Best Practices for Unloading for Flexitanks-Fluid Flexitanks in India

Best Practices for Unloading for Flexitanks

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Flexitanks are normally made of polyethylene in the available volume of up to 24,000 liters that is fitted inside a standard 20-foot dry box container. Also known as Flexitank or Flexibag, it is a soft, light bladder. These Flexitanks are ideal for the transportation of non-toxic liquid cargoes in bulk and the bladder is generally intended for one-time use.

To assist the chemical companies, their customers, and logistics service providers in being cautious with unsafe situations in the supply chain of Flexitanks, especially best practices for effective unloading, here are a few guidelines that should be taken into account.

Proper loading of the container ensures trouble-free unloading subsequently. Here are the things that need to be kept in account before and while loading to make sure it is done effectively.

Before Loading

Check the suitability of the combination of the Flexibag and container according to the manufacturer’s instructions and the loading limit as per the manufacturer’s specifications.

A visual audit of the container should be carried out to be sure that there are no structural damages in the container. The exterior of the container must be devoid of any ‘dangerous goods’ marking or any other markings from the previous cargoes.

Flexitank suppliers should provide a manual including the process description of the container. A trained and responsible person should be assigned for correct loading and filling of the Flexitank. Lastly, a checklist for all containers and Flexitank checks should be used.

Filling/loading

The filling process can start after the flexibag is installed. A few precautions are to be maintained.

Avoid unintended movement by securing the vehicle with wheel chocks. The bulkhead and valve used in the Flexitank should not be in contact with the interior container doors. The hose must be connected and secured to minimize the stress on the valve. Make sure that all the valves are in the correct position before the loading process starts. The container’s left door should be closed properly before the loading starts for additional precaution.

Use spill protection devices like a collecting bag or drip tray. Prevention of gases entering the flexibag during or after filling flexibag is a must. The tightness of the connections of the pump and hoses should be checked after starting the pump. The Flexibag must be filled to its correct capacity and tolerance according to the manufacturers’ instructions.  A lower filling rate is recommended to start the filling process. Avoid pumping air in the flexitank.

Once all the protocols are maintained for the perfect loading, it becomes easier to manage the process of unloading without any untoward events.

Best Practices for Unloading

Before going through the recommendations below for the unloading process, the general precautions and guidelines mentioned above for the loading process should be considered during unloading especially during the usage of hose support or the supervision of the unloading process.

  • The right-hand door of the CTU should be opened carefully.
  • Till the time the Flexitank is adequately empty, keep the door on the left hand closed.
  • All the required steps for spill protection should be undertaken.
  • Ensure that all markings are removed from the container after the Flexitank has been removed from the container and it is clean and safe.
  • Also keep in mind the design of the flexitank, for instance, a multi-layer tank versus single-layer. An outer layer should be selected based on the built of the material so that it provides additional risk mitigation benefits such as:
    • Mechanical stability to accommodate the effect of the heating devices. Prevention of the occurrence of localized hot spots and potential loss of integrity due to thinning.
    • Resistance to potentially damaging things like welding bars or sharp angles that could puncture the bag if the heating device protection is dysfunctional.
  • Be careful while heating the cargo before unloading. The weather conditions during transport or the physical properties of the product may require the application of a heating system to smoothen the unloading process. If there is a need to use heating systems, the method, and devices used for heating the product should be part of the risk assessment. The desired temperature should be kept below the maximum loading temperature specified. Ideally, the desired temperature should be kept below the maximum loading temperature specified by the manufacturer.
  • The effectiveness of the heating system to raise the cargo temperature should be taken into account, considering ambient cargo temperature and environmental temperature.
  • Only trained and competent personnel should conduct the heating. Also, ensure that the SOP is followed during the installation of the heating system.
  • The cargo should be suitable for heating and have a melting point not exceeding the maximum temperature of the Flexitank. The cargo should remain static during heating. The heating should be carried out close to the unloading point.

