Flexitank Questions & Answers Scoping Questions What is the commodity? Who owns the commodity? Are you the producer? Is it hazardous or regulated? What percent of your production capacity is used for export? What percent of your production capacity is used or shipped domestically? What is the price per pound or gallon for your commodity? (should you deem necessary) How is the commodity being transported today? Rail, long haul truck moves, ocean? What type of packaging does the commodity currently move in? Drums, Totes/IBCs, Flexitank, ISO Container? If product moves by long haul truck moves (600+ miles) we will want to compare to rail for cost savings. How much do they pay per gallon to move product? How much volume do you move? How often? Where is it coming from? What destination are you shipping to? What is the specific gravity of the product? Refer to MSDS Can you forward an MSDS for compatibility review? Does the product need to be heated? What is the payload per flexitank? When is the next or first shipment? How many tanks per month? 1
General 9-1a What are the main industry usage applications? International shipment of nonhazardous bulk liquids as well as static storage What sizes of flexitanks does EPT supply? 16,000L, 18,000L, 20,000L, 22,000L and 24,000L Note: 1 CBM (cubic meter) or 1 KL (kiloliter) is = 1000 liters What is the maximum loading capacity of your flexitank? 24,000 liters How are the BIG Red Flexitanks TM constructed? Double layer flexitanks are constructed from a tubular stock which are independently sealed at each end creating independent layers of clear FDA compliant virgin polyethylene (PE) with a thickness of 406 microns each. The exterior woven polypropylene (PP) layer is also constructed from tubular stock so there are no longitudinal seams in the flexitank. The black stripes in the exterior are constructed of double material to provide extra strength and greatly reduce free surface effect inside of the flexitanks. Do you have different types of flexitanks? We have 2 flexitanks. The only difference between the two tanks is that one contains an additional film layer of EVOH. EVOH film provides an oxygen permeation rate of.0027cc/100sqin/day Max. Both styles are available in bottom discharge, top discharge, and a combination of both bottom and top discharge. What components do you supply with a flexitank? flexitank, wear sleeve, bulkhead with attached surge wing, bars, and necessary container labels What other ancillary components do you offer for flexitank supply? Heater pad and Thermal Liner What are the dimensions of your 24,000 Liter flexitank? Approximately 12.5 wide x 25 long +/- 1 What is the weight? 125-145 lbs depending on the size of the flexitank Can a flexitanks be re-used? No, our flexitank is a one-way disposable flexitank. You can only use more than once if this flexitank is being used for static storage only. What is the maximum temperature your flexitank can hold? The LLDPE liner can take up to a maximum temperature of 82 C. However, for safety consideration, we recommend a loading temperature of 60 C and below. Should the product loading temperature fall between 60 C and 70 C, the laden flexitank must remain static for at least 8 hours after loading is completed. The recommended temperature range is 167 F to -40 F or 75 C to -40 C. 2
What is the minimum temperature your flexitank can hold? 57 C - The recommended temperature range is 167 F to -40 F or 75 C to -40 C. Note: Product must not be allowed to freeze while inside the flexitank. Please consult EPT Technical Department for extended low temperature exposures. What is the advantage of bottom loading / discharge? It is safer since the loaders do not go on top of the flexitank. It is more user-friendly and faster in loading and discharge. It is also easier to prime the pump. Can I load 16,000 liters in a 24,000 liter flexitank? No. If it is not fully loaded, the movement from transportation causes a wave action in the liquid inside the flexitank and it can cause a tsunami-like force from within the container. Under-loading will destroy any flexitank. Our guidelines for loading is less than 2% of the flexitank rated capacity. DO NOT OVERLOAD THE FLEXITANK. What is the maximum pressure your flexitank can hold? Our flexitank is a nonpressurized container and it will continue growing in size. The maximum pressure is approximately 60 PSI. Do you provide sample flexitanks? Yes, we are happy to provide mini sample bags. Our sample bags are 2 layers of 16 mil PE without the outer woven, standard flange and 3 bung. The capacity is approximately 5 gallons and the lay flat dimensions are approximately 36 X 24. Note: These are costly to manufacture. Use prudence in determining which prospects should get a sample mini