Tippmann Pneumatics is a manufacturer of paintball markers, paintball equipment, and airsoft guns. Tippmann also manufactured pneumatic sewing machines and some industrial products under the name of Tippmann Industrial Products. Originally a family owned business run from Fort Wayne, Indiana, in 2004 Dennis Tippmann Sr. sold a majority ownership stake to Summit Partners, a private equity firm. A separate corporation markets a line of paintball markers under the brand BT Paintball for Ben Tippmann. Known for their innovations in the sport of paintball, Tippmann is considered one of the pioneers of the sport by designing the first automatic marker and the use of refillable air systems in place of 12 gram cartridges. They are also known for other design innovations such as the Cyclone Feed Sy