BETHLEHEM, PA — A new Flexicon BLOCK-BUSTER^® Bulk Bag Conditioner with two hydraulic rams and specially contoured end plates, presses opposing sides of bulk bags, loosening material that has solidified during storage and shipment, enabling bulk bag unloaders to discharge it through bag spouts.

A cantilevered I-beam with motorized hoist and trolley allows loading and unloading of bulk bags without the use of a forklift. The bag can also be raised and lowered using the hoist, and rotated manually, for conditioning at any height on all sides.

The system controller and hydraulic pump can be mounted on the exterior of the safety cage or remotely. The conditioner is fully enclosed on all four sides for operator safety and includes full-height doors that are interlocked to disallow operation of the system when the doors are open.

The conditioner is recommended for bulk bags containing hygroscopic chemicals, certain spice blends, heat-sensitive products, and other materials prone to solidifying to the point at which pneumatically-actuated flow promotion accessories integral to bulk bag dischargers are inefficient or completely ineffective.

An optional hydraulically-actuated, variable-height turntable allows automated in-frame bag rotation and conditioning of bulk bags at varying heights. The number and pressure of hydraulic ram actuations, the height of the turntable, and the number of 90-degree rotations are user-programmable.

The conditioner is offered as a stand-alone unit or integrated with the company's BULK-OUT^® bulk bag discharging systems.