Truck Blow-Off Station (TBOS)
Truck Blow-Off Station (TBOS): Preventing Plastic Pellet Loss in Logistics
During the bulk transport of microplastics, plastic pellets, flakes, and powders, transport companies rely heavily on tank trucks and containers. However, the loading process often results in accidental spillage. Loose pellets remain lodged around manholes, on the roof, and along the sides of the trucks. As soon as these vehicles hit the road, wind and weather scatter these microplastics into the environment, causing severe ecological contamination.
Developed in collaboration with our partner Solvair, the Truck Blow-Off Station (TBOS) is an innovative, automated installation designed specifically to combat this issue. By systematically blowing stray pellets off tank trucks before they leave your industrial site, the TBOS ensures your logistics operations are 100% pellet-free and environmentally compliant.
An energy-efficient blower was also developed to provide efficient results at high power. This solution is therefore energy-efficient and a very green solution. Moreover, the 3-year warranty provides users with sufficient confidence. With some 10 references at leading terminals, this system is now probably the most widely used system.
Operation Clean Sweep® (OCS) & Environmental Compliance
Operation Clean Sweep® (OCS) is a vital international initiative aimed at achieving zero pellet loss to the environment. Implementing a structural solution like the TBOS demonstrates a strong corporate commitment to sustainability and strict adherence to OCS guidelines. By integrating a blow-off station, chemical terminals and transport hubs actively prevent plastic waste from polluting public roads and waterways, thereby protecting their brand reputation and avoiding environmental fines.
Set up of a TBOS installation
The station consists of a combination of carefully placed nozzles, a powerful blower, a set of tubes/piping, electrical cabinet, ... . Our solution does not use our standard air knives but we chose for powerful blower nozzles. Through multiple tests, we have concluded that these nozzles are more efficient than a classic air knife.
If you want to centralise the blown-off pellets we can offer two solutions: A movable blow-off frame or a tunnel where the TBOS has it's place. Both systems also act as protection for your TBOS installation.
Innovative Technology: Blower Nozzles vs. Air Knives
While standard air knives are common in surface drying applications, extensive field testing has proven that they are less effective for dislodging heavy plastic grains from complex vehicle geometries.
Instead, the TBOS relies on powerful blower nozzles. These nozzles deliver a concentrated, high-impact air stream capable of reaching deep crevices and manhole covers. Powered by a heavy-duty, energy-efficient blower, the system delivers maximum impact with minimal energy consumption—making it a highly sustainable ("green") solution.
- Proven Reliability: Supported by a robust electrical control cabinet and over 10 successful references at leading chemical terminals, this setup is currently the most widely adopted and trusted system on the market.
- Guaranteed Quality: To provide maximum confidence in this industrial investment, the TBOS blower system comes with a comprehensive 3-year warranty.
Flexible Containment Options
To effectively centralize and collect the blown-off pellets, Rycobel offers two architectural solutions to house your TBOS installation:
- A Movable Blow-Off Frame: A highly flexible, freestanding structure that can be relocated if your site layout changes.
- A Dedicated Wash/Blow-Off Tunnel: A permanent enclosed structure that offers maximum containment and acts as superior weather protection for your TBOS equipment.
Comprehensive Site Management Solutions
True zero-pellet-loss requires a holistic approach. Beyond the TBOS installation, Rycobel is your dedicated partner for total site management. We offer complementary OCS-compliant systems to capture spilled materials across your entire facility:
- Sieving in Gullies: Custom-fitted sieves installed directly into surface drains and gutters, ensuring that stray plastic grains never enter the wastewater or drainage systems.
- Loading Systems for Silo-Trucks: Specialized filling mouths and engineered loading bellows designed to drastically reduce the number of wasted grains during the initial filling process.
- Grain Separators in Catch Pits: Advanced underground filtration systems that capture and separate all plastic pellets in central collection pits before the water leaves your site.