New options for Logistics firms handling flammables

March 30, 2011 - PRLog -- To ensure logistics firms handling flammable materials are protecting their staff, and to safeguard supply chains from fire or explosion, Pyroban has launched the new system6000 explosion protection system for materials handling equipment.

“The storage and distribution of aerosols, paints, varnishes, solvents and a multitude of other highly flammable material is increasingly subcontracted to 3rd Party Logistics businesses (3PLs)” says Malcolm Davis, business development manager from Pyroban Group.

In many cases, a risk assessment under ATEX* (DSEAR in the UK) will identify that a warehouse containing flammable liquids and gases in sealed containers should be classified as a Zone 2 hazardous area in case of spillage or stock damage.  This is
common for a significant and growing number of 3PLs.

At the recent IMHX exhibition in the UK, safety company Pyroban introduced system6000, an ATEX* compliant materials handling equipment conversion that provides safety for forklift users in Zone 2 areas.  system6000 prevents explosions by combining gas detection with various explosion protection methods such as restricted breathing enclosures, stainless steel cladding of forks and surface temperature cooling to ensure the engine, motors, brakes, electrics and other components remain below the auto-ignition temperatures of flammable materials.

“system6000 now gives 3PLs the option of selecting the gas sensing system best suited to their specific need” Malcolm says, explaining that it can now be selected with either pellistor or infrared gas sensing technology.

“Infrared technology is particularly suited to 3PL operations where a single hazard type, such as aerosols, is being handled, or if silicones are present in the environment. In contrast, the pellistor system detects a wide range of hazards and may be more suited to chemical and paint logistics operations,” Malcolm adds.

system6000 allows users to select and interchange the technology that is best suited to their application so 3PLs can easily adapt according to their customer base, without having to change the whole Zone 2 protection system.  The infrared option on system6000 has various benefits including a faster start-up sequence and a lower cost of ownership.

Pyroban experts can help and support logistics firms in their understanding of which type of gas detection technology best meets their needs. This reduces the possibility that an uninformed forklift salesman offers the wrong gas sensing system to a buyer and thereby puts the site operation at risk.

Malcolm continues, “We know that logistics businesses will benefit through the use of infrared technology, but used in the wrong application, the truck user could be “blind” to the presence of a flammable atmosphere and therefore be put at considerable risk”.

Flammable material will usually be palletised or contained in Intermediate Bulk Containers (IBCs) and handled using explosion proof counterbalance forklift trucks, pallet trucks, reach trucks or even Very Narrow Aisle (VNA) machines. system6000 complements the latest technologies retaining almost all the performance characteristics of the original equipment, and is suitable for other types of mobile equipment such as cleaning machines, cranes and access platforms.

The system auto-calibrates and self-tests the gas head at start up to ensure it is working correctly, eliminating the need for periodic and costly site visits by engineers having to recalibrate the gas detection system.   system6000 is ATEX 94/9/EC compliant in line with EN 1755:2000+A1:2009 and is offered with IECEx certification to IEC 60079 standards.
Malcolm adds “Senior executives and safety personnel within the logistics firms, their insurance companies and the brand owners take a special interest in storing and distributing flammable material. With Pyroban expertise and system6000 they can ensure their supply chain is secure”.

For more information, visit http://www.pyroban.com  tel: +44(0)1273 466200 or email:  info@pyroban.com.

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*ATEX and DSEAR - The legal framework for controlling explosive atmospheres and standards of equipment and protective systems used in them
Visit www.hse.gov.uk or http://www.pyroban.com for details

NOTES TO EDITORS
Pyroban Group Ltd provides explosion proof safety and environmental solutions for industries worldwide.  The company was founded in 1972 with manufacturing, sales and service facilities in the UK, Northern Europe, Southern Europe, Asia Pacific and China.
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About Pyroban: Pyroban Group Ltd provides explosion proof safety and environmental solutions for industries worldwide. The company was founded in 1972 with manufacturing, sales and service facilities in the UK, Northern Europe, Southern Europe, Asia Pacific and China.