Robert S. Babington
History of Babington Technology
Babington Technology was founded by Robert S. “Bob” Babington in 1967. After serving in the U.S. Air Force as a 2nd Lieutenant, Mr. Babington began his career as a mechanical engineer working on combustion systems. He worked at the Aeronautical Turbine Laboratory and then became the youngest member of the Apollo Manned Lunar Landing management team at NASA under famed administrator George Low. In 1967, Mr. Babington left NASA and founded Babington Engineering to develop products based on a unique liquid atomization principle that he invented.
Babington Engineering
Early Babington Liquid Fuel Burner
First recognized by the U.S. Department of Energy during the 1970s energy crisis, the Babington atomization and combustion technology was initially developed for medical respiratory systems and home oil-heating applications. Babington Engineering soon expanded its reach through licensing agreements with multinational original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), leading to the commercialization of the Airtronic burner—a clean, efficient oil burner sold in homes across Europe throughout the 1980s.
Fueled by licensing fees and royalty income, Babington Engineering operated as a highly profitable consulting and technology licensing firm for over 25 years, laying the foundation for future innovations in military and disaster relief applications
U.S. Marine Corps Tray Ration Heater (TRH)
pioneering heat-on-the-move
Following early success in residential heating, the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) approached Babington to adapt its Airtronic burner technology for military field feeding applications. During Operation Desert Storm, military leadership made a critical tactical decision: to eliminate explosive fuels like gasoline and propane from the battlefield and standardize all field operations—including heating and cooking—on a single distillate fuel (JP-8 and kerosene).
In response, Mr. Babington began developing a new generation of military-grade, diesel-fired appliances capable of delivering hot, nutritious meals to frontline troops—anywhere, anytime, even in the most remote and austere environments. This marked the birth of heat-on-the-move and established a new standard for mobile sustainment operations.
Babington Manufacturing Facility
Rocky Mount, North Carolina
defense contractor and Manufacturer
In 1995, Babington Technology was formally incorporated and became a certified U.S. defense contractor. The company evolved from designing and manufacturing military burners and appliances to delivering fully integrated field feeding and sustainment solutions. In 2006, Babington acquired its manufacturing facility in Rocky Mount, North Carolina, establishing a permanent base for production, innovation, and operational growth.
From Burners
to appliances
to integrated solutions
Today, Babington Technology is a full-service provider of clean, heat-on-demand equipment solutions for military, commercial, disaster relief, and humanitarian aid organizations.
BTI’s core expertise is in designing, developing, manufacturing, and servicing foodservice equipment and off-grid sustainment products tailored to specific customer needs.