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Schütz at Pack & Move in Basle: EVOH Barrier Paves the Way for the Use of IBCs
Hardly any remaining industry frontiers / Advantages not only in relation to stainless steel alternatives
Selters / Basle. Schütz GmbH & Co. KGaA from Selters, Germany, presents a selection of its Industrial Packaging division’s products in line with the main industry focuses at the trade fair Pack & Move taking place in Basle from 18 to 21 November 2008. The company will chiefly be displaying innovative industrial packaging for the transport and storage of foodstuffs, high-purity pharmaceutical and cosmetic substances and sensitive chemicals at the trade fair for integrated logistical solutions and packaging technology.
The Schütz invention Security-Layer Technology has considerably extended the range of applications for industrial transport packaging. The multilayer extrusion blow-moulding technology, which allows up to six different functional materials to be plasticized at one and the same time, has for the first time made it possible, amongst other things, to integrate an EVOH permeation and oxygen barrier into the wall of the IBC’s inner bottle.
In Every Way a Match for Stainless Steel Containers
EVOH is a copolymer made from ethylene and vinyl alcohol and ideal for use in a broad range of applications. Embedded in the wall of our packaging, it provides reliable permeation protection – for example, as a barrier against ambient gases, eg, oxygen and nitrogen (injection), against flavourings and aromatic substances, solvents (toluene, xylene, MEK, petrol) and against oil and grease.
EVOH IBCs from Schütz can be used in areas that were previously reserved chiefly for other systems – in particular those made of stainless steel.
Their key advantage: they cost significantly less to buy. Also cost and ecologically relevant is the fact that, because the inner bottle of our packaging is replaced after every cycle, the cleaning usual for stainless steel containers does not arise. This results in residual contamination being significantly minimized, thus guaranteeing extra protection and a longer shelf life for the filling goods. Our EVOH IBCs also offer further advantages over conventional stainless steel alternatives in that they require less raw material for their production, which results in them weighing significantly less and in correspondingly lower transport costs.
Multitalent for a Broad Range of Applications
The multitalented six-layer MX-EX-EV-FDA IBC will be showcased in Basle. This IBC not only has an EVOH barrier, but also boasts other special features. It is obtainable equipped with an antistatic, translucent inner bottle, for instance, and also with optional UV protection (white layer). It can also be supplied to customer specification with a conductive black inner bottle that provides protection both from UV radiation as well as visible light. The inlet and outlet valves are properly earthed according to the individual type of valve. The containers are therefore suitable for the transport of filling goods with a flash point lower than 60° Celsius. In addition to these excellent properties, the IBC satisfies the requirements of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the transport of foodstuffs.
For potential customers whose particular industrial or product usages allow them to do without certain properties (UV or light protection, FDA certification, explosion protection or permeation barrier), Schütz naturally also has individual solutions to offer.
The demands made on packaging can vary greatly depending on the area of application. The special technical properties of Schütz EVOH IBCs offer an array of advantages over not only stainless steel products, but also conventional plastic packaging. These apply to the pharmaceutical and chemical as to the food and beverage industries, which are the particular focus of the trade fair in Basle.
Innovative Solutions in the Drum Segment
Schütz will also be presenting innovative packaging solutions in the PE and steel drum segment at Pack & Move in Basle. The 220-litre F1 tight-head drum, for example, is an excellent all-round performer and owes its efficiency to the new multimodal polyethylene Histif 5431Z produced using the innovative, Basell-developed Advanced Cascade Process technology. The new material makes for increased cold-temperature impact strength, improved resistance to chemicals and stress cracking, and significantly enhanced stacking-pressure resistance. A high upper ring guarantees optimised protection of the bungs during transport and handling of the drum, which can be completely drained (<100ml) via either filling opening in compliance with VPA 4.
The 120-litre SDS1 wide-neck drum, on the other hand, is a classic. It has proved its worth millions of times over in a wide variety of applications, with solid, liquid or viscous media – as well as with hazardous goods. One of the drum’s most important characteristics is the 100% airtight seal between lid and body provided by a foamed-in, highly resilient PU gasket. Other advantages include the easy handling of the closure and the concealed clamp rings that prevent riding-up during transport. It also permits the use of conventional drum grabs and is available with a sealed lid or with bung closures.
The Schütz 216.5-litre steel tight-head drum produced from cold-rolled thin sheets is ideal for the transport of liquid hazardous goods of UN packaging categories I, II and III. The outer shell is welded, all welded seams and borders are smoothed, and bottom and lid each have triple safety seams. The two rolling or negative hoops can be supplied with additional reinforcement hoops if required. Two safety screw fittings on opposite sides of the top (G2 and G3/4) are mandatory. The drum is optionally available with an additional filling opening (NW230) and the inner surface of the drum can be lacquer-lined to meet the specific resistance requirements of individual filling goods. The outer enamelling is available in a choice of solid and multiple colours and may also feature screen-painted labelling.
The 210-litre steel open-head drum also on show in Basle has the same design features and is suitable for the same applications. Unlike the tight-head drum, however, it is ideal for the transport and storage of solid goods of UN packaging categories I, II and III and has a completely detachable lid (on request, with safety screw fittings G2 and G3/4 on opposite sides). The gasket ring is made of cellular rubber and the clamp ring of galvanised steel with a lever closure. An extra filling opening – here NW 180 – is also possible.
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