bag. If they have the potential to move a lot of product and they request a sample, we should provide them with one. If you need to send more than one sample bag, you must get approval from the Sales Manager. How do I know what size Flexitank I need? Customers will typically speak in terms of bulk density or specific gravity. You will need either bulk density or specific gravity and the target weight to determine the proper size flexitank. Do not put more than 48,000 pounds into a flexitank without consulting Technical Services. Bulk density is a volume calculation and the typical units are pounds/gallon or grams/milliliter. The bulk density of water is 8.3 pounds/gallon or 1 gram/milliliter. If the customer provides bulk density, final product weight will be used to calculate the proper volume. For example: If a product s bulk density is 7.5 pounds/gallon and the customer wants to ship 46,000 pounds, then 46,000/7.5 = 6,133 gallons. 6,133 gallons x 3.8 (conversion unit for gallons to liters) = 23,217 Liters. This product should go into a 24,000 liter flexitank. Do not overload the flexitanks - so round up to the next size. 3
Specific gravity is a comparison to the weight of water. The specific gravity of water is 1.0, so if a product is lighter than water then it will have a specific gravity of less than 1 (i.e. 0.95). Products heavier than water will have a specific gravity larger than 1 (i.e. 1.25). For example: If a product s specific gravity is 0.8, then the bulk density of the product is 0.8 x 8.3 (weight of water) = 6.64 pound/gallon. Use the conversion above to determine the correct size flexitank. Static Storage What will be stored in the flexitank? What type of surface will the flexitank be loaded on? Is it debris free? Will the flexitanks be protected? Will it be inside of a container? Will it be exposed to the outdoors? Will it be exposed to continual sunlight? Note: The benefit of loading the flexitank into a container include UV protection, security (you can lock the container), and reduced foot print on site. If the volume is high enough, we may be able to add UV protection to the film. How long do you intend to use this flexitank? Note: Flexitanks can be used for an Emergency Crisis as receptacles for: - Fresh drinking water. Flexitank polyethylene inner liners are FDA-approved as food-safe and water-safe. - Diesel fuel to power generators for hospitals, schools, churches and other buildings - Sanitation purposes for hospitals and other public buildings to contain sewage In addition, static storage is intended for short-term storage. Certifications & Approvals What type of certifications do you have? Kosher certified How many rail roads are you approved on? In the United States, we are approved on 4 rail roads: CSX, Kansas City Southern, BNSF, Union Pacific. Outside of the United States, we are approved on the Russian Railroad (RZD). 4
Manufacturing 9-1a Is your company accredited with ISO9000? Yes, ISO 9001:2008 Is your flexitanks covered by a patent or license? Yes patent pending What is your current manufacturing capacity? 100,000 flexitanks per year Where are your flexitanks manufactured? Flexitanks are manufactured at an EPT owned facility in Zeeland, Michigan Operational Performance What are the installation requirements? EPT certifies fitters to install flexitanks into a 20 container. This typically requires 2 operators. Refer to Installation & Usage Procedures (Fitting Manual). Can anyone install (fit) a flexitank? No, an operator who installs an EPT flexitanks must be a Certified EPT Fitter. Can my employees become Certified Fitters? Yes, if the volume of flexitanks warrants, we will send a Certified Master Fitter to train and certify fitters and/or it can be conducted at a designated EPT Master Fitter Certified site. Can you give me any information about your Certified Fitters? All potential fitters are trained by an EPT Certified Master Fitter and then continually audited throughout the year as well as re-certified every 12 months. If for any reason problems begin to occur in a depot or company site, immediate recertification of employees is required. In the event that problems persist, the specific depot or company loses their accreditation and EPT will secure another depot. Can you assist me with locating Certified Fitters to install my flexitanks? Yes, our Logistics Department will assist in providing you with all of the services you require. How long does it take to install a flexitank in a container? 20 to 30 minutes What are the typical fill rates? Most customers are pumping at 100 to 150 GPM, but the valve is capable of up to 275 GPM. Refer to Loading Section of the Installation & Usage Procedures (Fitting Manual). What are the typical dispensing rates? Up to 275 GPM. Refer to Unloading Section of the Installation & Usage Procedures (Fitting Manual). 5
