, covering the 0-9m section of the structure in Brisbane, Queensland. ACR Tech was engaged to carry out RPR heat induction coating removal across 100m² of surface area, with the work completed between 5 and 8 August 2020 under Project Manager Luke Emery.
The Gabba is one of Australia’s most iconic and high-profile sporting venues, sitting in close proximity to a heritage-listed school and surrounded by active public areas. This made the choice of removal method critical. The project required a solution that was not only fast and effective, but one that could operate safely and cleanly in a highly visible, public-facing environment without disrupting surrounding trades, spectators, or the neighbouring community.
ACR Tech deployed the RPR 1032 heat induction unit via a mobile setup, with a team of two technicians working across the project duration. The work was completed in just 2 working days, with Day 1 dedicated to mobilisation and equipment setup, achieving approximately 4 hours of production. The remaining coating removal was completed efficiently using the RPR 1032 machine, with the cleaned surface subsequently prepared for the application of the A&I coatings system.
Working at one of Australia’s most recognised sporting venues presented a unique set of challenges that ruled out conventional coating removal methods from the outset. The Light Tower at Gate 9 sits in a highly visible, publicly accessible area of the Gabba Stadium, with a heritage-listed school located nearby. Any removal method involving harsh chemicals, abrasive blasting, or significant noise and dust generation would have posed unacceptable risks to the public, surrounding workers, and the heritage environment.
Traditional abrasive blasting would have also required extensive containment measures to manage airborne debris and spent blasting media, adding significant time and cost to the project while creating a hazardous and disruptive worksite in an area that demands a clean, professional presentation at all times.
Beyond the environmental and community considerations, the project also needed to be completed quickly and efficiently. A two-day mobilisation and completion window left no room for slow removal rates or complicated setup requirements. The solution had to be fast, clean, silent, and safe enough to operate in a live public environment without complaint or incident.`
ACR Tech deployed the RPR 1032 heat induction unit as the primary removal method for the Gabba Stadium Light Tower project. The RPR 1032 is a compact, mobile magnetic heat induction system capable of outputting 32.5kW of targeted heat directly into the coating layer, thermally debonding it from the steel substrate without any abrasive, chemical, or noisy mechanical intervention.
The mobile setup allowed the unit to be positioned efficiently at the base of the light tower, with the induction head operated from a boom lift to access the full 0-9m height range of the structure. Drop sheets were placed on the ground beneath the work area to capture paint flakes as they were scraped free, representing the entirety of the waste management required for the job.
The RPR 1032 achieved an average removal rate of 11m² per hour across the 100m² surface area, completing the full coating removal in just 9 hours of active production time. The process was completely silent, produced no airborne dust or chemical vapours, and required no containment structures beyond simple ground covers. No complaints were received from the public or neighbouring trades, and there was no impact to other workers on site throughout the duration of the project.
Once ACR Tech completed the coating removal, the A&I coatings system was applied directly over the RPR-cleaned surface with minimal additional surface preparation required, further reducing overall project time and cost for the client.
