APEX Waterjetting Solves a Pavement Marking Challenge with the StripeX 7000T
The City of Knoxville, Tennessee recently faced a challenge in its historic downtown district: a white line pavement marking on Union Avenue just south of Gay Street needed to be removed. However, the typical methods available to the city for removing pavement markings posed significant environmental and noise concerns, especially in a bustling and historically sensitive area. APEX Waterjetting Global, currently on a nationwide demo tour with the StripeX 7000T trailer-mounted system, stepped in to provide an effective solution.
Knoxville’s downtown area, known for its charm and historical significance, is not a place where disruptive maintenance methods are welcome. The city had previously resorted to painting over the unwanted marking with black paint—a common but imperfect solution. The city’s engineers were on the lookout for a better way to handle such situations, one that would be efficient, environmentally friendly, and minimally disruptive.
The primary challenge was finding a method to remove the marking without creating excessive mess or noise, both of which would be highly problematic in downtown Knoxville. Traditional removal equipment would have caused significant disruption, especially during the day, and nighttime operations would have disturbed residents.
When APEX Waterjetting reached out to Knoxville’s city engineers, they saw an opportunity to test the StripeX 7000T in a real-world scenario. Bob Kidd, a Product Specialist from APEX, arrived at the site with the self-contained StripeX system at the agreed time. The system was powered by a diesel engine that drives a Hughes 40,000 psi pump and a 1000 cfm Roots vacuum blower. The Stripe Blaster walk-behind tool was selected for this job, connected to the trailer by an ultra-high-pressure hose and a vacuum hose. The onboard Hughes pump delivered water to the removal tool, which used APEX-manufactured 3/8 hex nozzles to produce ultra-high-pressure, needle-sharp water jets. These jets penetrated the surface’s pores, effectively removing the marking with minimal impact on the underlying material.
The demonstration began with Bob explaining the system’s components to the gathered city engineers and colleagues. After a brief introduction, he showcased the removal process, and the city team members had the chance to try the tool themselves. The total length of the marking that needed to be removed was about 120 feet, including several horizontal lines delineating parking spaces. Despite the complexity of the task, the total removal time, even with switching operators to allow city engineers to gain hands-on experience, was approximately 15 minutes. According to a consultant’s report, a single operator working without interruption could have completed the job from start to finish in under 30 minutes, including set-up, deployment, and clean-up.
The response from the City of Knoxville team was overwhelmingly positive. One team member commented, “We see several demonstrations of new equipment and systems routinely, and this was the best demonstration we have seen in a period of time.” The effectiveness of water blasting for pavement marking removal was clearly demonstrated, making it an ideal solution for this case.
The StripeX 7000T offers an effective and environmentally friendly solution for pavement marking removal, especially in sensitive urban environments. APEX Waterjetting Global now provides the StripeX 7000T for both purchase and rental, making this high-performance system accessible to more cities and contractors. With just one day of rental, a city can achieve significant results, similar to what was accomplished in Knoxville.
The case study in Knoxville highlights the StripeX 7000T’s capabilities and APEX Waterjetting’s commitment to providing practical solutions that meet the unique challenges of their customers. APEX is currently booking rental days for October through December 2024. To secure your rental or learn more, contact your APEX representative or reach out to Abby at 1-866-273-9109 extension 714.
If you’re facing similar challenges with pavement marking removal, consider the StripeX 7000T from APEX Waterjetting Global. Whether you’re looking to purchase or rent, this system is designed to deliver outstanding results with minimal disruption. Don’t miss the opportunity to see the StripeX 7000T in action—contact us today to schedule a demo or secure your rental.