“Guide to Selection and Use of Intermediate Bulk Containers”

Your company’s engineers or technical staff may be interested in the latest publication from the British Materials Handling Board :

“Guide to Selection and Use of Intermediate Bulk Containers”

The use of IBCs in solids handling is growing fast because of its relatively low cost and ease of integration with manufacturing processes and supply chains. It offers the potential for reductions in capital and operating costs, higher quality products and traceability.

The book draws on experience from leading industrial users and suppliers of the units and the relevant governmental regulations applicable to the technology.

It is available from the BMHB by e-mailing tay4@btinternet.com and the cost is £20 plus P&P.

More information on the British Materials Handling Board is available from its web sites at www.bmhb.co.uk or www.britishmaterialshandlingboard.co.uk

T.Taylor

Director BMHB. ■

First and foremost:

What size bag do you wish to fill?, do you want a sewn or valvepack bag?, what size bag do you wish to pack?, gravity bagging systems are easier to maintain and repair than a valve pack packaging line as compressed air is only needed to blow away the sewing machine dust generated by the bag sewer at the time of sealing/sewing.

A four wall paper bag with a sandwich of plastic between layers is a good choice simply because bagging and filling system is simpler in the long run and the benefits of having a heavier sewn bag out weigh the cost of a valve packaging system and its bags even though they are "fill and auto seaL with the paper shut off valve in the filler hole.

Valve bag packers are going to have a lot of moistuire in the air systems and as a result more moisture in the cement unless you have an air drier/ reciever prior to the valve pack bagging unit.

In the sewn bag system air is only used to clamp the sewn bag to the filler spout during filling and the sewing machine chaff blower. ■