BFM fittings for the Battery Industry
Lithium nickel cobalt manganese oxide is the technical name for the powder inside rechargeable lithium batteries, and it is being produced in increasing quantities due to a rapidly growing global electric-vehicle market. A major lithium powder manufacturer in Korea had challenges with this extremely fine (10μ) powder leaking throughout their production area, as well as time consuming connector fitting during product changeovers and cleaning. Then, they replaced their traditional hose-clamped connections with BFM® fitting, and have seen significant improvements in both changeover turn-around speed and retention of valuable product.
Before the BFM fitting
Super-fine lithium powder, used in re-chargeable batteries, was difficult to contain with traditional hose-clamp connectors, meaning this valuable product leaked constantly, causing a messy environment that required regular clean-ups. Staff also had to regularly clean inside the machinery when they changed their material types, and the difficult removal and refitting of the hose-clamped connectors during the cleaning process caused considerable downtime.
Implementing the BFM fitting
BFM® fittings were installed to replace all existing hose-clip type connections on both the ultrasonic vibrating sifter and electronic magnet filter. Now the internal cleaning process can be completed in a much shorter time due to the fast and easy snap-fit removal and re-installation process of the BFM® fitting.
There is also now a 100% seal so there is no additional mess to clean up around the connection, and no product is lost. There is also the added bonus of visibility of product-flow through the connector that was not possible before
“BFM® fittings were installed to replace all existing hose-clip type connections on both the ultrasonic vibrating sifter and electronic magnet filter. Now the internal cleaning process can be completed in a much shorter time due to the fast and easy snap-fit removal and re-installation process of the BFM® fitting. There is also now a 100% seal so there is no additional mess to clean up around the connection, and no product is lost. There is also the added bonus of visibility of product-flow through the connector that was not possible before.” – Factory Manager
Case Study courtesy of BFM® distributor ICS (International Chemical Scientific), Korea
If you’d like to download the case study, click here!
