News overview and blog about products

What solutions exist for dust-free big bag filling and discharging? Filling heads, discharge stations, endless liners and containment up to OEB 5, with a selection guide per situation.

How do you choose a vacuum conveying system for pharmaceutical powders? A six-step plan: from product data and GMP design to filters, containment, ATEX and validation.

What are the best automated packaging systems for the food industry? An overview by type, with well-known suppliers and the selection criteria that matter in 2026.

What are the top industrial mixers for chemical production? Ploughshare, helical, paddle and ribbon mixers, vacuum mixer-dryers and high-shear compared, with selection criteria.

Who are the best suppliers of high containment powder handling systems in Europe? A comparison by use case: split valves, complete lines, single-use and containment around milling and mixing.

Which companies supply powder conveying systems in the Benelux? An overview of suppliers for vacuum, pneumatic and mechanical conveying, plus five factors to choose the right system.

Which containment requirements apply to API manufacturing? EU GMP, HBEL/PDE, OEB classes and occupational safety law explained, plus the translation into technology per OEB level.

Which safety requirements apply to powder handling in ATEX zones? The two ATEX directives, dust zones 20/21/22, dust explosion parameters and practical measures explained.

Safe handling of powders and granules starts with controlling exposure. Particularly in the pharmaceutical, chemical, food and battery industries, preventing dust emissions during Big Bag discharge is an important part of maintaining a safe production environment.

At HECHT Technologie, we see containment being incorporated increasingly early in the process, often from the very first process step. One solution that has proven particularly effective in practice is the LAS-MC – Liner-Anschluss-System Manual Connect.

The LAS-MC is now one of HECHT’s best-selling solutions for Big Bag discharge, combining ease of use with a high level of containment.

Why containment is so important when discharging Big Bags

Dust can be released during Big Bag discharge when a liner is connected, opened or replaced. With products that have a low OEL, even limited emissions can pose a relevant safety risk.

The aim of containment is therefore to:

• protect employees from exposure;

• reduce product loss and dust emissions;

• prevent cross-contamination;

• make the production process cleaner and easier to control;

• simplify cleaning and maintenance.

The required solution depends, among other things, on the properties of the product and the desired OEB classification. HECHT develops and supplies solutions for different containment levels.

LAS-MC: smart connection, safe discharge

The LAS-MC Manual Connect was developed for safe and dust-free Big Bag discharge. The system can achieve a containment level of up to OEB 4 (1–10 µg/m³). This makes it suitable for applications where a significantly higher level of product and operator protection is required.

A key advantage is the way the liner is connected and replaced.

The process is designed to be:
fast → controlled → ergonomic → with minimal emissions.

Virtually no additional consumables, such as O-rings, are required. This means fewer components, lower operating costs and fewer potential sources of downtime.

Pneumatic or fully manual

The LAS-MC is available in different versions.

The pneumatic version is suitable for automated processes where convenient operation and integration into the installation are desired.

The manual version operates without compressed air, making it particularly interesting for applications where simplicity, flexibility and limited infrastructure are important.

Both versions are manufactured from stainless steel and can be integrated into existing Big Bag discharge stations. Different liner materials, including PE and aluminium liners, can also be used. An ATEX version is available as well.

From pharmaceuticals to battery production

Containment is not limited to a single industry.

HECHT sees applications for the LAS-MC in, among others:

• Pharmaceutical industry

• Chemical industry

• Battery production

• Food industry

The exact configuration is tailored to the product, the required containment level, the process conditions and the existing installation.

This makes the LAS-MC suitable for both new projects and upgrading existing Big Bag discharge stations.

Technology that works in practice

The popularity of the LAS-MC is not based solely on its technical specifications. It is precisely the combination of containment, speed, ergonomics and low operating costs that makes the system attractive for industrial applications.

For operators, a simpler liner change means fewer handling steps. For production, this means shorter downtime. And for the organisation, it means a solution that can be integrated into existing process installations.

That is exactly where practical containment technology makes a difference: not just a theoretically high level of protection, but a solution that works every day in production.

See the LAS-MC in action?

During Solids Antwerp on 21 and 22 October 2026, containment will be a key focus at HECHT. On Wednesday, 21 October, a presentation will also be given on safe handling of powders and granules under containment requirements.

The presentation will cover topics including OEL, OEB, primary and secondary containment, and practical solutions for industry.

See the LAS-MC in action:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZadXFQfkm-0&t=3s

More information about the LAS-MC:
https://hecht-technology.nl/producten/las-mc-liner-aansluitsysteem-manuel-connect/

Containment does not have to be complicated. The right solution should above all be safe, practical and reliable.

