A global leader in bulk material handling solutions has gained the EAC Mark of Conformity (aka, Eurasian Conformity Mark) for the export of compressed air technology used to maintain material flow. The important certification allows the Martin Engineering business units in Germany and Russia to offer the company’s extensive line of Martin® Air Cannons to the Customs Union (Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan) and assures that the equipment is compliant with the EAC’s strict safety and quality standards. This will provide companies in the region an efficient and safe method of clearing adhered material and clogs in chutes, silos, kilns and ductwork for a variety of applications such as cement, coal and fly ash.
The EAC approval is in accordance with the February 2013 agreement between the member states of the Customs Union that unified certification requirements for machinery and equipment. According to Russian Division Branch Manager Oleg Meister, “The EAC Mark of Conformity is essential in order to sell and install air cannons in the three member countries. It will be instrumental in assuring ready availability and reasonable lead times.”
Quickly becoming the flow technology of choice for industries across the six continents the company serves, Martin Air Cannons come in various tank sizes and are connected to the plants’ existing compressed air system. Powerful shots of air dislodge adhered solids and fines from vessel walls, ductwork and components, introducing the material back into the process flow. Able to be integrated and controlled by many current logistical software systems, the innovative design will bring a cost effective option for companies seeking improved performance from preheater towers, silos, bunkers and process vessels, as well as selective catalytic reduction (SCR) systems in thermal power plants. The rugged construction of the air cannons is well suited for the harsh local operating conditions, including extreme process heat and ambient temperatures as low as -50°C (-58°F).
To facilitate setup and use, Martin Engineering has confirmed that all certifications and documentation will be provided in the Russian language. OEMs will be able to purchase air cannons from Martin Engineering Europe, allowing export to Russia.
Having previously achieved TR CU (formerly GOST) certification (technical standards for products marketed in the three countries, similar to UL in the United States or CE in Europe), the air cannons join the extensive list of bulk handling components already available. “Throughout the region, companies are seeking more efficient, safe and profitable ways to run their operations,” Meister observed. “Technical advances that improve productivity and reduce risks have been of particular interest, and that includes air cannons.”
Reducing workplace risk is a focus of the EAC Mark of Conformity, assuring the “safety of machinery and equipment,” particularly when “used in an explosive atmosphere,” such as the many types of cramped spaces filled with volatile dust found in bulk handling systems. Air cannons move unstable material without causing a spark. Preventing clogs and piling by keeping material flowing, the devices relieve the need for workers to enter chutes to perform unpleasant and potentially dangerous maintenance.
“Effective flow systems are essential to the work of trying to improve the operations of bulk material handling,” Meister concluded. “Along with our other conveyor accessories, the certification allows us to offer a more complete and versatile solution that could help make systems across the region safer, while reducing operating costs.”
