The BFM® fitting has revolutionised flexible connectors. It has made factories handling powders and granular materials significantly cleaner, safer, and more efficient by eliminating dust and leakage from the flexible points of the production line. This unique innovation continues to be developed further to solve common industry problems. Two new developments have recently been launched, The Quick Access Port and The Corner Connector:
The Quick Access Port is a new add-on option that can be inserted in the BFM® Seeflex 040E or 060ES range of flexible connectors. It gives easy access to product flow to perform metal detector drop-testing, take product samples or even add small-volume ingredients.
Provides fast, easy access to product flow without product spillage.
The Quick Access Port consists of a 56mm polyurethane thread port hole with a stainless-steel screw-in plug. The port can be inserted in the side wall of BFM® fitting connectors made from the popular Seeflex 040E and 060ES materials.
The plug can be unscrewed and re-screwed easily without interrupting product flow and without spilling product. This means customers don’t need to remove a flexible connector to do testing or access difficult pipe hatches or doors where there is potential for product loss.
Metal Detector Testing and product sampling made easy
The concept for the Quick Access Port came about from a discussion about the difficulty some customers had accessing product flow for metal detector testing.
“They were having to remove the connector each time they tested – which in some cases was hourly – and this was a significant interruption to production,” said Matthew Bailey, BFM® Global’s Technical Lead.
By adding a port in the wall of the BFM® fitting connector, it serves as both the chute for product to pass through the detector and as the testing access portal, without product loss or any significant downtime.
It’s taken quite a bit of development to get this innovative new product modification to market and the team are excited about the application possibilities.
“It’s great we’ve managed to solve the initial challenge for use in metal detector testing,” Matthew said. “The new port option also means that BFM® fitting flexible connectors can act as easy access hatches for in-stream product sampling and for adding small volume ingredients during processing which is a bonus!”
The Quick Access Port is now available as an optional extra to add to any Seeflex 040E and Seeflex 060ES flexible connector of 150mm / 6” (diameter and length). Both materials comply with FDA, USDA & EU food safety regulations.
The Corner Connector offers a simple, cost-effective alternative to steel tun dish-type drainage set-ups used in many Clean-In-Place (CIP) wash processes.
The new Seeflex 040E Corner Connector is a flexible connector made from BFM®’s strong Seeflex 040E material, a clear, ether-based thermoplastic polyurethane alloy. The uniquely shaped snap-fit connector features a tapered infeed end, 110º angled ‘corner’ bend and straight drain output end.
It is designed to redirect the CIP wash fluid out of the process equipment at the end of the CIP cycle, helping to ensure the rest of the plant stays dry and product is free from chemicals used in the cleaning process.
Reduces volume of expensive steel pipework
BFM®’s CEO, Blair McPheat, says the product was designed in response to requests from systems integrators who were designing new process lines and wanted a more cost-effective way to drain Clean-In-Place (CIP) wash water.
“They were already using our connectors for a number of processes and were aware that they sealed perfectly during the CIP wash process,” said McPheat. “We knew there must be a way we could extend the usability of the BFM® connector snap-fit concept to also replace much of the expensive stainless steel involved in typical tun dish-type drainage arrangements.”
The conduit between your equipment and drain
That’s when the idea came about for a ‘corner’ shaped connector that incorporated a tapered inlet end, bending around to a narrower, straight drainage end.
BFM® fitting spigots of corresponding diameters are welded to the process pipe that serves as the wash water egress point, and to the pipe where the water will be drained into. The Corner Connector is simply then snap-fitted into those spigots to become the conduit between the equipment and the drainpipe.
The Seeflex 040E Corner Connectors are all custom-made to the specific installation requirements, with the inlet and outlet diameters, and connector lengths being variable (within certain manufacturing limits).
Simplifies CIP changeover processes
Operators find the simple snap-fit of the BFM® fitting system makes product changeovers a breeze compared to clamped systems. The same applies to Clean in Place processes where connectors need to be removed and refitted. That can be a time-consuming task if you have traditional clamped connectors.
“That’s another reason we’re confident having a snap-in BFM® connector that can replace these expensive tun dish swivel installations will appeal to many companies – as well as the big savings on the stainless-steel pipework of course!” said McPheat.
Corner Connector can replace corrugated transitions
A further potential application for the uniquely shaped flexible Corner Connector is under vibratory machines like sifters and sieves to connect directly to another process on a lower level.
“The angle of the corner lets you have visible product flow between two pieces of machinery at differing output/input levels. It’s a much more hygienic option than corrugated/bellows type connectors between machines – there are no crevices for product to build-up” said McPheat.
The Seeflex 040E material the Corner Connector is made from complies with FDA, USDA & EU regulations.
As the UK distributor for BFM® fitting, we're excited to announce the release of their latest product – the BFM® Bulk Bag Loader.
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