Martin Engineering is marking the 50th anniversary of its invention of the world’s first low-pressure air cannon. Air cannons have transformed material flows in bulk processing systems, eliminating problematic internal buildups and blockages. After five decades of continuous innovation, Martin Engineering manufactures air cannon advancements, enabling industrial plants to run more profitably, efficiently and safely than ever.
The company launched the world’s first low-pressure pneumatic air cannon – its Big Blaster® – in 1974. It was devised and developed by Carl Matson, a member of Martin’s senior team and cousin of the firm’s founder Edwin F Peterson. The patented technology was designed to dislodge stubborn material stuck to the inside walls of hoppers and silos by firing precisely timed bursts of compressed air to keep bulk material flowing and preventing the growth of serious build-ups and blockages.
The air cannon was originally aimed at the same quarrying applications as the legendary Vibrolator®, the Martin-patented industrial ball vibrator on which the company’s success had been built since its inception in 1944. By the 1980s, as Martin Engineering expanded its global presence, the Big Blaster was already being reimagined for use in high-temperature industrial applications to maintain the flow of sticky materials through the process and minimise unscheduled downtime.
Further developments included an extreme heat and velocity version of the Big Blaster, the XHV, in the 1990s. In the 2000s Martin became the first to introduce safer positive-pressure firing valve with its Tornado air cannon. The Hurricane valve, located in the rear of the air cannon tank rather at the tank and nozzle junction, greatly improved safety and ease of maintenance.
In 2008, Martin Engineering opened its industry-leading Center for Innovation, which accelerated the company’s air cannon technology advancements including: SMART™ Series Nozzles with multiple nozzle tips. Meanwhile, the Martin® Thermo Safety Shield acts as a safety barrier to allow timely and safe maintenance of air cannon systems.
The future
Martin Engineering’s current ground-breaking air cannon designs are the result of the research and development in the Center for Innovation, located at the company’s headquarters in Neponset, Illinois. The facility will open its doors to visitors in the Summer of 2024 as part of the 50th anniversary celebrations.
Brad Pronschinske, Martin Engineering’s Global Air Cannon Product Manager, said: “From the very beginning our air cannons were specifically designed to produce a quiet but powerful, high-velocity discharge of plant-compressed air to dislodge buildups and enhance material flow.
“We’re especially proud that Martin air canno- such as working in confined spaces, working at height, falling materials, and working in hot and dusty environments. Our team is always working on new developments and we’re looking forward to bringing the next generation of air cannon technologies to our customers all over the world.”
Martin Engineering's Center of Innovation in Neponset, Illinois, USA will see future developments
in air cannon technology
