Cleanliness improved & inventories cut

Elastomer manufacturer Kirkhill -TA is reported to have slashed inventories of carbon black and improved plant cleanliness by replacing a large silo storage system with a Flexicon bulk bag discharging system. It has enabled the company to cut inventory by 90%, while preventing carbon black dust from contaminating the plant environment. The overall outcome has been significant cost savings, greater production efficiency and improved competitiveness.

The Flexicon discharger unloads carbon black pellets from the bulk bag into a purpose-built hopper, from which a 4.5m long model 14.5 flexible screw conveyor transfers the material to a steel tote. At this point the operation proceeds as it did originally using the steel totes.

A forklift transports the tote along the mezzanine to the container above one of the mixers, where it releases its load. The discharger is engineered to fully contain the material being unloaded, preventing contamination of product and plant.