MATERIALS HANDLING


M


essy and diffi cult to handle, but crucial for many industries: carbon black is a necessity for the production


of manufactured goods such as tyres or lithium-ion batteries – and is therefore also particularly important for future industries such as electromobility. But this ultra-light powder is a huge pain for manufacturers since it is a potential workplace hazard and too expensive to waste. T e innovative VeloVac vacuum packers from Greif-Velox ensure dust-free, clean and safe bagging of this diffi cult-to- handle product.


BAGGING OF CARBON BLACK: A DIRTY BUSINESS T e characteristics of carbon black cause problems when using conventional bagging methods (especially pump packers): heavy contamination of the plant environment bringing with it high cleaning costs, high logistics and complaint costs due to contaminated bags and increased risk for employees’ inhaling airborne dust. T e bags and pallets themselves can also be contaminated, resulting in high cleaning and quality costs as well as damaging the brand’s reputation.


DUST-FREE AND SAFE SOLUTION Greif-Velox VeloVac technology elminates this problem by enclosing the process in a vacuum chamber, making the bagging of ultra-light powder entirely dust-free. Further features such as intelligent aspiration functions and the high performing, ultrasonic sealing unit ValvoSeal ensure a safe process and handling. In addition, a cut-off device in the system automatically separates valve overhangs that may still have product residue on them so that neither the bag nor the pallet is contaminated. T is ensures a clean working environment for operators and prevents loss of product. All of the named features result in a high-purity product, which is essential for battery production, for example. T is is because metallic impurities and moisture can lead to undesirable side reactions and negatively aff ect the performance and durability of the battery.


SAVING SPACE AND LOGISTICS COSTS Unlike conventional methods that involve dirty and bulky bags (fi lled with a lot


Greif-Velox VeloVac vacuum


packers ensure dust-free, clean and safe bagging of carbon black


IN THE BAG


Sustainable bagging of carbon black for the electromobility revolution


of air), operators can safely stack twice as many layers. T anks to the dust-free vacuum process, the bags are highly compacted and clean, saving up to 75% on storage and logistics costs. Due to their brick-like, stable positioning, transport is safer and cheaper – and thus enables a signifi cantly lower CO2


footprint. With VeloVac XL, users can now also


fi ll FIBCs (“Big Bags”) with the vacuum method and benefi t from the same advantages as with the VeloVac system for smaller containers: effi ciency, cleanliness, employee safety, reduced storage, logistics and quality costs. Plus: while the capacity for carbon black in valve bags is 7.5kg, an FIBC holds 200 to 230kg – up to almost 70 times more. End users can process and empty larger bags faster, using up to 30% less packaging material.


PROVIDING CARBON BLACK FOR THE ELECTROMOBILITY REVOLUTION T e optimised fi lling and packaging process of carbon black using a vacuum method ensures that a high-quality material such as


for battery production, for example, and thus provides sustainable support for the electromobility revolution. Carbon black is a type of


carbon black is made available to the end customer in more signifi cant quantities faster, and in high-quality packaging. T e process reduces the CO2


footprint


paracrystalline carbon characterised by its elevated ratio of surface area to volume. It has a grain diameter of 60 to 110 nanometres, as well as a low bulk density and high air-holding capacity – but its range of application is very wide: the primary application, constituting 70% of carbon black utilisation, involves its role as both a pigment and a reinforcing agent in automotive tires. Carbon black serves the additional function of dissipating heat from the tyre’s tread and belt section, thereby reducing thermal damage and extending the lifespan of the tyre. Its cost- eff ectiveness has established it as a prevalent inclusion in cathodes and anodes, serving as a secure alternative to lithium metal in lithium-ion batteries.


www.engineerlive.com 27


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52