Upon arrival

  • Inspect if the Flexitank walls are straight.
  • In case the Flexitank is bulging, check if it is due to weak walls or to overpressure. If there is overpressure take the required measures.
  • Check that container is not dripping. If dripping, follow the required measures, for instance, placing the flexitank in a spill containment area. Ensure that flexitank is parked on a spill containment area at the unloading station to facilitate the recovery of any leakage. See to it that the drip recovery bucket in place.
  • Make sure that the hose is properly connected and secured with support. Check that flexitank is blocked with two chocks in opposite directions. Ensure that during the whole unloading, the left-hand door remains closed.

Before unloading

  • See to it that required Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) is used.
  • If the Flexitank is tilted during the unloading, with the help of a tilting trailer chassis, check that the trailer is well secured.
  • Ensure that Flexitank is grounded if required.
  • Inspect that the seal number on the valve with valve seal number on transport documents.
  • See to it that the temperature of the product is compatible with the unloading equipment if there are any needs for temperature/viscosity products. If yes, take the appropriate measures like placing the flexitank in a headed shed.
  • In cases where heater pads are used, inspect the pressure ratings. Also, check the site Health and Safety requirements where heater pads are used are met.

During unloading

  • Ensure that there is no drip during the unloading on the connections.
  • Make sure that the hose support remains correctly positioned to avoid any constraints on the valve.
  • Go through the check-list at the unloading station after unloading and disconnecting.
  • Ensure that the bag is effectively empty. Make sure that the bag with the remainder of products and the equipment of flexitank is correctly recovered and stored according to the applicable recycling procedure. Follow the application procedure to empty the bag.
  • See to it that the Health Safety and Environmental requirements are met for tanks that require manipulation (rolling/folding) to facilitate a clean discharge and to minimize residue levels.

Following these best practices by the book can ensure that your unloading process is smooth and free of any unforeseen glitches. An end to end procedure of effective loading and unloading is highly recommended to make it hassle-free transportation and unloading.

We at Fluid Flexitanks are a leading Flexitank Manufacturer in India, delivering products with global standards of quality. Our Flexitanks are FDA approved, made of virgin polyethylene and polypropylene, suitable for a wide range of food-grade and non-hazardous liquid cargos. Please contact our team for more details on our offerings.

Advantages of Transporting Wine in Flexitanks-Fluid Flexitanks in India

Advantages of Transporting Wine in Flexitanks

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It is a challenging prospect to transport any food-grade liquid, more so when it is the wine that needs to be handled in the right conditions. To maintain the right conditions while the transportation of bulk liquids is not at all easy.

For decades, the transportation of wine especially in bulk cargoes posed a lot of challenges. Over a period of time, with several trials and errors, we have reached a stage wherein we are successfully able to deliver wine in huge quantities with minimal effort and cost. Let’s see how.

Evolution of Wine Transportation Methods

The means of delivering large quantities of wine to customers has changed over the years. In ancient times, due to capacity limitations, the wine was transported in small quantities. From clay containers, oak barrels, to glass bottles, each of the vessel used for sending out large cargoes of wine in, had their own pros and cons. Somewhere in the mid ’50s a container box was developed with the possibility of using the container as an outer packaging to the original cargo.

The development of the ISO Tank Container made possible the carriage of all types of liquids, such as food-grade, hazardous and non-hazardous liquids, including corrosives, flammable, toxics, as well as explosive. Tank Containers are proven to be safe, economical, and a viable mode of transportation as they reduce risks in the process of transferring liquids from one vessel to another.

Flexitanks showed up in the mid1970s when shippers from the United Kingdom experimented on moving liquids in heavy-duty rubberized bladders overseas. They gained more popularity among chemical shippers, for the transport of non-hazardous liquids. However, shippers were not satisfied with the fact that they had to fit the tanks into containers. As a result, Flexitank manufacturers began to offer ‘supply and fit’ service options for their customers.

One of the major reasons Flexitanks was preferred amongst shippers was because they were much lighter in weight compared to the alternative metal drums loaded into containers. In 2000, Flexitanks became a one-way, disposable market with convenient pricing for customers. The product further evolved and started being made from multiple layers of thin polyethylene.