In addition to the presentation, we will also be showcasing our best-selling product at Solids Antwerp. The LAS-MC (Liner Anschlusssystem Manual Connect): a solution for the safe connection and disconnection of liners, designed to minimise product exposure and emissions to OEB 4.

???? See the LAS-MC in action:
https://lnkd.in/eQSSKGgV

More information about the LAS-MC:
https://lnkd.in/ef4Q9iJs

Would you like to join us? Use the link below for a free VIP admission ticket, including free parking, access to the VIP lounge and a drink:
https://lnkd.in/eQREKusJ

???? Solids Antwerp
???? Stand 4390, near the entrance
???? 21–22 October 2026

We look forward to seeing you in Antwerp!

#SolidsAntwerp #Containment #PowderHandling #BulkSolids #OEB #OEL #Pharma #ChemicalIndustry #FoodIndustry #PowderProcessing #HECHT #LASMC

On Wednesday, 21 October, we will be giving a presentation at Solids Antwerp on behalf of HECHT Technologie GmbH:

“Safe Handling of Powders and Granules Under Containment Requirements”

Reiner will share his expertise on the safe handling, processing and transportation of powders and granules where containment is required. Topics will include:

• The basic principles of containment (protecting both employees and product)
• OEL and OEB classification
• Primary vs. secondary containment
• Practical solutions and examples from the pharmaceutical, chemical and food industries.

Would you like to attend? Use the link below for a free VIP admission ticket (including free parking, access to the VIP lounge and a drink):
https://lnkd.in/eQREKusJ

We look forward to seeing you at Solids Antwerp (21–22 October)!

Big Bags are highly efficient for transporting and storing large quantities of powder. But once they are introduced into production, manual handling, product loss, dust generation and waiting times can quickly drive up costs.

At HECHT Technology, we regularly see companies treating Big Bag handling as an isolated process step. Yet this is often exactly where opportunities for improvement can be found.

A well-designed and automated Big Bag system can not only improve safety and ergonomics, but also make the process more efficient and deliver an attractive return on investment.

Big Bag handling: more than just discharge

Integrating a Big Bag efficiently into the production process is more complex than it may initially appear.

Real cost savings in Big Bag handling start with looking at the entire process step: from supplying and positioning the Big Bag to controlled discharge, dosing and enclosed transport of the product to the next process stage.

When these steps are not properly aligned, unnecessary costs can arise:

• Product loss through spillage and dust generation

• Extensive manual work

• Ergonomic strain on operators

• Inaccurate or inefficient dosing

• Waiting times between process steps

• Increased risk of product contamination

• Unnecessary cleaning and maintenance work

With an integrated and well-designed system, many of these losses can be reduced.

Case study: nutritional supplement manufacturer

A major nutritional supplement manufacturer was experiencing several challenges in its Big Bag workflow.

Some of the raw materials were handled manually from the Big Bags. Dosing was not optimal, and the process generated more dust and product loss than necessary.

HECHT Technology designed an integrated solution comprising four Big Bag stations for the controlled discharge of raw materials, combined with weighing technology for accurate dosing.

The mixed products were then transported in an enclosed process using 25 ProClean Conveyors, feeding ten different filling lines.

The result was a largely automated material flow in which multiple process steps were integrated with one another.

Where are the gains?

For Big Bag handling, automation is not simply about reducing the number of operators.

The greatest gains are achieved when multiple improvements are realised simultaneously:

Less manual work
Operators have to perform fewer heavy and repetitive tasks.

More accurate dosing
Integrated weighing and dosing technology enables a more controlled supply of raw materials.

Less product loss
An enclosed process helps reduce spillage and unwanted dust generation.

Higher process availability
By properly coordinating different process steps, waiting times and unnecessary process interruptions can be reduced.

Better process control
An automated material flow makes it easier to execute the process in a reproducible and controlled manner.

Automation starts with the entire process

The question is therefore not simply: “How can we discharge this Big Bag?”

The better question is:

“How can we move the product from the Big Bag to the next process step as efficiently, safely and controllably as possible?”

At HECHT Technology, we therefore look at the complete system: Big Bag handling, containment, dosing, weighing, conveying and the connection to the rest of the production line.

Because when these components are designed as one integrated process, the greatest potential gains can be achieved.

Big Bag handling does not have to be a cost centre. With the right engineering, it can become an important link in a more efficient production process.

HECHT Technology has more than 50 years of experience in containment and powder handling systems for companies that require precision and safety. We do not design standard solutions — we design systems that deliver a return on investment.