Minibag - more than just an alternative to drums

Worth rethinking

Big bags have been in place for some time as a strong alternative to rigid containers such as containers. But it is also a small number. For bulk materials are in batches or package sizes with a volume of up to 200 l used in the production process, manufacturers are predominantly a barrel. The appropriate alternative, especially for international transport services of raw materials, are Minibag.

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The closed filling of drums is usually only in comparison to empty the small challenge, depending on whether the filling is volumetrically or gravimetrically, the barrel directly under the filling and is positioned on a weighing device. Be used for the barrels open foil bags inside, this includes the operator simply plugs directly into a filling head and seals it with a corresponding device, for example Blähdichtung, Blähschlauch etc., from. Come endless screen systems such as a Endlosfolienbefüllkopf used, the film must be pulled from the continuous sheet to the bottom of the drum cartridge. Subsequently, the filling process by opening a shutoff or metering to start. Since the system is operated closed, the displaced air escapes through a dedusting. Is the barrel finally or fully achieved the desired target weight, the filling is stopped, closed the liner or the continuous film and separated.
You want to empty the barrels but also closed, it requires some technical know-how. Barrels have finally only an opening through which both are filled as well drained. This usually works with suction lances or tipping over a barrel. For containment applications, suction lances divorce in many cases, however, because the risk is too great that the film will hurt the barrel with the suction pipe and thus it can lead to contamination.

In a Fassentleerstation the barrel is lifted by a combination of tilting and lifting column, tilt and the operator at the back of a docked Entleerkabine dust. About Gloves on the front, he can now pull the foil bag along with products from the barrel into the Entleerkabine, open it there and then emptied.

What speaks for the use of
Minibag?
Often the user will have no other option than to empty drums, because drums are among the most common intermediate containers, and many suppliers provide their product at no other forms of packaging. For internal transport of raw materials, however, this looks different. Here one may well think about alternative solutions as they are Minibag.
For, as already shown, requires the closed emptying of barrels of technically demanding solutions. A centrifuge-moist or draining of poorly flowing powders and granular materials directly from the barrel is the absence of functioning probat discharge equipment is an additional challenge and can only be achieved with considerably more effort. Accordingly, it is with the cleaning and the financial outlay for such a station. Minibag but can just play to their strengths.
In Minibag it is a smaller version of big bags. They come in round and rectangular shape and, by default, much like drums in various sizes with a volume of about 60 to 200 l. In contrast to drums they have, besides an inlet nozzle for filling the bags also have a re-sealable outlet spout for emptying. This simplifies the handling immensely, partly because of the tilting device is unnecessary, and secondly, the dust-tight connection to an emptying unit a lot easier and safer is possible. Instead, the Minibag with his straps in an Elevator - for example, chain hoist, or forklift mast - mounted and positioned on a connector system for emptying. Subsequently, the outlet pipe to open the Minibag still closed and the product at the port liner system connected free of contamination. The product liner does not differ from those used in barrels. 1:1 Therefore they can be reused. In some cases required a costly re-qualification and the liner for a change to Minibag is therefore not necessary.
The main body of the Minibag consists of a flexible, foldable polypropylene fabric and is used repeatedly. To the emptying process - especially with difficult flowing products - to support, the station can be equipped with discharge equipment. By vibration or mechanical processing of the bag so condensation product, crystalline compounds are loosened or broken bridges or product and thus provided a full and proper drainage. Also, the design speaks for a discharge with Minibag. She is slim, compact and space saving. Even a combined system for emptying big bags and Minibag is possible taking into account the different package sizes and weights, since the Entleerequipment be universally and flexibly.
Regarding ergonomics and operation are there even more advantages. At the filling station from behind the barrel is docked to the Entleerkabine so then the foil bag with the product, the operator can be pulled out of the barrel. Minibag be used instead of barrels, has the following advantages: The entire Minibag is moved only by a lifting device for emptying. Therefore is necessary for the operator no effort, and also of the movements, the entire handling extremely user-friendly. It is also possible that the net weight Minibag increase even more, with the consequence that less container changes are necessary and a higher throughput can be achieved.
In contrast to empty sees the filling of kegs or Minibag from almost identical. The equipment is the same, are merely the product of inserting the liner into Minibag care must be taken that is used here instead of a foil bag, a foil tube. This must be tied down in a defined length, so the product can be connected to an inline connector system before it is opened to empty again.

Compact and free of contamination
Other important factors are the subjects of storage, transport and cleaning of Minibag or barrels and their equipment. Here too, again significant differences between the barrel and Minibag. Because of its flexibility, empty Minibag - are folded flat, and thus require very little storage space and transportation - other than drums. A comparison should make this clear: Both a barrel and a Minibag have a capacity of about 200 l. Both have filled state in similar dimensions (height 900 mm, diameter 550 mm). The empty barrel stainless steel has a weight of about 18 kg, the Minibag kg only 4. Fit on a standard pallet four barrels, whether full or empty. Of the folded, you can then empty Minibag to accommodate 50 units on the same size range.
After emptying the container liners are disposed of the product. Barrel or Minibag can still be used, usually without purification. When Minibag the risk of contamination is very low, as even with relatively simple technical means, such as the liner port system, an OEB-value (Occupational Exposure Band) of 4 to 5 can be achieved. To achieve the same result with barrels, the handling effort and the technical realization are much more expensive (Entleerkabine with Gloves and docking for drums). As a result, the initial cost is a discharge station for Minibag by up to 50% cheaper than a comparable Fassentleereinrichtung.
When cleaning the emptying Minibag benefits for the operator to compact cylindrical design. So this is completely WIP or CIP cleaning (Washing and Cleaning in Place) and makes a manual cleaning is required only in some special cases. The Entleerkabine to clean itself by its size and elaborate design. A separate analysis of the filling station can be neglected in this case, there can be used in both cases, the same technologies.

Decision-facts
For users
An alternative to rigid containers for internal transport are Minibag.
Easy to use and just when solutions for product and personnel health and safety are required, systems can play to their strengths with Minibag.
Costs, handling, cleaning, storage and transportation are five good reasons to think about where you Minibag as an alternative to barrels must permit if the internal transport of raw materials or the supplier of the product also Minibag accretion: pike can deliver TechnologieeBBstatt barrels.