14 BULKDISTRIBUTOR Industrial Packaging November / December 2017
14 BULKDISTRIBUTOR Industrial Packaging November / December 2017
Already in the bag
Procuring sufficient FIBCs can be a headache for users , as overseas manufacturers can stipulate delivery lead times of several weeks . But a US firm has launched a service that it claims can secure bags at short notice for the domestic market . Conitex Sonoco USA , a manufacturer and distributor of FIBCs , has come up with BulkSak On-Demand , a web-enabled inventory programme that provides new and existing customers ondemand access to over 70 types of ready-to-ship FIBC bags . The company created the programme to address an industry need for quick access to domestically-available bulk bag inventory . Conitex Sonoco , with an FIBC manufacturing facility in Malvern , Arkansas , is one of only a handful of bulk bag suppliers with US-based manufacturing as well as US warehouse locations . “ With overseas manufacturing lead times ranging from 12-15 weeks or greater , an inventory shortage could be catastrophic to a bulk bag enduser ,” explained David Monteith , VP flexible products division . “ The BulkSak On-Demand programme will supplement our existing domestic FIBC manufacturing and provide the opportunity for immediate shipments .”
BulkSak On-Demand provides access to over 70 types of ready-to-ship FIBCs
“ We have spoken with many purchasing executives who have lamented the ever-increasing pressure to drive costs down , including their internal labour resources ,” stated Richard Brooks , director of sales and marketing . “ With an overtaxed workforce and rising or unpredictable demand for product , manufacturers have no way to forecast reliable production levels . This creates a recipe for disaster in a growth economy .” BulkSak On-Demand will provide fast access to various standard bulk bags , as well as select specialty bags and a range of flood and erosion control bags . Most stocked inventory items ship the same day when ordered before 1pm EST and are available in pallet quantities . www . conitexbulksak . com
Precision handling
An automated bulk material handling system from
National Bulk Equipment ( NBE ) provides a total process solution for moving highly fragile product through multiple process operations into bulk storage for temporary holding prior to final packaging . At a process rate of 12,000 lbs an hour , bulk totes ( IBCs ) of the product are nested into a lift carriage ; the tote is sealed to a custom-designed discharge hood . The tote is vertically conveyed , using 1.5ins , solid 304 stainless steel track and cam rollers , to a 23 ft discharge height . During tilting of the tote , optical sensors ensure a maximum product discharge drop distance of no more than 5ins throughout the entire 150deg rotation . Additional material handling occurs as three stages of vibratory conveyor move the highly fragile product through two stages of high speed image processing and sorting to ensure the material maintains its original characteristics throughout processing . The finish-processed product is then moved into a storage tote using a reverse-tilt fill method to ensure the fragile product drop does not exceed 5ins during filling . The final take-away conveyor section includes an integrated , NTEP-certified weigh system to ensure the filled tote weight is accurate to +/ - . 01 percent of the tote ’ s 4,000 lb total capacity .
Conveyor and container routing is directed from a single , menu-driven HMI designed and built by NBE . NBE automation expertise integrated the system-wide control , communication , monitoring , and data reporting to the facility ’ s central control system architecture . NBE integrated automation and construction increased material processing rates while reducing material reject rates . www . nbe-inc . com
Bringing the world together
After three eventful days , the 20th Powtech in Nuremberg closed its doors .
The most international edition of the packaging show to date , it brought together 835 exhibitors from 29 countries in its six exhibition halls . Thirty-nine percent of the exhibitors came from outside Germany , a new record . An international public made up of over 14,000 visitors benefited from a supporting programme in addition to the broad range of products and services at the exhibition itself . “ Powtech 2017 impressed , motivated and brought together the best in the industry ,” said Beate Fischer , event manager . “ This is the only location where process engineers can examine an unparalleled , broad range of products and services representing all kinds of mechanical processes , and the only place where they can get first-hand access to expert knowledge in countless lectures and seminars .”. The next Powtech will be held in Nuremberg from 9 to 11 April 2019 – once again in association with Partec .