Choosing the right material day bin can make a noticeable difference to the way plastic materials are stored, handled and supplied to production machinery.
Whether you are feeding an individual injection moulding machine, supporting a wider material conveying system or simply looking for a cleaner and more organised way to manage raw materials, the right day bin should be selected around your process rather than capacity alone.
From bin size and mobility to loading, discharge and material level monitoring, here are the key things to consider when choosing an aluminium material day bin.
1. What size material day bin do you need?
Capacity is usually the first consideration but bigger does not always mean better.
The ideal day bin should hold enough material to support your production requirements without taking up unnecessary floor space or holding excessive quantities of material at the machine.
Summit Fabrications manufactures aluminium material day bins in four standard capacities:
- 80 litres
- 200 litres
- 400 litres
- 830 litres
When selecting a size, consider your material consumption rate, machine throughput, batch sizes and how frequently operators currently need to replenish material.
A smaller day bin may be better suited to lower-volume applications, frequent material changes or limited production space. Higher-throughput processes may benefit from a larger capacity that reduces the need for frequent refilling.
2. Should your material day bin be fixed or mobile?
Where and how the bin will be used is another important consideration.
For dedicated production cells where the same material is regularly supplied to the same machine, a fixed material day bin can provide a simple and permanent storage solution.
Where production requirements change, a mobile day bin fitted with castors can provide greater flexibility, allowing material to be moved between machines or production areas when required.
This can be particularly useful for manufacturers processing multiple materials, colours or product types.
3. How will material be loaded into the bin?
Think about how operators or your material handling system will fill the day bin.
For manually loaded materials, options such as a hinged lid can provide easy access while helping to keep material protected.
A bag splitting grid can make emptying bagged plastic materials easier and reduce manual handling around the bin.
If the day bin forms part of a central material handling or conveying system, its inlet arrangement can also be configured to suit the wider installation.
Considering how material enters the bin from the outset helps ensure it integrates effectively with the rest of your process.
4. How will material be conveyed from the day bin?
Material also needs to leave the bin efficiently and consistently.
Depending on your application, you may require a single outlet supplying one processing machine or multiple outlets serving different parts of your material conveying system.
Summit Fabrications can provide different outlet configurations, including one-way and two-way take-off boxes, to suit your conveying requirements.
Choosing the correct outlet arrangement can help maintain consistent material flow and simplify integration with vacuum loaders and conveying equipment.
5. Do you need material level monitoring?
Running short of material can lead to avoidable production interruptions, so it is worth considering how operators will monitor the contents of the day bin.
An integrated sight glass allows operators to quickly check material levels visually.
For applications requiring additional monitoring, an optional level alarm can provide further control and help highlight when material needs replenishing.
This can be particularly valuable for higher-throughput processes or automated material handling systems.
6. Standard or bespoke material day bins?
A standard aluminium material day bin will suit many plastics processing applications, but every production environment is different.
Machine layouts, available floor space, material requirements and existing conveying equipment can all influence the ideal design.
Because Summit Fabrications designs and manufactures its material day bins in-house, we can adapt configurations to suit specific applications.
From alternative dimensions and outlet arrangements to additional features and completely bespoke fabrications, your material storage solution can be designed around the way your process actually operates.
Find the right aluminium material day bin for your process
A well-specified material day bin can help improve material handling, keep production areas organised and provide a reliable supply of plastic material to your processing equipment.
Summit Fabrications manufactures aluminium material day bins in capacities from 80 to 830 litres, with a range of options including castors, hinged lids, bag splitting grids, level alarms and multiple outlet configurations.