Abrasive Blasting, Shot Peening & Surface Prep worked example

Media Reclaim Value at 78% usable reclaim efficiency: a worked example

Push usable reclaim efficiency up to 78% and the picture changes. This example computes every intermediate figure at that operating point. you want to show the savings from recovering steel grit, shot, aluminum oxide, or other reusable media

The inputs for this scenario

  • Spent media processed: 5,000 lb (unchanged)
  • Replacement media cost: 0.42 $ / lb (unchanged)
  • Usable reclaim efficiency: 78 % (raised for this scenario; the documented default is 68)
  • Avoided disposal/handling: 180 $ (unchanged)

Working through the calculation

  • Applying the documented formula (Recovered media value = spent media processed × replacement media cost × usable reclaim efficiency) to the inputs above produces each figure below.
  • At this operating point the engine returns 1,818 $ for total reclaim value, the number this scenario is built around.
  • At this operating point the engine returns 0.36 $ / lb for value per lb processed.
  • At this operating point the engine returns 1,638 $ for recovered media value.
  • At this operating point the engine returns 180 $ for avoided disposal/handling.

How this compares with the baseline

  • Against the tool's baseline example, where usable reclaim efficiency sits at 68% and the headline result is 1,608 $, this scenario comes in 13.06% above the baseline at 1,818 $.
  • It computes total reclaim value in dollars by valuing recovered media at replacement cost times reclaim efficiency, then adding the disposal and handling cost you avoid. The value of this scenario is the size of the gap it exposes: that gap, priced out over a year, is the budget you can justify spending to close it.

Results at a glance

  • Total reclaim value: 1,818 $ (headline result)
  • Value per lb processed: 0.36 $ / lb
  • Recovered media value: 1,638 $
  • Avoided disposal/handling: 180 $

Run it with your numbers

  • Every input above is editable in the live Media Reclaim Value calculator, which recalculates instantly and can be shared with the inputs intact.

Last reviewed 2026-05-12.