Based in Neponset, Illinois, Martin Engineering Service utilises skilled technicians and controlled equipment to remove accumulated material without risk to a vessel's walls or bottom, and without hazardous confined space entry.

Philadelphia-based Airmatic became the first distributor for Martin Engineering more than 60 years ago and has since served industrial needs for improved bulk material handling with the application of air and electric vibrators, air cannons and other flow aid devices and the control of fugitive material from belt conveyors.

Under the new partnership arrangement, Airmatic will serve as manager and provider of Martin Engineering's silo cleaning service in the northeast.

"With this new partnership arrangement, customers will see immediate benefits, including faster response times and reduced mobilisation costs," said Martin Engineering USA sales manager Mark Stern.

"Airmatic's strong commitment to the solids-handling industries and their east coast location places them strategically close to key industries and customers for silo cleaning."

Silo cleaning removes build-up and blockages from bins, bunkers and silos, to improve material flow rates, recover a vessel's storage capacity and prevent hot spots from accumulations of coal or other materials.