Packaging Machine for Inflammable And Explosive Products Selection Guide

   Packaging Guidelines for Flammable and Explosive Substances

（Migrand Original article: Please indicate the source when reprinting and quoting）

Regarding the packaging of flammable and explosive products, it must be seriously emphasized that the illegal manufacture, storage, and transportation of flammable and explosive materials are criminal offenses, which are severely punished by law in China. I believe other countries also treat this with equal seriousness. If your product has characteristics such as "exploding upon electrification or upon vibration," it is not an ordinary flammable/explosive substance but an extremely hazardous unstable explosive. Its handling and processing must be carried out by strictly trained and authorized professionals following specific safety regulations and protections. Involvement by individuals or unlicensed facilities is strictly prohibited.

Therefore, this document will not provide any operational guidance for unstable explosives. Instead, it explains the principles and frameworks considered by Migrand Machinery when handling conventional flammable and explosive substances from the perspectives of safety science and industrial standards, aiming to emphasize their hazards and the required professionalism, not to serve as an operational standard.

Core Principle: From Product Characteristics to Packaging Machine Selection

When designing packaging solutions and selecting equipment for flammable and explosive substances at Migrand Machinery, safety is the paramount consideration overriding all others. The choice of packaging machine depends entirely on the hazardous characteristics of the substance, with the goal of eliminating or controlling all factors that could trigger explosion or ignition during the packaging process.

1. Analysis Starting from Product Characteristics

• Sensitivity

• Mechanical Sensitivity (corresponding to "explodes upon vibration"): This is the most critical factor in selecting packaging machinery. If the substance possesses this characteristic, any action that may cause impact, friction, or compression is extremely dangerous.

• Thermal Sensitivity (corresponding to "explodes/ignites upon contact with fire"): Temperature and ventilation must be strictly controlled during packaging, including ambient temperature, heat generated by machine operation, and localized high temperatures from electrostatic discharge.

• Electrical Spark Sensitivity (corresponding to "explodes/ignites upon electrification"): This includes sparks from static electricity, electrical switches, etc. This is a top priority in the electrical system design of packaging machinery.

• Initiation Energy: The minimum energy required to cause an explosion. Higher sensitivity corresponds to lower initiation energy and greater danger.

• Physical State

• Powders are prone to dust explosions and can easily generate static electricity.

• Granules and lumps may collide during conveyance.

• Liquids flow easily, can accumulate static electricity, and their vapors may be flammable and explosive.

• Paste may have specific friction and impact characteristics.

• Solid (powder, granules, lumps), Liquid, Gel/Paste:

• Physical state determines packaging form (bags, bottles, cans) and filling method (weighing, volumetric cup, level filling).

• Flowability: The angle of repose for powders/granules, viscosity for liquids. This directly influences feeder system design (screw feeder, gravity flow, pumping).

• Density & Specific Gravity: Affects dosing accuracy and load-bearing capacity of packaging materials.

• Fragility: Products like potato chips require gentle handling systems (e.g., vacuum suction cups).

• Chemical Properties

• Compatibility: Will the substance react with packaging materials (e.g., metal, plastic)?

• Corrosiveness: Substances like fertilizers and certain chemicals require machine contact parts made of stainless steel (e.g., 304, 316L) or higher-grade corrosion-resistant materials.

• Volatility & Flammability: This is the core risk for substances like alcohol, perfume, thinner (banana oil), methane. Consider air filtration/purification or ventilation.

• Toxicity: Leaks or aerosol formation of some chemicals can harm operators, requiring good sealing and workshop ventilation.

• Hygiene Requirements: Food and pharmaceuticals require equipment contact parts that are easy to clean, disinfect, and comply with GMP/HACCP standards, typically using open-design with no hygiene dead corners and food-grade materials.

• Stability: Does it remain stable during long-term storage or under pressure and temperature changes?

• Mixing Hazard: If multiple components are involved, the mixing process itself is a high-risk operation.

• Product Sensitivity

• Hygroscopicity: Some foods or fertilizers absorb moisture and clump, requiring low-humidity packaging environments or excellent package sealing.

• Oxidation Sensitivity: Products like fried foods may require nitrogen flushing packaging to extend shelf life; the packaging machine needs an integrated nitrogen flushing system.

• Light Sensitivity: Products like beer require machines capable of using light-blocking packaging materials.

