Bag-in-a-Box intermediate bulk containers have become widely used
in the food industry as a means of transporting and discharging
viscous products such as condiments and jams.
Similar to Fibre intermediate bulk containers (Big Bags) that
store powders, Bag-in-a-Box intermediate bulk containers had the
ability to collapse down after being emptied and were first marketed
as a space saving alternative to the rigid intermediate bulk containers.
With rental payments that off set high up front initial costs,
Bag-in-a-Box was also seen as a cost-effective alternative to rigid
intermediate bulk containers.
However, within the food industry a number of problems relating
to bag-in-a-box have come to light.
The immediate concern is the complicated method of coupling
at the discharge. To get to the contents the internal liner
must be broken, so that a pump hose can be fitted. With no
valve to control the discharge, pressure from the mass of the
content forces the product out before the hose can be coupled.
The result is spillage of the product. This waste is a direct
cost to production and compromises health and safety.
The bag, which lines the box, provides further
wastage when product becomes trapped. The mangle provided
to squeeze as much of the trapped product out is often inefficient
resulting in the bag being discarded with product still in.
This manual handling is inefficient and time consuming.
However, the problems do not end there. Air trapped in the bag
causes cavitation of the suction pumping system, the pump-discharge
operation is interrupted, resulting in wasted product and further
time delays.
Francis Ward, the multi-trip intermediate
bulk containers manufacturer offers an IBC especially for
viscous foods, with no waste or spillage. The robust steel
frames, with their galvanised or painted finish, are multi-stackable
for space saving and easy to clean down for maximum hygiene.
The anit-vacuum vent, combined with the coned outlet of the
bottle, increase the flow rate for total discharge. This
process is uninterrupted with no manual handling or cavitation
at pumping.
The valve outlets prevent unnecessary spillage and waste.
IBCs are available in 2” and 3” outlets, either
screw thread or flanged.
If cost is the major concern, Francis Ward offer rental
and lease purchase, to off set initial costs of having a
container that can last indefinitely.
