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.

Women-Owned Businesses on the Rise

Airmatic Inc. is an industrial distributor focused on providing its clients with equipment, machinery, shop supplies, and a wide range of maintenance services. Working with companies in industries like feed and grain and concrete construction, Airmatic Inc. has been in operation for more than 70 years and is woman-owned.

According to recent data, the number of woman-owned businesses in the United States now encompasses over a third of all American companies. In the last nine years, this number has risen by 27 percent. As of this year, this subset of companies accounts for around $1.6 trillion in revenue and provides American workers with nine million jobs.

In addition to the fiscal benefits that woman-owned businesses bring to the US economy, studies have shown that female entrepreneurs may be less risk-averse than their male counterparts. A report conducted by BMO Wealth Management indicated that nearly three-quarters of female entrepreneurs expressed confidence in their risk-related decisions, while just 64 percent of male entrepreneurs expressed the same confidence.

Airmatic, Inc.’s Martin Conveyor and Vessel Clean-out Solutions

With more than 70 years of experience, Airmatic, Inc., offers a wide range of wholesale industrial machinery services and products. Airmatic, Inc.’s client base spans the government and commercial sectors, with installation and technical support geared to power production facilities, paper mills, and silo operations. In the latter sphere, Airmatic, Inc.’s solutions include state-of-the-art tools such as the Martin HD bin whip and the Martin bin drill tool for cleaning-out silos, hoppers and bins. 

The bin drill tool assists in the silo clean-out process through a remotely-controlled hydraulic-powered drilling system. It creates a viable flow channel even in situations of serious material blockages. The high-power bin-drill can bore open paths through materials extending as deep as 150 feet. 

The bin whip tool addresses materials stuck to the vessel’s interior walls which can create confined-space entry issues if not cleaned from outside the vessel. Material build-up in silos not only decreases storage capacity but can cause contamination issues. Other advanced solutions for silo cleaning include the compressed-air powered Sonic Horn, which provides an acoustic cleaning approach to fluidizing and clearing dry particulate deposits.

GEAPS and K-State Offer Online Courses in Grain-Handling Operations

Founded more than 70 years ago, Airmatic Inc distributes industrial equipment and provides installation and maintenance services to several markets, from agriculture and manufacturing to mining and construction. Airmatic Inc also serves as a member of the Grain Elevator and Processing Society (GEAPS), a manufacturer trade association.

Last week, registration opened for four online grain-handling operations courses provided by GEAPS and the Kansas State University (K-State) Distance Education Program. This term’s courses cover a variety of topics, such as grain facilities planning, preventing grain dust explosions, fan operational management, and aeration system design. GEAPS and K-State are also offering a Spanish-language class with a concentration on entry-level safety; this course is a complement to GEAPS 500: Introduction to Grain Operations and must be completed in order to earn the Credential in Grain Operations Management (CGOM).

Online classes run from October 31 to December 2 and are available to GEAPS members at $670 per course and non-members at $850 per course.

Airmatic Inc has been a proud member of GEAPS since 2005 and exhibits annually at the Tradeshow.

NAW to Host Biannual Billon Dollar CFO Roundtable in Chicago

Airmatic Inc is a woman-owned, Pennsylvania-based industrial distributor of bulk material handling equipment, with a focus on selling, installing, and maintaining industrial equipment. In supporting distribution trade associations, Airmatic Inc is a 41 year member of the National Association of Wholesaler-Distributors (NAW).

Each year, NAW hosts multiple billion-dollar roundtables for various types of high-ranking executives, such as chief legal officers, CEOs, and human resources executives. This year, on December 6-7, NAW will be hosting the NAW Billon Dollar CFO Roundtable at the O’Hare Hilton in Chicago. Sponsored by Grant Thornton and Oliver Wyman, this twice-a-year conference is designed for chief financial officers of billion-dollar distribution enterprises to network with non-competing companies and other like-minded professionals. This year’s agenda includes an executive dinner and a discussion on cyber risk management.

To participate in the CFO roundtable, attendees must pay $1,800 in annual membership fees and receive an exclusive invitation. For more information, visit solutions.NAW.org/events.