14 B ULK D ISTRIBUTOR
Industrial Packaging
November/December 2018
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I
n order to produce sufficient amount of safe and affordable
food for a growing world population, it is essential that
seeds for agriculture are treated prior to use.
A method that has been used since ancient times is dressing, now
also called seed treatment. A special dressing is applied directly to the
seed; its purpose is to facilitate mechanical processing and protect
seeds against pests and diseases.
Based in Monheim, Germany, Bayer’s Crop Science Division is one of
the world’s leading agricultural companies and specialises in seeds
and plant traits, chemical and biological crop protection and
digitalisation. A key focus is also on sustainable agriculture, the
company regards seed treatment as a comprehensive process that
goes far beyond simple product know-how. The company provides
training courses to support users, advising on topics that range from
the optimum adjustment of dressing systems to relevant aspects of
environmental protection. Also on the agenda are constant
development of manufacturing processes through practical
experience, on-going research and a continual focus on innovative
solutions in other industries.
At Interpack 2017, the seed treatment engineers of Bayer
SeedGrowth team saw the Schütz Impeller and were impressed. The
single-use impeller, which is integrated in the IBC, makes handling the
treatment agent much easier.
“Some formulations can separate, especially in large containers. The
seed dressing agent may settle if it is stored for prolonged periods.
This means that the agent needs to be mixed and homogenised
before processing, which is a complex process in an IBC with a
volume of 1,000 litres”, says Norbert de Baey, seed treatment
engineer at Bayer.
Until now, special pumps were used for this purpose. The packaging
always had to be opened and the pump inserted, which in many
respects was a physically arduous task for the operators. In addition, it
was almost impossible to avoid the exterior of the container
becoming soiled, even if the greatest care was taken. This presented
the risk of direct contact with the treatment fluid.
In contrast, IBCs with the integrated Impeller developed by
Schütz can remain closed throughout the entire supply chain,
from filling to discharge, and still allow the filling products to be
stirred conveniently and effectively. The system is available for all
1,000 and 1,250 litre Ecobulk types with DN 150 and DN 225 filling
openings.
“This new development seemed to be perfect for our seed
treatment agents – a simple, flexible and cost-effective design,”
was de Baey’s initial assessment after the trade fair. In October
2017, Bayer, together with Schütz, subjected the Impeller to a
stirring test on the premises of the seed treatment producer
Klamroth-Börnecke in Saxony-Anhalt.
The single-use stirrer is connected to the
screw cap of the IBC and is pre-inserted at
the factory. While the IBC is being filled the
Impeller is either briefly removed or remains in
place, depending on the filling process and
container configuration. To stir the contents a
conventional stirrer drive can be used without the
need for conversion or modification. The drive is
placed
above the cap and is fixed in place on the steel
cage with
the aid of a frame. The drive shaft locks into the
bung of the
screw cap which transmits the rotation to the Impeller inside the
container. The impeller has movable wings which change their
position depending on the centrifugal force. The speed is individually
adapted to the filling level. As the speed decreases, the wings sink,
ensuring optimum stirring results even with smaller residual
quantities.
Identical distribution
A visual test in the field showed that the dressing was
homogeneously mixed, without any foam forming. The experts then
examined the active ingredient content and its distribution by taking
samples of the contents from the bottom, centre and top areas of the
container. They compared these samples in the laboratory with
samples taken before the stirring process. The
results showed that the usual sedimentation of
the heavy active substances could no longer
be detected after stirring with the integrated
Impeller. All substances were evenly distributed
at all levels in the dressing and the fluid was
The Schütz Impeller
provided optimum
completely homogenised.
stirring results in the
“We are extremely satisfied with this test.
Bayer test
The Schütz Impeller ensures even mixing and
uniform concentration of the active ingredients, allowing the seeds to
be optimally coated with the dressing agent. Another benefit is that
potential contact with the dressing agent is reduced for users, which
is an important contribution to the safety of our customers in
everyday use,” says de Baey, summing up the positive findings.
Based on this test result, Bayer converted the packaging of its
premium grain dressing agent products in Germany to Schütz’s
IBC plus Impeller system in 2018.
The use of the Impeller as a disposable system also means that the
risk of the dressing agent becoming contaminated by residues of the
filling product is minimised. The immersion of the pumps used up to
now already represents a potential risk. The Impeller also eliminates
costly cleaning processes and all similar costs. The entire component
is made of HDPE; empty IBCs, including the Impellers, are collected by
the Schütz Ticket Service; during reconditioning the inner bottle and
the Impeller are processed to make HDPE recyclate. The recovered
material is reused in an environmentally friendly way in Schütz
products, for example to make plastic pallets.
On display
At this year’s FachPack in Nuremberg, Schütz displayed not just the
latest developments in its range of IBCs, but also new components to
help users in the quest for safer, easier container handling.
Schütz ensures the safety of the filling products in IBCs in many
ways. One important component is the outlet valve with an
integrated lock that safeguards the container against unintentional