Materials Handling
Containing dust contamination
Handling materials poses many risks, dust explosions being one of the most serious, reports Eugene McCarthy. New developments in dust handling equipment are helping to mitigate this hazard.
Der Materialtransport birgt viele Risiken, wobei Staubexplosionen eines der gefährlichsten sind, berichtet Eugene McCarthy. Neuentwicklungen von Geräten für den Umgang mit Staub verringern diese Gefahr.
Manipuler les matériaux comporte de nombreux risques, les explosions de poussière étant l’un des plus dangereux, explique Eugene McCarthy. De nouvelles avancées dans le domaine des équipements servant à manipuler la poussière contribuent à minimiser ce danger.
M
inimising dust contamination when filling and shifting millions of tonnes of powdered ingredients
through a factory is challenging for all manufacturers, but there are innovative new solutions available on the market. One such solution has been
developed by Spiroflow. Initially developed for the handling of food and pharmaceutical ingredients, the T2 Angled Bulk Bag (FIBC) Discharger provides an air-tight operation that empties product with the minimum of residue and has angled framework, not horizontal flat surfaces, reducing settlement and saving time on cleaning. This latest equipment is suited for a range of materials ranging from baby formula milk, sugar and flour to pharmaceutical powders and granules. Its novel construction stops fine dust sticking to any part of the discharger, resulting in improved hygiene. Unveiled for the first time by
Spiroflow to visitors at this year’s Foodex and Interpack shows, the company says it is probably the first kit of its kind that has been especially designed in the UK to help avoid issues caused by dust residue. Dust in a factory environment can
prove hazardous so manufacturers must have systems and equipment in place that adhere to the European Union’s ATEX Directive 1999/92/E, which has been implemented by the Dangerous Substances and Explosive Atmosphere Regulations 2002 (DSEAR) Act in the UK.
These regulations require that employers classify places where explosive atmospheres are likely to occur – such as in the form of combustible dust generated by processes such as flour milling and sugar grinding – and implement protective measures and select appropriate equipment for use in those environments. Spiroflow’s products for conveying
and bulk handling are designed and built to USDA standard and meet regulatory requirements for transporting and handling powders and other materials in potentially hazardous conditions. The company offers the food and pharmaceutical sectors innovative equipment that will help to eliminate material flow problems and dust contamination that can also lead to potentially dangerous blockages in factory piping or tubing applications. In addition
to bulk bag
dischargers, Spiroflow manufacturers bin activators, flexible screw conveyors, aero mechanical conveyors, tubular cable and chain drag conveyors, vacuum conveyors, bulk bag fillers, ingredients handling and weighing systems. It also supplies state-of-the-art control rooms.
Tackling seams and folds New from Flexicon is a dust containment enclosure for its bulk bag dischargers that contain spillage and dust that can escape through seams in the bag and folds in the spout. The six-sided enclosure sits against
the rim of a hopper or flange of downstream equipment and is equipped
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