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[Neponset, IL] – A global leader in bulk material handling has announced that it has begun offering custom-engineered vibration technology for manufacturers of shakers, separators, wash plants and other process equipment that uses vibration as a working force. By adding the new capability to its extensive lineup of stock vibrators, Martin Engineering will open up a wide range of new possibilities for equipment designers who have traditionally been forced to engineer their products around existing vibrator models. The design and engineering will be performed at Martin Engineering’s new 22,600 square foot (2,100 square meters) Center for Innovation, Research & Development (CFI) at the company’s Neponset, IL headquarters.
Custom-engineered drives are already being manufactured at Martin Engineering locations in the U.S. and China, and as the business grows, the firm plans to supply them from all eight of its business units around the world. “Global manufacturers need to be able to count on worldwide availability of customized solutions like these,” observed VP of Operations Robert Nogaj. “This approach is part of our evolving global business strategy to tailor solutions for specific customers and applications.”
“The target market for these new services is any manufacturer that supplies vibratory equipment of virtually any kind,” Nogaj continued. “If an OEM has a unique need for a drive that hasn’t been (or couldn’t be) designed before, or if there’s a design for a machine that they could not find a drive for, now there’s a cost-effective resource for developing them.”
Martin Engineering is targeting continuous-duty applications that often require explosion-proof construction and multi-year reliability, backing the products with an industry-first three-year warranty, plus three additional years on bearings and electrical parts. A key to the new technology is its global availability, as the company will be able to manufacture custom designs in any of the countries in which the firm does business. Customers will benefit from regional engineering, manufacturing and service in virtually any location.
“There are many suppliers who provide off-the-shelf solutions, and we will continue offering conventional vibrators in a wide range of sizes and force outputs,” Nogaj continued. “But for the builders of next-generation equipment, we can now deliver design options that engineers have never had before. Instead of being limited to an off-the-shelf vibrator, manufacturers can specify the exact sizes and parameters they need to suit new and emerging designs.” Nogaj said that the designs are likely to find utility in high frequency vibratory screens, sizing equipment, dewatering operations and other vibratory equipment for the oil and gas industries, as well as processing of coal, iron ore, gold and other elements, silica sand, pharmaceuticals and even food applications.
While traditional designs will remain a cornerstone of Martin Engineering’s family of vibration products, the company is now able to custom-engineer the size and shape of the drives, torque curves, weight and many other features, in both electrical and mechanical units. “This will allow OEMs to build equipment that hasn’t been available in the past,” Nogaj continued. “Rather than being handcuffed into using the stock designs that are on the market now, they can order the exact vibrator properties, profile and output that they need.”
An important component in the decision to offer custom-engineered vibration is Martin Engineering’s extensive new R&D capabilities in the CFI. For example, the firm has recently added four massive, spring-mounted 10,000-lb (4,545 kilo) test blocks specifically for development and trial of new vibrator designs.
Indoor test block: The massive 10,000-lb (4,545 kilo) test block in the Center for Innovation is used for the development and trial of new vibration designs.
“This kind of capability is intended to serve the OEM who has vibration needs that are presently unmet,” said Global Vibration Development Manager Brad Pronschinske. “It will be a huge competitive advantage for manufacturers trying to develop new products, giving them a design freedom that wasn’t possible before.”
Martin Engineering’s new capabilities also include sophisticated dynamometer testing that allows the company to map the shape and values of an electric motor’s torque curve. “The dyno testing helps us analyze existing designs, but it also means that customers can come to us to obtain a specific torque curve,” continued Pronschinske. “That can be an extremely valuable asset for new product development, and until now it’s been a service that has been nearly impossible to find without investing huge amounts of money.”
Further supporting Martin Engineering’s commitment to the custom engineering concept is an endurance testing station located outside the CFI, where engineers can evaluate new vibratory drives and screen designs on any of five different shakers. A similar station at the company’s China facility also features two shakers. “The outdoor test stations are intended to duplicate tough real-world operating conditions,” Pronschinske added. “The setup at CFI has one shaker design with a 4-pole drive unit that can develop as much as 10 Gs of force, helping us to engineer the highest quality, longest-lasting vibrators in the world.”
Martin Engineering will offer an extensive range of designs and features for specific applications, including explosion-proof models, vertical shaft units, flange-mounted designs and even low-profile vibrators that can be incorporated as part of a support structure. “This capability allows us to take a huge leap beyond the conventional 4-footed designs that dominate the market today,” Pronschinske said.
Martin Engineering vibrators deliver the highest force to weight ratio of any electric vibrator manufacturer. Its products are supplied with the industry’s best warranty and the company’s absolutely-no-excuses guarantee.
Founded in 1944, Martin Engineering is the world leader in making bulk materials handling cleaner, safer and more productive. The firm is headquartered in Neponset, IL, offering manufacturing, sales and service from factory-owned business units in Brazil, China, France, Germany, Indonesia, Mexico, South Africa, Turkey, India and the UK, and under exclusive license with ESS Australia. For more information, visit www.martin-eng.com or call (309) 852-2384. Exact dates of product introductions may vary by region. Global representatives for Martin Engineering can be found at www.martin-eng.com/rep-finder.
