Seeflex 040E
Good question! Users regularly query the internet wanting to know the meaning or definition of BFM in BFM® fittings.
This revolutionary cuffed flexible connector system was invented by Blair Forres McPheat.
Absolutely. BFM® fittings can be manually washed or maintained through a clean-in-place system. There are specific guidelines for Seeflex, Woven, and CIP-Clean-in-Place Change over procedure.
Yes! BFM® fitting products are now all certified as Halal compliant. View the document here.
Halal Certification for the food and pharmaceutical industry confirms a product fulfills the requirements demanded by the Islamic Law for its consumption by the Muslim population.
Part of this certification requirement for Halal manufacturers means they have to ensure that their products are prepared, processed, transported or stored using appliances or media that are exempt from what is unlawful under Islamic law.
Seeflex 040E has been confirmed by IBExU as Atex compliant for all Dust Zones for standard diameters up to 1m (39.5″) long for freefall and 200mm (8″) long for pneumatic conveyance. It is also compliant for Outer Gas Zones 1 & 2 for all standard diameters up to 200mm (8″)(Zone 1) and 1m (39.5″) (Zone 2) for freefall and up to 200mm (8″) for pneumatic conveyance. Refer to the BFM Atex Declaration of Compliance for more information.
No – Currently Camlon is only welded to Seeflex 040E inner connectors.
For connectors from 700mm (27.5 inches) to 1,000mm (39.5 inches) in diameter, a maximum length of 500mm (20 inches) applies. For connectors from 1,050mm (41 inches) up to the maximum of 1,650mm (65 inches) in diameter, a maximum length of 200mm (8 inches) applies. Under certain circumstances (and depending on the application) there may be a possibility for a slightly longer length, however, this would need to be discussed with BFM®.
Yes, the silicone is post-cured which makes it food grade.
Seeflex 040E can be used with 5 PSI on a a standard connector length (up to 200mm Long). Above this we recommend using a SS Ring support ring or the Seeflex 040E with a Camlon outer layer. Please contact a BFM represetative for more information.
There a number of reasons the Seeflex 040E could go yellow. It could be due to use with chemicals, oils, fats or exposure to UV light. In most of these situations this is purely staining of the media, and there is no loss of strength or integrity. Please contact one of our representatives if you have any concerns. If you are using with a CIP (clean in place) solution you simply need to ensure that you thoroughly wash all the chemicals off the BFM spigot and connector before you start up again. If there is any caustic or acid left sitting on the cuff area, it will go yellow over time.
If the contact with the ethanol is permanent the Seeflex 040E is not suitable. If it is sporadic and low temperature then you should have no problem. You may need to run a few tests on the media to check the suitability, as it will depend on time and temperature of contact with the solvent and the application. Please contact one of our representatives to discuss this further.
Seeflex 040E can be used outdoors. It has been proven for use in both the sun and the water. Extended exposure to UV will cause the Seeflex 040E to turn a little yellow, but the media will not lose any strength or integrity.
Seeflex 040E is very strong and has been used with sugar, crystallized lactose, aggregates etc. Installing with an internal flow correction system is an additional way to further improve the system and avoid undue abrasion.
Yes, although the fat may stain Seeflex 040E, and cause it to go a little yellow, the strength of the media will not be affected greatly.
Yes, although the BFM® fitting is designed to provide a 100% seal on powder applications, we do not make this statement with liquid. The Seeflex 040E works very well and is used in a number of applications, although there may also be the occasional very small leak (drips). The composition of the liquid would also need to be checked to ensure compatibility with Seeflex.
Between 3 and 9 pH is generally acceptable, and outside this it is largely dependent on concentration, application and duration of contact. It’s important to remember that the pH scale alone doesn’t specifically help determining resistance of the materials – the pH scale will provide an indication of the strength, but product type, concentrations and temperatures are far more important. Our woven Teflex is an excellent alternative for use with acids or alkalis. This is a pure PTFE media which can be used on most products and up to very high temperatures. It is best to double check with us if there are any concerns regarding media compatibility.
