Colorplas filling equipment delivers bulk savings

Rochdale, UK – Colorplas has installed equipment from Filling Solutions Ltd at its Rochdale operation, which manufactures pigment dispersions and gelcoat products for the construction, automotive and marine industries. The system is designed to provide almost continuous filling of base resin from road tankers into IBC’s, means Colorplas can now get bulk purchase prices without having had to install a large bulk storage tank. 

The investment has enabled Colorplas to fill IBC’s safely and quickly with the major benefit of reduction in cost of the bulk material. This approach contrasts with that of many companies that purchase chemicals in one-tonne IBC’s to avoid the cost of installing large and expensive bulk storage tanks, which often need fire-proofing, lagging, trace heating as well as large bund walls - depending upon the nature of the chemical. Consequently suppliers charge a premium for the chemical. 

“We looked into the feasibility of installing a 30 tonne bulk storage tank but the cost was excessive,” said Colorplas production director Mr Nick Parkinson. “After talking with Nottingham-based Filling Solutions we realised we could install their low cost special filling equipment, allowing us to fill almost continuously from a road tanker and with maximum protection from spillage.  We now have a very safe process. 

“We fill one IBC and in a matter of a few seconds switch off the filler, transfer the drip-proof filling head into a second IBC stationed two metres away, restart the pump and fill the second IBC.  The filled one  is fork lifted away and an empty IBC positioned in place during the filling of the second one.  The process continues until all 20 tonnes of base resin is emptied from the road tanker.”