Reflecting on the Evolution of the Shot Peening Process

Author:  Kumar Balan | Blast Cleaning and Shot Peening Specialist
Source:  The Shot Peener magazine, Vol 40, Issue 2, Spring 2026
Doc ID:  2026011
Year of Publication:  2026
Abstract:  
INTRODUCTION A ’state of the union’ assessment is essential every few years and starts with identifying our starting point, followed by tracing our path to the present. The origin of this journey will be unique to everyone in our industry, since we have acknowledged, adopted and worked with it under different constraints. I started in this industry when shot peening was barely known as a distinct process. The blast machine that was used to clean parts was re-assigned a new task, to shot peen. With that, came several layers of misunderstanding, fueled by specifications that were open to misinterpretation. We have traveled far from there, and this discussion will review some of the milestones along the way. Like most professionals from my generation, my exposure to shot peening was through blast cleaning. Gradually, customers sharpened their demands and defined their peening processes. Progressively, my subjective assessment of the cleanliness of a shot blasted steel component was being replaced. I now spent time reviewing deflection results within a few thousandths of an inch on what I would soon learn to be the Almen strip! Specifications gained importance and shot peening evolved.