It depends on the type of oil. Some oils are very aggressive and would degrade the polyurethane and the tight seal of the spigot connections can also be adversely affected by oils.
Yes, Seeflex 040E is used by many companies around the world who regularly use nitrogen to purge lines with no problem.
It should be noted, however, that we have not undertaken gas leak testing to a specified industry leak rate standard. We have completed air leak testing (a 600mm connector held a low vacuum pressure for more than 10 minutes).
The BFM® is not certified or recommended for gas sealing in safety of life or mission critical applications.
A Seeflex 040E with rings will be more resilient to the vacuum than the Flexi. You could also use TR for extra resistance. Try and keep the connector as short as possible, and small gaps between rings.
Although we have tested the TR version of the BFM® Seeflex fittings under vacuum to over 0.8 bar vacuum, we would not recommend a Seeflex connector for that much pressure (refer to the ‘BFM® Limitations: Negative Pressure’ document). However, depending on the length of the connector and the type of vacuum (i.e. will it be gradual increases, is it continuous, is it sudden and/or occasional) it may be possible with the insertion of rings in the connector. The length is the most critical element as greater lengths will cause the walls to suck in further, potentially placing them in the product flow increasing likely abrasion. If having a non-transparent connector is an option, the LM4 connector is a good option. Because it is a woven fabric, the LM4 will suck in outside air which is filtered through the material.
For vacuum, the best way to keep the connector ‘open’ is to use SS Rings (This is generally only possible with connectors over 100mm long). Refer to the ‘BFM® Limitations: Negative Pressure’ document for more information. Another option is to use fabric connectors, such as the LM3 or LM4 which ‘breathe’ and filter air into the system. Refer to the ‘BFM® Limitations: Negative Pressure’ document for more information.
No – the maximum operating temperature is 85ºC (185ºF). The material used to make the Flexi connector is lighter and uses a different manufacture process to the 040E/020E. The metal rings also add temperature.
Yes it is. Seeflex 040E complies with the following regulations: FDA CFR 177.1680 and 177.2600, USDA and 3A (20-).
There are Seeflex 040E fittings running through a number of metal detectors around the world with no problem. Metal detectors have an arc in which there can be no metal, you just need to ensure the spigots are welded outside of this arc (ie. welded to the pipe both above and below the metal detector). The BFM® connector then runs right through the metal detector. In the very unlikely event Seeflex 040E were to have any problems with false results, then the Seeflex 040AS could be used without issue. The metal detector specs will often tell you what ohm resistance the material needs to be within, you could check these.
Yes – Seeflex 040E is one of the strongest flexible connector materials available with abrasion and tear resistance in both directions. This extra strength in comparison to other materials means it does not need to be as thick, whilst offering greater flexibility.
This will depend somewhat on what is in the laundry soap. In general the Seeflex 040E will work well. There is often Sodium Carbonate or Sodium salt which may start to break down the Seeflex over an extended period. Unilever in New Zealand run the BFM® fitting on soap product without issue.
We have BFM® fitting running with coffee in a number of plants around the world. There is no difference in terms of connector life than any other general application, it will depend on the conditions. There have been no problems with oils from coffee affecting the media.
For these diameters, the minimum connector length is 150mm long. Refer to ‘BFM® Guidelines: Tapered Connectors’ information sheet for guidance.
Seeflex 040E, Seeflex 040AS, LM4, LM3 and TEFLEX can all be supplied with rings. Seeflex 020E may be supplied on request, but Camlon connectors, Kevlar covers and Blackout Covers, cannot be supplied with rings.
No – BFM® Global Ltd certifies that in the manufacturing of our products we do not intentionally use any of the below mentioned substances and it is not foreseen that they could be produced: Bisphenol-A (BPA) Bis (2-ethylhexy) phthalate (DEPH) Dibutyl Phthalate (DBP) Benzyl Butyl Phthalate (BBP). A copy of a Safety Declaration to this effect is available on request.
