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Pigging
Systems
Fixed Pigging System Type: KFM
Fixed pigs are brush pigs with only a single main body. The bristle arrangement cannot be changed.
Modular Pigging System Type: KMM
Modular pigs are brush pigs with multiple main bodies. The user has the option to replace individual main bodies or exchange them for others.
Turbo Pigging System Type: KTM
Turbo pigs are brush pigs where the brushes rotate in opposite directions during movement inside the pipe.
Special Pigging System
Pigging systems for special tasks, e.g. drying, polishing or cleaning of flexible tubes.
Transmitting and Receiving Stations
Components for inserting and removing pigs from the pipeline.
Pigging Systems for Pneumatic Conveying
Efficient Cleaning and Maintenance of Pipeline Systems
Pigs are specialized cleaning and maintenance elements that play a central role in pneumatic conveying. They ensure product quality and provide efficient bulk material conveying by removing deposits, residues, and contaminants in pipelines. Our pigging systems significantly contribute to making the operation of pipeline systems safer and more cost-effective.
Applications of Pigging Systems
Pigs are used in almost all areas of pneumatic conveying in the bulk material industry. They are particularly important when:
- Consistently high product quality must be ensured,
- the fouling of pipelines is to be prevented,
- and contamination must be ruled out during a product change.
Why Pigging Systems from RATEC?
Our pigs offer numerous advantages that significantly reduce maintenance efforts:
- Cost-effective cleaning of pipelines in pneumatic conveying systems.
- Prevention of blockages and deposits in pipelines.
- Increased hygiene and product quality through regular cleaning.
Which conveying lines can be cleaned with pigs?
- Pressure conveying lines and suction conveying lines can both be cleaned with pigging systems.
Purpose and Benefits of Pigging
Pigging offers many advantages for pipeline systems:
- Removal of dust, angel hair, and other deposits from pipelines.
- Increase in the quality and hygiene standard of the conveyed product.
- Prevention of contamination and product carryover during product changes.
- Prevention of pipeline blockages and fouling in the lines.
Industries that can use pigging systems
Pigs are indispensable in many industries:
- Plastics industry
- Building materials industry
- Food industry
Characteristics and Variants of Our Pigs
Our pigs are available in various sizes, materials, and shapes, suitable for diverse applications. The pigging systems range from simple pig balls to complex turbo pigs, which are specially adapted to the requirements of your pipeline systems.
Components of a Pigging System
A complete pigging system consists of several components:
- Pig launching station (manual, semi-automated, or fully automated)
- Propellant gas unit (air supply for pneumatic conveying)
- Pig receiving station (manual, semi-automated, or fully automated with pig return)
- Disposal unit for contaminants (not always required)
- Control unit (not always required)
Advantages of Pigging Systems
The use of pigs offers numerous advantages:
- Reduction of downtime and maintenance costs through efficient cleaning without dismantling pipes.
- Constant conveying performance and operating conditions over the entire lifespan of the plant.
- Increased safety, as the risk of hazardous material residues in pipelines is minimized.
- Environmentally friendly, as pigs operate without the use of chemicals or cleaning agents.
Types of Pigs
We offer a variety of pigs for different requirements:
- Pig balls
- Fixed pigs
- Modular pigs
- Turbo pigs
Special Pig Designs
For special requirements, we also offer:
- Pigs for ATEX areas (explosion-proof pigs)
- FDA-compliant pigs for use in the food industry
- Detectable pigs
Handling and Operation of Pigging Systems
The operation of our pigging systems is simple and enables fast and efficient cleaning without extensive downtime. Our launching and receiving stations guarantee effortless insertion and removal of the pig.
When is pigging not possible?
There are certain conditions under which pigging is not feasible:
- Pipelines with large diameter changes
- Internal installations in the pipe
- Hard encrustations in the lines
- Excessively large product quantities in the pipe
For existing systems that are not piggable, we offer customized solutions and modifications to adapt the systems to your requirements.