2. Key Points for Selecting Packaging Machines Based on Characteristics

Based on the above characteristics, Migrand Machinery's packaging machine design and selection follow these principles:

• Addressing "Vibration/Friction/Impact" Risk (Mechanical Sensitivity):

• Intrinsic Safety Design: Machine actions must be extremely gentle. Use low-speed operation, pneumatic drives (instead of rigid mechanical drives), flexible feeding mechanisms (e.g., vacuum suction cups, hoses), etc.

• Avoid Metal Contact: All parts contacting the material should preferably use anti-explosion, conductive, or spark-resistant materials such as specific grades of stainless steel, copper alloys, specialized engineering plastics, etc.

• Addressing "Electrical Spark" Risk (Static Electricity and Electrical Systems):

• Equipment Grounding: The entire machine, conveyor belts, and tools must have a complete grounding system.

• Personnel Anti-Static Measures: Operators need anti-static clothing, shoes, wrist straps.

• Environmental Humidification: Increase air humidity to reduce static generation.

• Explosion-Proof Electricals: All motors, sensors, and control systems must achieve the highest grade of explosion-proof certification (e.g., Ex d IIB T4 or above in China) to ensure internal sparks cannot ignite the external environment.

• Comprehensive Static Protection:

• Intrinsically Safe Circuits: For electronic equipment used in hazardous areas, circuit energy is limited to very low levels, preventing ignition-capable sparks even during short circuits.

  
  

• Addressing "Heat/Fire" Risk (Thermal Sensitivity):

• Temperature Monitoring: Install temperature sensors at key points to monitor bearings, motors, seals in real-time.

• Cooling Systems: Add water or air cooling to equipment when necessary.

• Prohibit Ignition Sources: Open flames and heat sources are strictly prohibited in work areas. Maintenance requires explosion-proof tools.

• Addressing "Mixing" Risk:

• If dual components become flammable/explosive only after mixing, they are usually pre-mixed before packaging. If mixing during packaging is necessary, remote automated operation must be adopted, isolating personnel to a safe area and using specially designed static mixers. The entire process requires high isolation and protection. We generally recommend separate packaging, with mixing performed by professionals during use.

3. Examples for Representative Products

Category 1: High-Risk Powders - Using Ammonium Nitrate as an Example

• Core Risks: Contamination sensitivity, Dust explosion risk, Explosion potential in confined spaces.

• Characteristic Analysis:

1. Strong Oxidizer: Ammonium nitrate itself does not burn but vigorously supports combustion. Contamination by organic pollutants (e.g., oil, grease, sugar, flour, metal powder) drastically increases its thermal sensitivity and instability, forming flammable/explosive mixtures.

2. Dust Explosivity: Fine ammonium nitrate dust suspended in air can cause a dust explosion when reaching a certain concentration and encountering an ignition source (electrical spark, static, open flame).

3. Caking Tendency & Compatibility: Hygroscopic and prone to caking; breaking lumps can generate frictional heat and impact. Incompatible with certain metals (e.g., copper, zinc), potentially causing dangerous reactions.

• Packaging Machine Selection & Safety Points:

• Enclosed/Negative Pressure Design: Filling stations should be enclosed where possible, connected to dust extraction systems, maintaining slight negative pressure inside.

• Dust Suppression Devices: Use filling heads with dust suppression function.

• Dedicated Equipment: Ideally, packaging lines for ammonium nitrate should be dedicated to avoid cross-contamination with other materials (especially organics).

• Easy Cleaning: Simple, open, no-dead-corner structure for thorough cleaning, preventing dust/pollutant accumulation.

• Full Machine Explosion-Proof: All electrical equipment must be suitable for dust explosion-proof environments, typically requiring rating DIP A21 TXXX (Chinese standard, indicating suitability for Zone 21 combustible dust environments).

• Comprehensive Static Elimination: Equipment must be reliably grounded. Install static eliminators at dust generation areas (e.g., filling ports).

• Highest Level Explosion-Proof & Anti-Static:

• Strict Cleaning & Contamination Prevention Design:

• Control Dust Dispersion:

• Avoid Metal Contamination: Contact parts should use materials compatible with ammonium nitrate (e.g., specific stainless steel grades), avoiding copper, zinc alloys.

