Archive for category: Flexitanks

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 Flexi bag 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.

Flexi tank 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 Flexi tank. Lastly, a checklist for all containers and Flexi tank checks should be used.

Filling/loading

The filling process can start after the flexi bag 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 Flexi tank 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 flexi bag during or after filling flexi bag is a must. The tightness of the connections of the pump and hoses should be checked after starting the pump. The Flexi bag 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.

Flexitanks are extremely flexible storage containers for storing and transportation of bulk liquids. These containers are of varying capacities ranging from 50 litres to 26 tonnes depending on the specific gravity of the liquids. The flexitanks have their own advantages over the other different types of containers for bulk liquid storage. Flexitanks offer the best ratio for capacity to weight as compared to any other type of containers.

In addition to this, after emptying, the flexitanks shrink down to occupy a minimal space, thereby making these ideal in case where there is a space crunch. Most importantly, the flexitanks are the most cost effective option for bulk liquid storage and transportation. Additionally, the flexitanks are both safe for the environment and the liquid stored in them. The flexitanks find a wide range of applications and the top five applications are as listed below.

Storage of Fuels

Flexitanks are great for storing of fuels like diesel, oil, liquid fuel, and similar others. For the storage of fuels, flexitanks are coated with a protected lining and berm which offers additional containment safety to the surroundings, thereby extremely suitable for storing fuels without any kind of hesitation.

Storage of Food Grade Liquids

Flexitanks are ideally suited for extremely safe as well as efficient storage of all food grade liquids such as milk, wine, oils, juices, syrups, and many more. At the time of using the flexitanks for storing or transporting of food grade liquids, the flexitanks require some specialised coating for the avoidance of microbial contamination, along with maintaining the cleanliness of the tanks itself. In addition to the coating materials are made up of approved food grade materials to keep the quality of the inner contents intact.

Industrial Chemical Storage

Another of the major application of flexitanks is to store different industrial chemicals that are non hazardous in nature. The flexitanks are ideal to store and transport fertilizers, lubricants, detergents, paints, and liquid latex are to name a few.

Storing Portable Water

Flexitanks are readily used to store portable water, particularly in cases of all disaster relief as well as emergency operations as per the requirements. The flexitanks occupy a minimal amount of space and can be transported to different places with utmost ease. Portable water storage is extremely significant in case emergency airports, field hospitals, and natural disasters where the flexitanks have an important role to play.

Temporary Storage of Liquid or for Single Use Storage

There are a number of applications where storage of liquid is temporarily required. In these situations, buying a steel of a composite rigid tank is not a feasible solution. In this regard, the flexitanks are appropriate for temporary storage or only for a single use storage. The flexitanks are ideal in case of sudden droughts, industrial uses where the requirements are not fixed and can fluctuate. The flexitanks are ideal in these cases readily reduces the overall costs of storage and transportation, hence ideal.

Why Choose Rishi FIBC?

Rishi FIBC is a leading flexitank manufacturer with several years of experience in this field. Each of the users can be sure of getting the best quality flexitanks strictly maintaining all the standards, thereby giving none of the users even a single chance to complain. Thus, at any point of time, you need to use flexitanks in your business, do not look any further and come to Rishi FIBC for getting the best solutions.

The flexitanks are undoubtedly one of the most efficient solutions for the transportation of liquids in bulk quantities. Now, the question that arises at this point of time as to when should the flexitanks be used for bulk liquid transportation. So, here it is important to keep in mind that the flexitanks are the perfect solution for the transportation of non hazardous liquids in bulk quantities. Thus, it is to be remembered at the time of transportation that only non hazardous liquids are considered.

How Flexitanks are the Best?

For the transportation of non hazardous liquids in bulk quantities, a 20  inch flexitank can be very easily converted into a tank container which plays a crucial role in the facilitation of substantial saving of costs as compared to any ISO containers or other box containers with the barrels or the IBCs. In an addition to the flexitanks prove to be a highly efficient option for the transportation of bulk liquids.

