The GC Laser System

This unique, patented laser system was built in the USA and was originally designed for art and architecture conservation in order to offer precision, control, and efficiency for cleaning historic surfaces. The environmentally-friendly technology has been used to clean the 3,500 year old Egyptian obelisk in New York, an exact replica of Michelangelo's David made from Carrara marble in Florida, and many public monuments and architectural structures worldwide, such as the marble facade of the Supreme Court of the United States and the Jefferson Memorial.  The technology is specifically designed by conservators and engineers in the USA to safely clean a variety of surfaces without damaging the substrate, as illustrated below.

Before and after images of cleaning with the GC laser system
From left: Removal of graffiti; concrete with exposed aggregate; glazed terracotta, historic terracotta

The Benefits of Laser Cleaning

Since the pioneering work of Dr. John Asmus more than four decades ago, the use of lasers in conservation has become widely accepted as a safe, self-limiting and successful method for cleaning a variety of surfaces, and the use of infrared radiation for the removal of soiling and encrustation from a broad range of substrates is a well-established technique in the field of cultural heritage. In addition, lasers are an environmentally-friendly method of cleaning without the use of hazardous materials and pollutants, such as solvents and other harmful chemicals. Laser cleaning is a fast, reliable, precise and effective technique and a non-contact, non-abrasive process, producing minimal waste. Lasers can be used in the field as they do not require any chemicals, water or waste removal and will not cause damage to the surrounding environment.