How long does it take to load the flexitank? This is dependent on pump size and flow rate. What type of pump do we need for discharging? The ideal pump would be a 3 positive displacement air-operated diaphragm pump. What is the typical percentage of product left in the flexitank after discharge? 20 to 30 liters Where is the closure located? EPT manufactures both bottom valve and top valve flexitanks. Bottom valves are located behind the right container door almost to the floor. Top valves are above the bulkhead and within reach of the operator. What equipment is needed to discharge a flexitank? 2 or 3 product lines (hose) with cam-lock fittings and a pump What is the neck internal diameter? EPT uses a 3 ball valve with a cam-lock connection Is there a way you could get me the detailed specifications for the BIG Red Flexitank TM discharge system (specifically the valve system drawing)? We could analyze for concerns to look at the specific off-load valve configuration. The 3 product valve is screwed into a compression flange. The valve has a 3 male cam-lock fitting. The photo below shows the valve, a 3 to 2 reducer, and a 2 hose with a female cam-lock fitting. If the discharge point has 3 product hoses, the reducer is unnecessary. The pliable inner liner has collapsed into the discharge valve near the end of offloading the bag disrupting flow and causing cavitations (sucking a vacuum) of the pump. How can we avoid this? This typically occurs for 2 reasons: a. Inner linings are too thin. EPT uses PE inner liners that 16 mils OR 14mils thick and are fairly rigid compared to other multi-layer flexitanks. 6
b. The pump rate should be reduced for the final 20% of the discharge if the flange does not have some sort of anti-suction device. EPT has a new, proprietary flange that has anti-suction incorporated into its design. See below. How do we avoid pooling of material in the corners/pooling of material at end of the bags? EPT flexitanks are tied up in all four corners of the container. Upon discharge, the corners are emptied early. The front corners have straps long enough to be cross-tied to form a cone in order to force the product to the valve if necessary. The containers should be tilted toward the product valve for discharge. Could we see pictures of the valve assembly and anti-suction flange system used to prevent the inner liner from blocking the valve outlet? What are the tamper evidence/security features? EPT installs a container liner (wear sleeve) that has a protective snout that is closed and secured after the product has been filled. Seals are placed on the valve handle for tamper evidence. After filling and closing the container, bolt seals are place on the door locking mechanisms. Safety, Shelf Life and Food Contact What is the material grade of the film used in the flexitanks? all of our contact materials are made of virgin materials Does your flexitank comply with food contact regulations? Yes, EPT flexitanks comply with FDA and EU regulations. What is the shelf life of a new unused flexitank? In an ideal condition, the shelf life is 2 years. We (EPT) warranty the flexitank up to 1 year after date of sale. 7
Environmental Profile 9-1a Can the entire flexitank or some of the components be reused? The entire system can be recycled. EPT reuses the steel bars used to secure the flexitanks in the container. What is the recyclable content of the flexitank or the packaging components? 100% How can EPT assist us with our recycling efforts? We can locate trailers, drop empty containers for disposal of flexitanks, bulkheads, and/or bars, remove full containers and replace with an empty, locate recycling companies and/or incinerators, provide removal and disposal assistance with regard to the flexitank and residual product. It easier to assist, if EPT arranges the trucking. Insurance Questions to ask: Where is the final destination? What is the collection point? How many tanks will you be moving on a monthly basis? Is there a local incinerator? A local recycler? Is there a local disposal company for eliminating residual? Can we redeliver residual to your plant to minimize recycling costs and eliminate disposal fees? A flexitank weighs approximately 150 pounds. Annual sales of flexitanks are expected to surpass 500,000 units this year. That is 75,000,000 pounds of waste. To diminish the amount of landfill will require a global effort by the industry, our company, and our customers. In the end, the end user is responsible for choosing to recycle and we are happy to provide the services that will assist them in meeting that goal. Do you have an insurance policy in case of leaks? We have a $50 million in Pollution & Product Liability Insurance. You may use $50 million as a pollution claim or $50 million as a liability claim. Inbound Logistics How many empty flexitanks are delivered per pallet load? 4 What are your packaged dimensions (flexitank in a box)? 45 x 20 x 23 (L x W x H) What are the handling requirements? A forklift or pallet jack is required to move the pallets. 8