Ideal Situations for Using Flexitanks

The flexitanks are designed in such a manner that they can hold about 12000 to 27000 litres of liquid depending upon the specific density of the liquid to be transported. Thus, it becomes quite important to consider the specific density of the liquid before transporting them in the flexitanks. For a better understanding of the appropriate use of the flexitanks, here we have listed some of the most appropriate situations of use.

• If the transportation of liquids requires a higher loading capacity of the container, then the flexitanks are just ideally suited for the intended purpose of use. This is because of the fact that flexitanks offer about 30 percent more loading capacity as compared to the traditional bulk liquid containers.
• At the time when there is a need of transporting liquids at lesser costs, then the flexitanks are the perfect choice. The transportation of liquids in the flexitanks significantly reduces the cost of transportation and hence highly cost effective in nature.
• When there is a need of quick loading and unloading of bulk liquids, the flexitanks are again the most appropriate solution. This is owing to the fact that the flexitanks allow very quick loading as well as unloading which not only saves a lot of time but also cuts down on the cost as well.
• The transportation of product temperatures lying between 0 to 70 degree Celsius, the flexitanks prove to be the best choice for the transportation of different food grade and chemical fluids.
• The flexitanks can be used for the transportation food grade liquids such as cooking oil, wine, juices, fatty acids or animal fats, beer, molasses, palm oil, water and a number of other similar items.
• The flexitanks can also be ideally used for the transportation non hazardous liquids in bulk quantities such as harmless chemicals, glycerine, latex, automotive oils, lubricants, detergents, additives and a number of other similar items.

Thus, it can be very clearly understood as to when should the flexitanks be used for the transportation of liquids in bulk quantities.

Why Choose Rishi FIBC for Flexitanks?

If you are planning to use flexitanks for the transportation of non hazardous or food grade liquids in bulk quantities, then it is of immense importance to choose a highly reliable flexitank manufacturer. Now, if you are in search of one of the best flexitank manufacturers, no other option would be as good as Rishi FIBC in this regard. With a highly experienced and expertise team, Rishi FIBC takes pride in being one of the leading manufacturers of flexitanks so as to live up to the expectation of each of the users.

Flexitanks are highly flexible, as the name itself suggests, storage containers having large storage space and top-class safety requirements. This heavy storage unit is mainly used by armies or industries to transport potable water and diesel fuel from one place to another in minimum time. As the flexitanks are highly adjustable, they are easy to store and transport to difficult terrains as well. Flexitanks are very useful in liquid logistics as well as they comprise of many layers of polyethylene combined with an outer layer of woven polypropylene. With such superior storage features, it is no wonder flexitanks are used multiple times in transporting water and different types of fuels, liquids and fluids from one spot to another.

World over, the safe storage and transportation of liquids has always remained a challenge for governments and companies, alike. During conflicts and emergencies, potable water and fuel needs to be sent in a protected manner to various dangerous locations. It is for this very purpose, they turn to Flexitanks for the secure and assured transport of important liquids. Companies, mainly in the food industries, always need to move different types of juices, oils, syrups, wines and other liquid items from one place to another. In these cases, they always opt for storage units, which have super-speciality packing and are devoid of any bacteria/microbes. In all such cases, the only kind of storage unit that fits the bill is the Flexitank.

There are many reasons why Flexitanks are the first and final choice for liquid logistics. The main reason is that the wide variety of liquid products, which can be transported via the Flexitanks. Apart from the above-mentioned products, these storage units can keep safe and transport non-hazardous liquids from pharmaceutical, chemical & industrials, among others.

Another benefit of opting for Flexitank storage units is that it helps to remove all empty positioning costs. When compared to other storage units, the Flexitank stocks are easily available at all the major ports the world over.

Read more: Flexitanks – Best Bulk Logistic Solution

Last, but not the least, another major reason why people choose Flexitanks for liquid logistics is because the tanks are made for a single use and can be easily disposed of. Once the liquid component has been discharged, the Flexitank can be easily disposed, without incurring any additional costs. The safe clearance of the Flexitanks is also highly appreciable as it does not cause harm to the environment and makes for disposal in the best way possible.