---
title: Time to think outside of the box when thinking about flow aids
description: material flow aids, flow aid, air cannon, cannons, improve material flow, material blockage, material flow, material blocked, choked off material
---

[Martin Engineering Blog](https://blog.martin-eng.com)

# [Time to think outside of the box when thinking about flow aids](https://blog.martin-eng.com/outside-of-the-box)

 Written by [Sid Dev](https://blog.martin-eng.com/author/sid-dev) | Nov 6, 2020 3:35:30 PM

2020 has been the year of thinking outside of the box. We have been thrown into situations where we were/are working from home, operating with reduced manpower, or being shut down entirely as we navigate the response to Covid-19. However, with the restrictions/limitations that we all have been working with, we are still meeting the demands - and at some points exceeding - of where we were just a year before.

So, I started to think of how we are managing this.  My first thought...innovation and out-of-the-box thinking. We know what the goal/end result is, and now we make adjustments to meet those goals/results. All of us have become experts in video conferencing, conference calls, shared google docs, instant messaging, etc., This same mindset can be used to **improve how and where to use technology to move material.**

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### How would you answer the following questions?

- Do you have a hopper/chute/transfer point that requires manual intervention to get material flowing?
- Do you have the extra manpower to have someone walk around with the sole purpose of getting material flowing again?
- Do you currently use any of the following to fix the flow issue: sledgehammer/metal rod/air lance?
- Do material flow problems have an impact on your daily/weekly/monthly production?

If you answered yes to any of the questions above, maybe it's time to **think outside of the box and consider an air cannon as a better and more efficient solution to improving material flow**.   

--- ---

### When used correctly, an air cannon can provide:

- A proactive, not reactive, approach to material buildup...don’t wait for the material to stop flowing
- Timed firing/sequencing
- Automated firing triggered by material sensor
- Easy maintenance due to modular design
- Various nozzle & cannon sizes to suit variety of applications
- Safe and cost-effective solution
- Effective use of manpower
- Reduced opportunities for on-the-job injuries

Air cannons can be placed on hoppers, bins, head chutes, etc., for a safe and efficient way to eliminate material pluggage and keep material flowing. Cannons can be used in a wide range of industries and with varieties of material. If you have been dealing with material flow issues by trying the same solutions with limited success, **think outside of the box!**

[View full post](https://blog.martin-eng.com/outside-of-the-box)

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