Challenges of Bulk Transportation of Wine

Oxidization during transport is one of the challenges in the transport of wine. Exposure to excessive oxygen leads to flattening, the loss of flavor, color, and aroma. It needs to be shipped in an airtight container. Another factor that must be considered in this case is also the fluctuations in temperature, as changes in the temperature of the wine can create undesired chemical reactions. Other challenges of bulk wine shipping, is contamination and taint. Contamination is likely to occur when the residues from previous cargoes taint the wine being shipped. Besides this, there’s always the concern of container leaking. Container leakage can bring huge losses, to both the shipper and customer.

Advantages of Using Flexitank for Wine Transportation

There are various other options for bulk shipping besides Flexitanks, however, the Flexitank overcomes the classic challenges of transporting wine hands down. Flexitanks have the special benefits of being resistant to breakage due to sudden impact and are also sturdy enough not to tear or leak. Additionally, Flexitanks these days are made with polypropylene, a type of plastic that does not interact with the wine, avoiding chemical reactions.

Let’s have a look at some of the major advantages of using Flexitank for transporting wine:

Flexitank is much easier to fill up. Unlike drums, you don’t have to fill up multiple containers at once, and load them onto the truck. Not only is that procedure time consuming but it also is difficult to get done without a lot of manpower.

While a Flexitank, on the other hand, can hold so much more quantity in one go. On average, they can hold up to 24,000 liters, depending on the type you decide on. As you’re only filling up that one tank, it makes loading much easier. They require filling from the nozzle at the top once they’re already on the truck and can be easily done by only two people saving your labor cost.

Flexitanks Are FDA Approved. For transporting any kind of food-grade liquid, using the right containers for it is imperative—one that is approved for use in transporting edible liquids. Therefore, Flexitank for wine is the best option, as they’re approved by the FDA.

Flexitanks keep wine safe from cross-contamination. One of the issues with using a regular tank is that after transporting your goods, it needs to be sent back for a cleaning. However, sometimes some residues are left behind in the tank and that cross contaminates the liquid inside. That leads to losses and wastages. That’s the reason why many businesses are switching to Flexibags, as they are meant for one-time use. Once they have been filled, transported, and emptied, they cannot be reused. So, every time you would be getting a brand-new tank that has a 0% chance of cross-contamination.

Flexitanks saves you a lot of money.  Flexitanks cost very little to store. They can be folded flat before they’re used, so they don’t occupy too much storage space and you would be able to fit a lot more into the space you would normally use for drums. Since they are one-time use only, they don’t need to be sent back to be cleaned and sent out again saving you precious fuel, labor, and time. As they save you the risk of contamination, it won’t lead to losses leaving you with much more profit.

Finally, Flexitanks are great as they use up all the space in the container they’re put in. With drums and smaller tanks there will be gaps in between no matter how densely you stack them. With a Flexitank though, you can fill it all up in one space and that can get a lot more on one truck. As a result, you reduce the number of trucks you send out, saving a lot of money.

Flexitanks are environment-friendly. As they increase capacity on your trucks as described above, you will be sending out lesser trucks so you’re reducing your emissions. The tanks are recyclable too. Even though they are a single-use item, that does not need to end up in the landfill. They can be recycled, thereby not contributing to more waste.

Rishi FIBC Solutions (P) Ltd is Asia’s most modern and fully integrated FIBC and Flexitank manufacturing facility, delivering products with global standards of quality. Our Flexitanks are made from FDA approved virgin polyethylene and polypropylene which are suitable for a wide range of food-grade and non-hazardous liquid cargos, including wines.

Our Flexitank brings you all kinds of benefits when it comes to transporting wine. Right from avoiding cross-contamination, easier loading to getting a lot more wine into each container, we ensure that you get the best of all.  We offer Flexitanks with capacity ranging from 16 KL to 24 KL with an option to customize Flexitanks as per the requirement of customers. Please get in touch with our team to know more.