Flexible bulk materials receptacles such as big bags have become firmly established for handling powders in a variety of branches. They have clear advantages over sacks when it comes to transporting and storing bulk materials. Their large holding capacity reduces packaging waste, and they can be recycled easily. Big bags are economical, requiring fewer operating personnel thanks to optimised filling, transportation and storage properties, and reducing transportation and processing costs. AZO big bag discharge stations make it possible to discharge bulk materials cleanly into closed production systems. The big bags can be placed in the station comfortably using an integrated chain hoist. Apart from free-flowing bulk materials, poor-flowing products can also be discharged reliably using appropriate discharge aids.
If substances harmful to health are being processed in a production plant, special protection must be in place for the operating personnel. One type of substance harmful to health is what are known as “respirable dusts” – dusts that are so fine they penetrate into the pulmonary alveoli and can damage these. Dusts can also lead to other health risks. Many substances are classified as CMR substances (carcinogenic, mutagenic, reprotoxic = causing cancer, causing genetic mutations, harmful to fertility). These harmful substances are not just absorbed via the airways, but in some cases also via the skin or digestive system. New substances are continually being classified as harmful to health, meaning that plant operators are forced to retrofit existing plants or install entirely new equipment.
In light of this, the AZO big bag discharge station has been further developed and now offers operator protection with the containment version of the docking device. It can be used in a zone meeting OEB 3 requirements.
The glovebox offers sufficient protection for the operator and has hardly any impact on the workflow. The AZO big bag discharge station is thus an affordable solution for handling products requiring OEB 3. In addition to the full station, AZO also offers a conversion kit for retrofitting existing big bag discharge stations on the plant operator’s premises.
