Airmatic Inc. Assists in Solving a Paper Plant Coal Dust Issue

 



Established in 1944, Airmatic Inc. is a Malvern, Pennsylvania, company with a well-established track record of supplying the American bulk materials handling industry with quality machinery and equipment. Airmatic Inc. also has undertaken a number of complex projects for clients ranging from power plants to pulp and paper operations.

In one high-profile assignment, Airmatic Inc. engaged with a plant that primarily produces paper and uses coal in generating energy for operations. A key issue experienced by the manufacturer involved turbulent air at the transfer point between the coal crusher and conveyor, with airborne dust being blown out at pressure and covering nearby areas.

Each day, powdery dust covered paper mill surfaces ranging from railings to the floor. The dust needed to be swept up and removed by wheelbarrow. In addition, maintenance issues with the conveyor were occurring, and the skirt experienced rapid wear.

Airmatic’s solution involved installing a variety of Martin Engineering conveyor products, including a belt support system and belt-tracking devices. In addition, advanced wearliners and self-adjusting skirting were set in place and a high-volume dust settling zone with curtains was established. The end result was an increase in efficiency, cleanliness, and worker morale at the plant.

Airmatic Inc. Updates Industry Know-How with Martin Foundations Course

One of the nation’s leading purveyors of bulk materials-handling equipment for the industrial market, Airmatic Inc. recently hosted a Martin Foundations seminar designed to teach best practices in conveyor belt operations at its headquarters in Malvern, PA. Dedicated to continuing professional education for its own employees, Airmatic Inc. invited other companies’ leadership to join the seminar as well. 

Martin Foundations’ program presenters have gained extensive experience in multiple aspects of engineering, mining, and factory operations and regularly offer workshops and training programs all over the world. The Pennsylvania seminar described advances in making workplaces safer and cleaner through better handling of bulk materials and associated dust. 

A Foundations training course offers other companies the benefits of Martin Engineering’s more than seven decades of experience as a major international firm operating across industries. Participants can learn the principles of not only conveyor belt operational safety, but also belt maintenance and cleaning, proper alignment, and the other fine points of engineering and logistics. 

Martin Foundations additionally publishes a textbook on conveyor belt safety, available free as a downloadable PDF on the company’s website.

Individuals interested in learning more about the seminars hosted by Airmatic or about holding a Foundation Seminar at their facility can call the company at 800.332.8770 or send an email inquiry to infocenter@airmatic.com.

The Use of Acoustic Cleaning on Silos

Airmatic Inc. accommodates the needs of companies in a wide range of industries through three different operating divisions. Through its service group division, Airmatic Inc. is capable of providing its clients with equipment maintenance services, like sonic horn silo cleaning.

Sonic horn silo cleaning is a form of acoustic cleaning, a process which uses sound energy to clear buildup on the surfaces of equipment without doing the kind of physical damage that can occur through other methods. An additional benefit of the use of acoustic cleaning is that it does not require direct access to caked material and other build-up in order to clear the surface of the equipment. This can be especially useful in the cleaning of silos, which are not always built with openings that allow easy access to the inside.

The routine cleaning of silos is crucial for businesses that use them in production processes. Not only does it allow companies to comply with regulations for the sanitary storage of materials, but it also enhances efficiency by restoring flow rates that are slowed by build-up on the walls inside of the silo.