The Martin Engineering Center for Bulk Solids Handling Innovation will focus on developing solutions to reduce or eliminate dust and spillage resulting from handling bulk solids out of storage and on conveyors.

The new centre will also develop application knowledge related to flow aid devices used to promote the flow of bulk solids and is expected to be fully staffed and operational by the third quarter of 2007.

Martin Engineering chairman Edwin H Peterson said the centre represents a major commitment to the future of the basic industries the company serves, and to its customers.

“We are confident that our customers will benefit from a better understanding of the characteristics of their bulk materials, and how they should be handled. This in turn will lead to new technologies that make solids handling cleaner, safer, and more productive,” Peterson said.

He said the 20,000 square foot (1850 square metre) structure would be a separate facility located at the company’s world headquarters and manufacturing facility in Neponset.

Peterson said the Martin Engineering Center for Bulk Solids Handling Innovation would provide opportunities for companies worldwide to perform tests of the flow properties and dusting characteristics of the bulk materials they transport on conveyors and move from storage.

He said the facility would have full-scale bulk material handling capabilities for equipment reliability and performance testing in line with the company’s dedication to “Clean, Safe, Productive Bulk Solids Handling”

“Projects will include research, industry education, new product development, and the testing of material properties and system performance under simulated operating conditions,” Peterson said.