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8 © Copyright Powder & Bulk Engineering 2020 Supplier knowledge Specialist suppliers offering bulk bag unloaders for material handling can supply several equipment types with options suitable for unloading various materials. Look for bulk material handling suppliers who have ex- perience with the material you want to unload and have the technical expertise to apply their equipment to the specifi c requirements of your application. This normal- ly requires an engineered solution, with layout draw- ings that detail any necessary custom-designed parts to adapt the recommended system to suit your particu- lar application and location. Experienced suppliers are able to adapt their equipment for different situations to provide an effective solution. Material testing Have the supplier test your material in the bulk bag un- loader being considered to verify the equipment's suit- ability for your application, specifi cally its dust control capabilities. Bulk bag selection Proper bulk bag selection is one important consid- eration for dust containment in a bulk bag unloading system. The bulk bag must be able to contain the fi nes present in your material or particles can "sift" through the bag fabric. Depending on the amount of fi nes, as well as particle size and shape, a coated fabric may be all that's required to contain the dust. If a coated fabric doesn't contain the material fi nes, polyethylene bulk bag liners can be used to prevent material sifting. In- let-spouted bags, not open-top bags, should always be used for dusty materials. Integral dust collection Bulk bag unloaders can be confi gured with an integral dust collection system. This is an important consider- ation for discharging dusty materials. Alternatively bulk bag unloaders can also be designed with a port to tie into a plant-wide dust collection system. Dust-tight bag seating Pay attention to how a full bulk bag is installed within the frame of the bulk bag unloader, as this can be a source of unwanted material dusting. Often a dust-tight docking seal built within the bulk bag unloader's base can signifi - cantly help mitigate dusting. QUESTION & ANSWER: How should we select bulk bag unloaders for maximum dust control? Controlling dusting and material spillage while safely unloading your material from bulk bags is an industry-wide challenge. Many times standard off-the-shelf bulk bag unloaders are used in a new process without a thorough un- derstanding of the handled material's characteristics. This lack of understanding often results in the need for an ex- pensive retrofi t assembly after installation is complete and unnecessary commissioning delays. What factors should be considered to ensure dust-free bulk bag unloading? Here are some of the key considerations to keep in mind: