Dear Powder Doctor,
With all the emphasis nowadays to reduce explosion risk in the workplace, we are reviewing all aspects of our processes and safety measures. One area of concern is our flexible sleeves held with hose clamps. Many of our sleeve connections fit poorly or have been installed incorrectly, and they are leaking powder. Also, if there was to be an explosion in a process line using these sleeves, the sleeves or the clamps would possibly fail, allowing the blast into the plant atmosphere. Sure we have suppression and venting systems, but what good are they if a flexible sleeve held with hose clamps is a weak link?

I’m under pressure to improve our safety!

Sincerely,

Mr. F. Ike

Dear Mr. Ike,

Explosion mitigation has always been important. Recent emphasis on NFPA and OSHA has manufacturers scrambling to understand what is the right thing to do. It’s not an easy answer.

You are correct in identifying sleeves held by hose clamps as a weak link for at least two reasons:

1. If a sleeve fails before your protection systems activate, the protection systems might be less effective.
2. Long term dust leakage into your plant can be the fuel for a secondary explosion.

Consider the BFM® snap-in flexible sleeve to replace your old fashioned sleeves for several reasons:

1. The snap-in design guarantees a perfect, dust tight seal, no matter who installs the sleeve. No tools required.
2. Sealing on the inside, the snap bands seal even tighter from sudden internal pressure rise.
3. In controlled explosion trials, an independent lab proved the BFM® sleeve seals at higher pressures (up to 100 KPa), when hose clamps failed (less than 50 KPa). A copy of the test results is available on request.

See the BFM® snap-in flexible sleeve in action by watching a brief video of the explosion testing.

The BFM® sleeve is a key link in creating a safer plant environment!

JUST BFM® IT!

The Powder Doctor

PS Watch my latest video to see how you can mitigate risk of explosion in your bulk powder processing plant with the BFM® sleeve.

Under pressure to reduce explosion risk! was posted at Powder Solutions News & Events. | http://www.powder-solutions.com/newsroom

Dear Powder Doctor,
I’m glad we met at last week’s Northwest Food & Manufacturing Show, because upon my return to work, I encountered quite the powder problem and need a quick prescription!

Our manufacturing process involves the addition of major and minor ingredients into our bulk powder recipes.

We have sophisticated control systems, including precise gain-in-weight and loss-in-weight scale equipment. Even so, we still have variation in our finished powder product.

I discovered that each operator attaches the flexible sleeves and hose clamps to the scaling equipment differently, either taut or loose. This variable puts a strain on the scale, and affects my finished powder product.

How can I improve the accuracy and repeatability of my scales and improve the quality of my finished bulk powder product?

Help!
Kay Traun
Powder Doctor

Ms. Traun
It’s great to hear from you again so soon, even if it is regarding a powder problem!

Sophisticated scale systems, connected by antiquated flexible sleeves with hose clamps…. that’s a recipe for disaster!

Even the most diligent operators will have a hard time putting those sleeves on precisely. You need a flexible sleeve that can only be installed one way.

The BFM® fitting from Powder Solutions, Inc. is my prescription. The BFM® fitting is comprised of just two basic elements: the flexible sleeve with integral top and bottom stainless steel snap bands, and two matched formed spigots (welded in place).

The tool-free BFM® sleeve snaps into place using only your operators’ hands. Installation and removal is so simple, all your operators will be able to do it accurately and consistently. No more individual variation!

Also, the BFM® fitting is dust tight, keeping your expensive scale equipment clean and reliable for years.

Order the BFM® fitting – the cure for your weighty powder problem!

Thanks for making the connection!

PS Register for “Ask The Powder Doctor” and receive the Powder Doctor’s monthly bulk powder processing advice.

BFM® Fitting Solves “Weighty” Powder Problem! was posted at Powder Solutions News & Events. | http://www.powder-solutions.com/newsroom

Dear Powder Doctor:
As the plant sanitation engineer in a bulk powder manufacturing plant, I’m responsible for keeping our process lines running clean and efficiently.

Lately, our flexible sleeves, which are attached by hose clamps, have been spewing powder into the atmosphere, onto the floor and equipment, and on my workers.

