Batch Powder Handling in Food

MATCON is the world leading supplier of batch orientated powder handling systems based on the Intermediate Bulk Container concept. This paper analyses the history of this concept and some of it's possible areas of use within the food industry; also being relevant to many other process industries. We will also describe the Principal of Operation of the Matcon IBC system and highlight different flow patterns when discharging from IBC's and pro's and con's thereof. We also describe a number of application examples and their benefits.

History of Batch Powder Processing
In the 60's process industries such as food and pharmaceutical, began using IBC's which were simple, often home produced boxes to transfer bulk materials between different processes. This approach allowed flexibility of production, but had severe limitations because the filling and discharging systems available were dusty, could not discharge some materials and could not control the flow of product to the process below: