Buck® containment technology will be exhibiting at P-MEC India 2009 showing Hicoflex® systems for the safe transfer of active ingredients and chemicals between IBCs (Intermediate Bulk Containers).

Hicoflex®

The choice of some of the world’s largest generic manufacturers
Hicoflex®, is the world’s first flexible coupling that allows highly sensitive or toxic powders, that would traditionally have been fed from rigid IBCs, to be fed directly from FIBCs, sacks and Big Bags. This allows manufacturers to consider supplying these materials in
flexible transport containers to help keep costs under control.

Self-locking for better containment
The Hicoflex® SL is a self-locking version that operates using a split coupling principle, similar to the Buck® Valve technology. Two complementary half couplings are docked to each other, forming a combined coupling, which then opens and closes together for the contained decanting and undocking process. It is inexpensive, operates automatically and is designed for operation in areas requiring up to 1-10 mcg/m3 dust emission containment. The new Hicoflex® SL extra, on show at P-MEC India, can even be used in areas requiring up to 0.1-1 mcg/m3 dust emission containment. It can be fitted to a flexible bag and can be kept or disposed of after use with the bag itself.

Buck® Valve Technology

Only passive valves
The Buck® MC Valve uses only passive valves (with no drive units) so is entirely compatible with the valves fitted to most IBCs. Until now it has been necessary to use split valve technology to discharge product from an IBC safely. This works well when discharging to the process line however, if ingredients are to be transferred from one IBC to another, or from an IBC to a double cone dryer for example, it has always been necessary to use an active to active unit in between as an interface. This is no longer necessary with the Buck® MC Valve.

No vacuum needed
The Buck® MC Valve is a simple method of transferring bulk chemicals that eliminates the need for a vacuum between the discs. It has very few moving parts, needs no lubrication and the product-touching parts can be released quickly by hand with a simple tool. Reducing the number of moving parts and standardising the components has allowed Buck® to reduce the cost of the Buck® MC Valve compared with competitive products.

The new MC passive valve can be disassembled without the need of any tools making it very easy to take apart for cleaning.