• Process Control: Strictly control area temperature/humidity. Strictly prohibit spark-generating activities.

Category 2: Ordinary Powders - Using Flour, Starch, Fertilizer as Examples

• Core Risks: Dust explosion, Hygiene, Microbial control.

• Characteristic Analysis:

1. Typical Combustible Dust: Organic dust from flour/starch is a classic dust explosion case. While not strongly oxidizing, combustible dust forms explosive mixtures in air, with low Minimum Ignition Energy (MIE), easily ignited by static or mechanical sparks.

2. Hygiene & Safety: Prevent microbial growth and foreign matter contamination.

3. Workshop Temp & Humidity: Hygroscopic, clumping affects flowability and packaging accuracy.

• Packaging Machine Selection & Safety Points:

• Sealing Method: Heat sealing is common; adjust temperature/pressure based on packaging material.

• Dosing System:

• Powders/Granules: Often use screw feeders or multi-head weighers for high accuracy. Volumetric cup feeders, cost-effective for less critical accuracy, are also options. Add dust removal for dusty powders.

• Fertilizer: Key is material/seal corrosion resistance due to corrosiveness.

• Dust Explosion Prevention is Primary: Electrical systems must meet dust explosion-proof requirements. Risk level may be slightly lower than contaminated ammonium nitrate, but it must not be ignored.

• Complete Static Protection is also essential.

• Hygiene Design is Paramount: Food-Grade Materials: All contact surfaces must be 304 or 316L stainless steel, smooth, no dead corners.

• Easy Cleaning & Inspection: Quick disassembly for CIP or manual cleaning.

• Dust Control: Integrate efficient dust extraction, keep work area clean, prevent dust clouds.

• Packaging Machine Types: Vertical form-fill-seal machines,horizontal FFS machines, pre-made bag machines, weighing packers, etc. Select appropriate packaging form based on material characteristics.

• Selection Points:

Category 3: Alcohol, Perfume (Flammable Liquids)

• Core Considerations: Explosion-proof, Leak-proof, Evaporation prevention.

• Packaging Machine Types: Liquid filling machines (Single-dose FFS, Bottle Filling and Capping machine).

• Selection Points:

• For foam-prone liquids (beer, perfume), use vacuum filling or gravity filling.

• For high-viscosity liquids, use pressure filling (piston pump).

• All electrical components (motors, sensors, control cabinets) must be explosion-proof, meeting required ratings (e.g., Ex d IIB T4).

• The entire filling area may need designation as a Hazardous Area.

• Explosion-Proof Design is Mandatory:

• Anti-Static: Good grounding system; conductive materials for pipes/filling heads.

• Filling Method:

• Sealing: Capping machines must ensure good seal integrity.

• Leak Collection: Design should include spill containment/diversion.

Supplementary Production Notes:

• Operators must wear anti-static workwear and protective gear. Ignition sources/flammables prohibited.

• Monitor material flow rate and equipment status during packaging to prevent blockages/abnormal friction causing hazards. Stop immediately upon abnormality.

• Equipment interfaces/piping should use leak-proof design for stable, reliable conveyance.

• Regular safety assessments/maintenance, focusing on seals, grounding lines, explosion-proof components.

• Conduct regular emergency drills for spill, fire, explosion scenarios.

• After packaging, use qualified, moisture-proof, anti-static packaging materials; clearly mark "Oxidizer," "Flammable/Explosive" warnings.

• Finished goods storage away from heat, flames, organics; separate zone; adequate aisles.

• Transport must comply with hazardous materials regulations; prevent violent vibration, high temperature exposure.

• Implement a two-person verification system for critical steps to prevent human error.

• Set up isolation zones, warning tape, audible/visual alarms around packaging area; unauthorized access strictly prohibited.

  
  

With regard to plant construction and safety production requirements, there are great differences in safety production requirements and practices in different regions due to the differences in the perfection of laws and regulations, law enforcement, industrial development level and climate environment.Just like one of our African customers before, he did not implement any of the ventilation requirements and safety production standards we recommended, and his country did not have any requirements for this, and his production is also very smooth at present.To this, I can only say: It's all right.

（Migrand Original article: Please indicate the source when reprinting and quoting）

More details,pls contact us! 

Ava Duan 

Email: sales@grand-packing.com 

whatsapp/wechat:86-13787413551