The differences between shot-peening and the WPC treatment is rather astounding when exposed to the knowledge of how both are conducted. Shot Peening is typically performed by blasting the surface with smaller median such as glass at higher speeds while hard shot peening is known to use round metal bb. Using a striking or hitting process, shot-peening compacts the metal on the surface but leaves the structure in a brittle state with little or no change in compressive stress.

The WPC process uses a special ceramic bead composition ranging from 20 microns or larger depending on the application and area being treated, which shot-peening can never duplicate. In comparison to shot-peening, the media being used for the WPC process is 50 times smaller and is applied at a higher velocity, pressure, and impact creating a higher compressive stress level. The numerous impacts during the WPC process not only increases the residual compressive stress but also causes it to reside a lot closer to the surface.

"The result is a product that has durability unrivaled by conventional peening," states WPC Technical Director Ross Clarke.