How Much Does a Bulk Bag Discharger Cost?

Are you wondering, “how much does a bulk bag discharger cost?” Do you want to find the most economical discharging solution with the highest chance of success? There are several variations of dischargers out there designed for different applications. They can be further customized for a processor’s unique site constraints. Here at Spiroflow, we’ve been helping processors with their bulk material handling needs for more than 45 years. We know these machines well. Spiroflow offers the most comprehensive range of standard and custom discharging equipment in the industry. Whether you call them bulk bag dischargers or bulk bag unloaders, you should expect a dust-free and hygienic method of emptying product from most models. This article details what a supplier will need to know from you in order to provide the best bulk bag discharger design possible, for the right price. TYPES OF BULK BAG DISCHARGERS There are plenty of types of bulk bag dischargers available. Tell the manufacturer about your layout and application needs, there’s likely a discharger for you. Want to unload by volume or by weight? Need a single trip bulk bag discharger? Does your plant have headroom constraints? If your operators don’t have access to a forklift are you interested in an integral hoist? Are you unloading more than just bulk bags, maybe rigid bins or boxes? Is your product volatile, toxic, or explosive? Do you have a pharmaceutical or dairy application? Are you looking for a basic design? WHAT ARE YOUR REQUIREMENTS? When you’re speaking with an engineer or sales person about your discharging needs, you’ll likely be asked a wide range of questions. This will help the manufacturer narrow down the options necessary to provide you with the best solution for your process. Do you need the equipment to accept varying bag sizes? Does your product flow poorly? Do you require a bag tensioning device to make sure your product is emptied? Do you need an integral take-off conveyor? Do you need static grounding and monitoring? Is the environment covered by NEC regulations? Again, these are just some of the questions you should expect to be asked. It’s crucial for a supplier to know as many details about your product and your layout as possible. DISCHARGER DUST CONTAINMENT OPTIONS We know how important containing dust is to operators. All of Spiroflow dischargers come with a dust containment cabinet. There are many design variations to the cabinet and it can be customized to fit your needs. Don’t mistakenly infer that ‘custom’ means ‘expensive.’ At Spiroflow, we engineer every solution to your needs so getting what you need doesn’t necessary equate to ‘spending more.’ Here are some of the options that may be recommended for your specific application: SPOUT CLOSURE BARS Spout closure bars prevent dust by allowing the bag to be untied without product release. The aperture can be set to control the flow rate from the bag. The bars can close off the spout to allow the bag to be retied and removed from the discharging frame. HYGIENIC BAG SPOUT CLAMP Hygienic bag spout clamps prevent material spills by offering complete dust containment while discharging. GLOVE BOX Glove boxes are ideal for preventing operator exposure to a product when dealing with hazardous materials. OTHER BULK BAG DISCHARGER OPTIONS AVAILABLE There are several additional options to choose from when a standard design isn’t enough. These may be needed to fulfill your rate requirements or are needed because of your product’s characteristics. BAG MASSAGERS Bag massagers are a flow aid that helps promote materials to flow from bulk bags. They’re located either at the base of the support dish, at the corners, or on the side frame. Bag massagers are actuated by pneumatic cylinders and their position and frequency are fully adjustable. They’re effective if the material has been compacted from storage or when vibration causes further compaction and hinders unloading. METERING FEEDERS A flexible screw conveyor is able to provide the type of metering your process needs, gravimetric and volumetric. A metering device can mate to the discharger to achieve a gravimetric or volumetric process. MOBILE FRAME A mobile frame provides a versatile arrangement for processors who need to discharge bulk bags at several locations. This is available for most bulk bag discharger types. LIFTING FRAME LINER CLAMP Bulk bags are often supplied with a long inner liner which must be clamped at the top to prevent fouling the take-off conveyor. This is used for materials that can leak through a bag or other type of container. BAG FOLDING TABLE A bulk bag folding table provides a practical solution to bag disposal problems and allows residual product extraction from the bulk bag.­­ STATIC PROTECTION Designed for use in hazardous atmospheres with a static dissipative bag, the ground monitoring device automatically checks that the bag is correctly grounded before discharging can begin. BAG OR SACK DUMP DOOR A large bag or sack dump door is useful because if your supply of bulk bags is interrupted, smaller bags or raw materials can be emptied into the unloader. This can also be used to dispense minor ingredients into a system. BULK BAG DISCHARGER COST Here’s what you can expect to pay now that you have an idea of what goes into bulk bag discharger pricing. The most basic type of bulk bag discharger is about $9,000 (£3,000). The most complex design with all of the features and options is about $125,000 (£100,000).

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