What are the storage requirements? Store indoors in a cool dry place away from direct sunlight. In addition, store away from a heat or odor source. What tertiary packaging is there to be disposed of? stretch wrap, and a pallet (wood or corrugated) 2 poly straps, 1 corrugated box, Logistics What types of logistics can EPT handle? We have a full service logistics team that can coordinate all moves needed for door to door including but not limited to trucking, rail, and ocean. What types of logistics and services do we offer? Container selection (refer to checklist) Fitting of flexitank and materials into container by EPT certified fitters (refer to manual) Drayage (trucking) Transloading from bulk transport truck or tank car Load attendance at customer s plant (this can be approximately $100 per FT before gas, mileage, hotel, food, etc) Intermodal rail shipments Ocean freight, freight forwarding, export documentation Recycle and disposal programs (see attached Recycle Service Plan) What information should be gathered from the customer prior to submitting a Request for Quote Form? Get information about the Product to be shipped What is the Product name? Is the product classified as hazardous according to US or international regulations? If so, hazardous material cannot be carried in a flexitank. Provide a Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) to help EPT determine compatibility and transportation compliance Once product is approved for shipment with flexitank, determine which products and services the customer wants and needs: What type of flexitank and capacity? What type of bulkhead is needed? Are heater pads required? 9
9-1a Is a vent line needed? Is a thermal liner needed? (insulated foil liner that covers top, bottom, and side of a container to eliminate or minimize temperature spikes) Do we need an additional hose for transload? Gather plant details where loading will take place Will the plant allow loading of flexitank? (flexitank has no overflow protector) Has the plant loaded flexitanks before? Company name, address, City, State, zip code Contact name, telephone number and email Days and hours for loading. Is appointment time required? Is there a pump? If so what type? Will product be metered? What is the height of the loading rack? Is there a certified scale on site? Is load attendance required for the first load? For every load? By EPT or is a trained driver acceptable? Who is responsible for hooking up the flexitank, opening valves, operating the pump, monitoring the quantity being loaded, emergency response during loading? Is there a mechanism in place to support the hose? (hose should be level with valve) What is required for plant access? TWIC, PPE, etc? Will a certified EPT Fitter or the customer fit the flexitank? If the customer, determine if customer will cover EPT expenses for the required training. EPT Technical Department will coordinate training with the plant What export documentation is required? Commercial Invoice Certificate of Origin Packing List Letter of Credit Requirements Consular documentation Who will process the AES (Automated Export System)/ Export Declaration filing 10
Dry Liner Questions & Answers 9-1a What is the product being shipped? Is it in a pellet or powder form? What is the current shipping method? Do you have any issues or problems with your current shipping method? What are the estimated number of loads per month or year? If currently using dry liners: Are they film or woven? Do you have a specification, drawing, sample, or additional information that you can provide? What is the location for loading? What is the location for unloading? What type of dry liner makes sense for your operations? Wide-mouth Zip Opening? Standard with Funnel? Top Fill? Open Top? How will you be loading your product into a dry liner? Belt Conveyor? Pneumatic? Screw Conveyor? Gravity? Reverse Tilt? How will you be unloading your product from a dry liner? Rotary Valve (used for a closed air system)? Pneumatic? Gravity Envelope, Dump Station? Receiving Hopper? Vacuum? Dense Phase Vacuum? For unloading, do you use any special equipment or connection? What type of Tilting Equipment do you have or need? Lifting 5 th Wheel? Chassis Tilt? Platform Tilt? What solutions are important to you? Moisture Barrier? Temperature Control? Odor Control? Is static charge a concern? Any other problems, issues, or concerns? 11