Materials Handling Technology
IBC Post Hoists
The GEA range of post hoists offers a versatile lifting and handling solution, combining robust, GMP construction with a clean and modular design.
Safety First
Safety is a critical aspect of any lifting equipment; the GEA Post Hoist has been designed with absolute operator safety in mind. The hoists use a robust rack and pinion lifting mechanism rated at four times the working load of the hoist, thus eliminating the risk associated with chain breakages.
The lifting drive is an electric ‘braked’ motor. Should utilities be lost, the load will remain in the same position; any risk of carriage slipping is prevented. The operator interface panel is mounted on the rear of the column and operates on a ‘hold-to-run' principle, ensuring operator safety.
GMP Design
The electric motor lift drive removes the need for hydraulic lifts (and the non-GMP issues associated with hydraulic devices). The lift motor is mounted on the carriage, not at the top of the column, making routine maintenance much easier.
Controls
The control system is simple and user friendly. Simple push buttons control the raising and lowering operations and, for more sophisticated requirements, a Siemens or Allen Bradley PLC/HMI control system is available. For high lift or slow speed docking operations, an inverter can be added to provide a variable speed drive. This allows for fast lifting operations and allows the carriage to stop at controlled speeds.
Modular Design
A ranges of Lifting Carriages is available for the GEA's Post Hoist. For IBC lifting operations, standard Forks allow the IBC to be securely lifted and accurately aligned.
If the IBC needs to be inverted to be filled through its outlet valve, the IBC Inverting Carriage can be fitted.
And, by fitting the IBC Blending Carriage, the Post Hoist can be used as a blender, offering the same blending efficiency as the Pedestal range of blenders.
Further, the IBC Weighing Carriage allows the IBC to be lifted to a filling point and aligned with a BUCK® Valve to facilitate dynamic weighing of the IBC as it is filled. The column can either be static mounted or positioned on a slewing base to allow the carriage to be swiveled over the inlet of a downstream process container. Slewing can be either manual or electrically driven.
Features and Benefits
- Allows gravity discharge from an IBC to a downstream pharmaceutical process, eliminating the need for vacuum conveying
- Lifts and holds IBC directly above the process machine: no need for a discharge station
- Electrical braked motor
- No hydraulics
- Fully enclosed column and drive motors
- Robust mechanical construction
- IBC forks for secure and accurate lifting and docking
- IBC inverting option
- Validation documentation
- Two speed lifting drive
- User friendly control system.
Applications
IBC Post Hoists are used for many handling applications within the pharmaceutical manufacturing process. Common applications include lifting IBCs over the inlet of processing equipment, lifting IBCs up to dock with filling equipment, and as IBC Blenders.
IBC Discharge
The most common use for the Post Hoist is lifting an IBC for discharge over the inlet of a down stream process, i.e. a granulator or a tablet press. The Forks on the standard Lifting Carriage accurately aligns the IBC to ensure a positive docking operation. The variable speed lifting motor allows for a fast lifting operation, with a slow docking speed.IBC Filling
For filling applications - from a dispensary or granulation equipment on the floor above, the Post Hoist is used to lift the receiving IBC up to dock with the Buck® Valve. Where different heights of IBCs need to be handled, the Post Hoist is ideal for lifting the smaller IBCs to dock with the Buck® Valve. The IBC Weighing Carriage allows the weight of the IBC to be measured as it is filled. Controls and interlocks for the Buck® Valve are managed through the Post Hoist control system.
Milling & Blending
If carrying out blending functions on the Post Hoist, the blender has the versatility to carry out discharge operations directly after blending. A common application is to allow blended material to be discharged through a mill or sieve into a receiving IBC. The IBC is aligned and clamped on the IBC Blending Carriage, before being docked with the Buck® Valve on the inlet of the Mill. Controls and interlocks for the Buck® Valve are managed through the Post Hoist control system.
Technical Details
GEA’s Post Hoists are reliable, safe and compliant, and an ideal solution for your IBC handling requirements.
| PL400 | PL900 | PM1600 | |
| Electrial Power | 220-240V 3 Ph 60 Hz or 380-415V 3 Ph 50 Hz | ||
| Lift Motor | 1.5 kW | 2.2 kW | 3.0 kW |
| Slew Motor | 0.12 kW | 0.12 kW | 0.12 kW |
| Pneumatics | 6 Barg supply pressure | ||
| Pneumatics for slewing position lock | 3 L/sec | 3 L/sec | 3 L/sec |
| Pneumatics for vibration | 10 L/sec | 10 L/sec | 10 L/sec |
| Pneumatics for butterfly valve actuation | 3 L/sec | 3 L/sec | 3 L/sec |
| PL400 | PL900 | PL1600 | |
| Power Lift | ● | ● | ● |
| IBC Size | Size 2/3/4 | Size 4 | Size 4/5 |
| Safe Working Load | 400 kg | 900 kg | 1600 kg |
| Lift Speed | 4 m/min for last lifting/lowering
1 m/min for controlled docking | ||
| Standard Column Height | 3.8 m | ||
| Fixing | floor | floor | floor & ceiling |
| Reach | 1450 mm from the centre of column to the centre of the IBC | ||
| Cable Connection Point | top of column | ||
| Control System | column mounted controls with push buttons and pilot lamps | ||
| PL400 | PL900 | PL1600 | |
| Manual Slew 300° slew angle with pneumatic slew lock | ○ | ○ | ○ |
| Powered Slew 300° slew angle with position sensors | ○ | ○ | ○ |
| IBC Outlet Valve (Butterfly Valve) Actuator | ○ | ○ | ○ |
| IBC External Vibrator with housing pocket on forks | ○ | ○ | ○ |
| Vibroflow™ Motor | ○ | ○ | ○ |
| Additional Height (up to 6 m) | ○1 | ○1 | ○1 |
| Non-standard Pick-up Forks | ○ | ○ | ○ |
1 complete with ceiling fixing
● standard ○ optional -- not available
Downloads
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