At Spiroflow, we specialise in 'high containment' bulk bag filling and bulk bag discharge systems, and offer a range of Bulk Bag (FIBC) Dischargers specifically for use in pharmaceutical applications. The worldwide acceptance of bulk bags has brought big changes to bulk materials handling - not least in the pharmaceutical industry where they are replacing the use of rigid IBCs. Bulk bags, and equally important, their filling and discharge systems have made strident advances in hygiene and containment - in fact offering containment levels as good as 25µg/m3. Lined bulk bags avoid cross contamination between batches and eliminate the need for and cost of cleaning/re-validation associated with traditional rigid bins.

However, improperly handled bulk bags can be the cause of dust and spillage during discharge and afterwards during the disposal of empty bags. Our Pharmaceutical Bulk Bag Dischargers offer total of bulk bags during discharge and their subsequent removal. They are complete with a liner spout clamping system that provides total containment.
Interlocked, power operated pinch bars are provided to clamp the bulk bag neck so that the neck ties can be released safely. Dependent upon the potency of the active ingredient, releasing the neck ties, cutting open sealed liners, feeding them through the clamp ring and over the discharge spout all takes place within a negative pressure enclosure connected to a HEPA filtration system either through an access door or through a sealed glove box arrangement.
Once the liner is clamped to the outlet spigot (and, where fitted, the access door is locked shut) the pinch bars can be released to allow product to discharge from the bulk bag into the hopper. The disconnection of the bulk bag neck takes place under partial vacuum and can be safely stowed within the body of the bulk bag before it is lifted off for folding or compaction.
The liner clamp has the option of pneumatic or manual operation. Where pneumatic operation is provided, for safety reasons, the operator has to remove his hands from the gloves and continuously press two operating buttons, one on either side of the cabinet or close the interlocked dust tight lamp housing access door.

As an option, our Pharmaceutical Bulk Bag Dischargers can be furnished with connections and clamps for proprietary liner clamping systems such as the'DovePac' IBC/FIBC docking system from ILC Dover which offers advanced barrier and isolation technology.

Lifting frame

Load cell

Bag massagers

Safety interlocked hinges

Controls pipework

Liner clamp

Yoke closure bars

Glove box