Seeflex 040E is a synthetic organic material that does contain substances derived from tallow sources. Our suppliers have assured us that processing conditions used in the production of this tallow derivative product are in compliance with the minimum conditions described below for the processing of rendered fats listed in Annex XIII, Chapter XI of the EU Regulation 142/2011/EC, and the Notes for Guidance EMA/410/01 Rev 3. Additionally, this tallow derivative product is compliant with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration regulations regarding the use of prohibited cattle materials in food (21 CFR § 189.5) and cosmetics (21CFR § 700.27), as prohibited cattle materials do not include tallow derivatives.
The resistance of the connector materials to chemicals is very dependent on the strength (concentration) of the chemical, the process and how the system is maintained (cleaned). The LM4 is a 100% Polyester woven fabric so its capability with either chemical is limited. Seeflex 040E is also limited with these chemicals – it is important to know the concentrations and the application. Teflex is the optimum material for use with chemicals as it is resistant to acids.
Yes, sodium sulphate has a pH of 7 and will be suitable for Seeflex 040E.
BFM® Spigots
For a 150mm connector, the minimum distance is 75mm, for all other lengths, it’s 100mm. A 250mm connector can also have 2 rings that are 75mm in from the spigots (and therefore 100mm apart from each other).
Rings on longer lengths are recommended to be spaced evenly 100mm apart.
The smallest gap you can have between the BFM® spigots is 65mm (2.5″) for an 80mm (3″) long BFM® connector. Note that this gap may not be suitable for frequently changed connectors or for those with more than just a slight vibratory movement. Please also take some time to read the fitting instructions for our BFM® spigots. BFM® spigots page.
100mm diameter spigots are 1.5mm thick. All other spigot sizes are 2mm thick.
The BFM® Spigots come in a range of exact sizes, eliminating the imprecise nature of current connector widths and ensuring a perfect fit with the BFM® connector. You choose the spigot that closely matches your pipe size.
No – BFM® spigots are only manufactured in 50mm (2 inch) increments. The best way to fit the spigot to the pipework is to taper or flange it to suit the standard sizes.
It is possible, however, Morris couplings need straight length equivalent to 1 1/2 times coupling length, so there would need to be enough space to fit this. You would want at least an inch of the spigot to remain to get enough clamping area.
When installing the BFM® fitting you need to weld the spigots in place so that the correct Installation Gap (IG) is created for your connector length. The connector length will then depend on how much space is available for the installation, what length needs to be covered, and if there is movement. The tails of the BFM® spigot can be cut back by up to 40mm which allows flexibility to create the correct IG when installing the fittings. In most applications the best connector length is to pick a standard (stocked) item, 100mm – 200mm Long. If there is movement (such as a sifter) or an offset installation, having a longer connector is always preferable – as a rule the connector should be no less than 1.5x the diameter in these applications. The IG will need to be adjusted to allow for the movement with offset and oscillating installations, and a calculator is available to help size the IG correctly– contact BFM® for more information.
Because the stainless steel spigot will not directly weld to aluminium, another technique will need to be used, such as welding a flange to the spigot and then attaching by bolt or rivet to the pipe or using a Morris coupling to attach the spigot to the existing aluminium pipe.
Our spigots are only available in standard thickness: 100mm are 1.5mm thick, all other diameters are 2mm. The 100mm BFM® spigots are sized to fit standard tube which is measured externally, all other BFM® spigot diameters are measured internally to accommodate nominal bore standard pipe.
BFM® spigots are available in 304 SS, 316 SS, and C22 Hastelloy.
The internal finish is 0.8 micrometers Roughness Average (32Ra microinches).
Square-to-round transition adaptations are easily achieved – see examples below. We provide in-house design, engineering, and fabrication services, and can easily guide the install or ship over fabricated adapters and modified spigots, all ready to install.
Yes! BFM® fitting products are all Kosher. View the certificate here.
Kosher certification is a standalone, international quality standard which is used to describe food and drink that complies with Jewish religious dietary law.
For a product to be kosher certified, and to qualify for a kosher certificate, each ingredient, food additive and processing aid used in its production must also be kosher.
Kosher Compliance is being increasingly demanded in the food sector, particularly in North America and Europe and we’re pleased to advise that all BFM® fitting products have been approved as 100% synthetic and Kosher all year round, including for Passover.