Opening Shot

Author:  Taylor Bowman | Editor | The Shot Peener
Source:  The Shot Peener magazine, Vol 40, Issue 3, Summer 2026
Doc ID:  2026050
Year of Publication:  2026
Abstract:  
Eighty years is a long time for anything to hold its ground in manufacturing. Processes change, materials evolve, and the tools we rely on are constantly being reconsidered, which makes the Almen strip’s staying power worth noting. Since John O. Almen filed his patent in 1942, the strip has served as the industry’s trusted benchmark for measuring shot peening effectiveness. No knobs, no electronic circuits, no calibration required. It simply responds to the process, honestly and without prejudice. For a field that depends on precision and repeatability, that kind of reliability is rare. What strikes me most is not just that the Almen strip has endured, but that it continues to invite serious discussion. Questions about accuracy, process verification, and measurement standards are active conversations in the industry right now, not because the tool has failed, but because our standards for precision keep rising. That is a healthy sign.