Balcan crushes for safe disposal
Balcan Engineering has designed a new range of equipment for safe and economical emptying and disposal of vials, ampoules and small bottles.
The Lincolnshire-based firm has developed equipment which it supplies to laboratories, hospitals, universities and research institutes world-wide.
Balcan's equipment is built to handle glass or plastic vials, ampoules and small bottles, with or without liquid contents.
To reduce the risk of sparks, all the company's machines are manually or pneumatically operated and made throughout of stainless steel. The mechanisms do not allow any containers to pass through unbroken. By crushing, rather than pulverising, the glass, any liquids remaining in the containers separate more easily, Balcan says.
An added advantage is the reduction in the volume of glass - up to 80% - which can significantly cut disposal costs. The Balcan range has four basic types of vial/bottle crushers, each with different applications.
Water spray can be added to assist the flow of viscous liquids and rinse debris and Balcan can also supply an extractor system so the machine can be operated at negative pressure and fumes ventilated away.
The safe disposal of all types of clinical and potentially hazardous waste is a highly topical issue covered by increasingly stringent legislation.