Guidelines to Follow When Filling and Emptying Flexibags and Flexitanks

A flexibag is a polyethylene-made bladder that can accommodate up to 24,000 liters on a 20ft. dry container. Flexitanks are limited to non-hazardous liquid products and are meant for single use. Previously, flexitank damage led to cargo loss, which arose mostly due to inappropriate handling. Over the years, such incidences have decreased considerably owing to the enhancements in the bag’s manufacture and enhanced unloading and loading practices. If you’re thinking of carrying out bulk liquid transportation with flexibags, you need to use suitable equipment and adopt appropriate operating procedures. Here’s a look at the guidelines to follow when filling and emptying flexibags.

How to Fill a Flexitank

Using flexibags for transporting bulk liquids helps protect against contamination and oxidation. This implies that you can be certain that your bulk products will arrive at the intended destination in a pristine condition.

Nonetheless, you must ensure meticulous handling for the best outcomes. Crucial steps exist when it comes to filling a flexibag for bulk liquid transport. Here’s a list of practices for loading and emptying flexibags.

Filling Bulk Liquid Transportation Flexibags

Here’s a list of steps to follow when filling your flexibag for bulk liquid transportation.

Use designated hoses

Before filling your bulk liquid, ensure you’ve cleaned the hoses appropriately. Also, the hoses should be designed specifically for loading the bulk products you’re transporting. We recommend you shut the container’s left door before you begin filling and make sure you’ve positioned the valves properly.

Position the Filling Hose

During hose setup, make sure it’s fitted appropriately because this places less stress on the valve. When mounting the hose support, make sure it’s on a similar level as the valve. This way, you’ll avoid valve strain as well as coupling. Bear in mind that gases can influence the quality of certain liquids, so we tend to make sure our filler doesn’t permit gases into the flexibag after and before filling.

Begin Filling

When filling the flexibag, we recommend you start with a filling rate of 200 liters per minute. Afterward, you can increase the rate to 700 liters per minute. Bear in mind that you shouldn’t surpass 1000 liters per minute. When filling, we typically adhere to the capacity proposed by the manufacturer. Furthermore, we take care not to overfill or underfill a flexibag for bulk liquid transportation.

Bulk Liquid Transportation Container Preparation

Visual external examination

The container must be less than five years with a valid plate. We recommend you check the appropriateness of the blend of the container and flexibag per the manufacturer’s instructions. Our staff typically conducts a visual examination of the container to make sure the container remains structurally undamaged.

A visual examination ensures that the container’s exterior is free from “hazardous goods” markings and the markings shouldn’t be associated with previous cargoes. Make sure the container has functional locking bars on every door and the doors should be secured and operated as intended.

Bulk Liquid Transportation Flexibag Installation and Preparation

These precautions are necessary during the installation and preparation of the flexitank:

• The container’s inner wall should have protection layers extending to the entire height of the loaded flexibag. This way, you’ll protect the flexibag against rubbing against bare material. In most cases, we use corrugated cardboard.
• During flexibag installation, don’t wear shoes in the container to prevent damage to the protection material while guaranteeing a clean surface. During the transportation process, we don’t allow our clients to step on the flexitank to prevent surface damage.
• You must observe a visual examination for apparent damage.
• Bulkhead installation should be performed

Loading & Filling Bulk Liquid Transportation Flexibags

• After installing, the filing procedure can begin. We take care to avoid unintended movement by securing the vehicle using wheel chocks.
• Check whether the valve and bulkhead used in the flexibag contact the internal container doors
• The hose must be secured and connected to decrease the valve stress
• All valves should be positioned correctly before beginning the loading process
• You should use spill protection devices such as a drip tray or collecting bag

Labeling Bulk Liquid Transportation Flexibags

We recommend that you label the container with a mark that warns that your container comprises a flexitank with liquid cargo. It’s worth noting that markings should be on the flexibag and should be visible when you open the freight container’s door. Remember, the warning mark on the flexitank shouldn’t obscure other markings on the container.

Emptying or Unloading a Bulk Liquid Transportation Flexibag

You should consider these recommendations during the unloading

• The right-hand door needs careful opening.
• You should adopt measures for spill protection
• You should remove all markings from the container after removing the flexitank from the safe and clean container

Operator Training and Qualification

If you’re in the service of providing bulk liquid transport, the service providers should have a comprehensive installation, training, and operating instruction manual.  They must offer training to all parties in the transport chain, including discharge and loading operators, and shippers, to ensure all personnel has undergone training with general awareness and their particular roles. Training prerequisites must be designed for personnel engaged in the operation and installation of flexibags. The training scheme must also offer the appropriate competence level to ensure a reliable and safe flexibag system. The service providers should equally maintain the training records.

Flexibags offer s convenient means of providing bulk liquid transport, and safety standards exist to ensure proper loading, transportation, and product loading. If you’re seeking reliable transportation methods, you can count on us to deliver your products promptly.