With all that escaped powder, it’s simply impossible to keep our plant and lines sanitary.

Plus – I’m starting to worry that the powder is becoming trapped in the crevices of those flex connectors and fostering all manner of bacterial growth that could contaminate our product.

Help!  Is there anything better than hose clamps to hold on flexible sleeves?

Signed,
Joe Kleen
Sanitation Engineer

Dear Mr. Kleen,

I know exactly how you feel.  I’ve been in many plants just like yours, where engineers struggle daily with the old style flex connectors and all their hassles.

And all over, in plants ranging from food and dairy processors to chemical and pharmaceutical manufacturers, engineers are discovering that the BFM® fitting is their connective solution!

The BFM® fitting system represents a new paradigm in flexible connectors.  Instead of slipping over the outside of process piping or connections, the BFM® sleeve snaps securely and perfectly into the inside of the matched spigots.

Because its very design is airtight and crevice free, the BFM® fitting ensures no powder leaks into your plants’ atmosphere.  Equipment stays cleaner, and process lines remain sanitary.

You can order the BFM® fitting sized to your plant’s exact specifications from Powder-Solutions and they’ll even send you a free video to watch in the meantime!

Thanks for making the connection!
The Powder Doctor

PS Register for “Ask The Powder Doctor” and receive the Powder Doctor’s monthly bulk powder processing advice.

A Connective Solution for Compromised Sanitation was posted at Powder Solutions News & Events. | http://www.powder-solutions.com/newsroom

Dear Powder Doctor,
My plant handles several food products that are known allergens, and we often switch product on the same lines to meet customer demand.  As many in the bulk powder industry know, food allergies account for an estimated 30,000 ER visits each year, and approximately 150 to 200 deaths!

Currently, there is no known cure for a food allergy.  Avoidance is the only way to prevent a reaction so, needless to say, it’s an important consumer issue, with increasing and necessary regulation.

To minimize our cross-contamination risk, we spend enormous amounts of downtime taking equipment apart for cleaning and sanitizing.  We need equipment that can be quickly disassembled, cleaned and replaced by our operators, without the use of tools.

As it is, I see my operators struggling with screwdrivers and hose clamps on the flexible sleeves connecting our process equipment.  If a hose clamp galls and seizes, they call maintenance to cut it off, and that’s even more downtime.

How can I improve my plant’s efficiency by shortening my cleaning downtime?

Sincerely,
Al Ergic

Dear Al,
The Powder Doctor is not immune to your concerns! But connecting your process with old style hose clamps? Nausea, tightening chest, and difficulty breathing…I feel a reaction to hose clamps coming!!!

There are eight foods that account for 90% of allergic reactions: peanuts, tree nuts (walnuts, pecans, etc.), fish, shellfish, eggs, milk, soy and wheat – and most of these foods are handled in bulk powder processing. Approximately 7 million Americans are estimated to suffer from a food allergy. As you point out, the consequences can be fatal.

So how can you minimize the risk from allergens, without all that downtime?  Thorough cleaning and sanitizing your process lines certainly reduces your potential for cross contamination, and the BFM® fitting from Powder-Solutions, Inc. makes it a snap!

The BFM® fitting is comprised of two basic elements: the flexible sleeve with integral top and bottom stainless steel snap bands, and two matched formed spigots (welded in place).

The tool-free BFM® sleeve snaps into place using only your hands.  Installation and removal is so simple, all your operators will be able to do it accurately and quickly.  Cleaning and sanitizing are no longer a time consuming hassle.  Also, the BFM® fitting is dust tight, keeping your process equipment clean on the outside, which will also lessen your cleaning downtime.

Order the BFM® fitting - the ingredient for food allergen avoidance and efficient process connections!

Thanks for making the connection!
The Powder Doctor

PS Register for “Ask The Powder Doctor” and receive the Powder Doctor’s monthly bulk powder processing advice.

Food Allergens Can Be a Killer… So Can Equipment Downtime was posted at Powder Solutions News & Events. | http://www.powder-solutions.com/newsroom