Solids handling equipment specialist Ajax Equipment has developed an innovative Sack Tip Station for the opening, discharging and disposal of sacks containing process ingredients

Solids handling equipment specialist Ajax Equipment has developed an innovative Sack Tip Station for the opening, discharging and disposal of sacks containing process ingredients. It provides manufacturers with an easy-to-use method of safely cutting and emptying sacks without the need for operators to handle sharp knives. The Sack Tip Station is ergonomically designed for single man operation and can typically handle 25kg bags.

Opening the hinged cover reveals a horizontal, centrally hinged internal platen featuring a number of bag holding spikes.

The operator places the bag onto these spikes; the weight of the contents holds the bag in position.

As the operator pulls down the hinged station lid to cover the sack, a locking mechanism is engaged to release the sack cutting device.

The operator can safely cut the bag centrally in a single operation before returning the knife mechanism to its safe position.

The operator now lifts the hinged internal platen to expand open the slit in the bag and in so doing also disturb and agitate the bag to allow complete discharge of its contents.

Once the bag is satisfactorily discharged, and with the knife safely docked the locking mechanism can be disengaged allowing the hinged cover to be lifted open.

The empty sack is then removed from the spikes for safe disposal.

Some models feature a chute at the back of the sack tip station to allow bags to be dropped into an Ajax bag compactor.

For handling fine, dusty and hazardous materials the Ajax Sack Tip Station can be fitted with a dust extraction or glove box cabinet with laminar flow extraction.

'The sack station is designed to improve the health and safety of operators during sack emptying operations by reducing the exposure of operators to harmful materials.

It also provides manufacturers with a way of handling sacks that is both efficient and user friendly in order to increase productivity,' says Mark Waters, director, Ajax Equipment.