Explosion-Proof Chemicals Filling by Weight or Gravity - ATEX & IECEx Rated

Specialists in Spirits Filling Machines

As most Distillers will know, filling whisky, whiskey or spirits (gin, vodka, rum, brandy) at 40% ABV strength does not require undue special attention to the filling equipment that is used to fill the bottles, most old style gravity fillers will do.

Not so if you wish to fill cask strength spirits, which can vary in strength from 45% to over 70% Abv of alcohol.

In this case international safety legislation comes into play, which requires the adoption of special safety standards to prevent the accidental explosion or combustion of the alcohol, which is then assimilated to the behaviour of all highly volatile solvents like benzene for example.

Specialists in Filling Machines for Spirits

IC Filling systems specialise in designing and delivering highly specialised filling machines for spirits as adopted by Paradise Beverages of Fiji, for example, Ole Smokey and Appalachian Whiskey in USA, Union Distillers in the UK and GW Distillery in Canada, just to mention a few.

The Atex legislation requires automatic extraction of fumes outside the filling machine from a total enclosure of the high risk areas, special atex rated electric wiring and components, real time detection of the concentration of alcohol inside the filler, with automatic shut-down in case concentrations of alcohol reach or bypass certain pre-set danger levels.

Atex safety legislation is the name commonly given to the two European Directives for controlling explosive atmospheres: 1) Directive 99/92/EC (also known as 'ATEX 137' or the 'ATEX Workplace Directive') on minimum requirements for improving the health and safety protection of workers potentially at risk from explosive atmospheres. 2) Directive 94/9/EC (also known as 'ATEX 95' or 'the ATEX Equipment Directive') for more information see http://www.hse.gov.uk/fireandexplosion/atex.htm

Depending on the concentration of volatile solvents or alcohol in the final product, the ATEX may be “self certified” for Atex conforming components, or may require a special external certification by appointed specialists who will certify the machine safe and conforming to the Atex directives.

Designing and building a filling machine for products in explosive conditions requires care and attention to detail.

These machines are ATEX & IECEx rated with zoning according to internationally agreed legislation for explosion proof machinery.

These machines are used in the filling of solvents of all sort, flammable products, and distilled spirits in special conditions.

• Whisky, Vodka, Rum, Gin, Whiskey
• Industrial waxes
• Inks
• Methylated spirit solutions
• Solvents
• Paints
• Liquid Petroleum Gas (LPG)
• Other flammable products

IC Filling Systems have been operating in this specialised area since 1994.