Piab BL40-5 Bag Handling Suction Cup Review: Specs, Price and Applications
The Piab BL40-5 is a 40 mm silicone suction cup designed to give a strong, secure grip on even difficult-to-handle bags, including frozen food bags and bags with liquid, viscous or dense contents.
It combines a long, stable bellow with an elongated thin sealing lip of wide diameter for a larger working area. The silicone complies with FDA standards, is easy to clean, handles -76°F to 392°F and works with a range of Piab vacuum pumps.
Quick Verdict
A specialist bag cup that reduces changeovers by handling many bag sizes, shapes and materials, with direct food-contact approval.
Piab BL40-5 Bag Handling Suction Cup at a Glance
Specification | Details |
Product type | Bag handling suction cup |
Model | BL40-5 |
Size | 40 mm (30 mm and 50 mm announced) |
Material | Silicone, FDA compliant |
Temperature range | -76°F to 392°F |
Bellow | Long, stable, thick for heavy bags |
Lip | Elongated, thin, wide diameter |
Flow | High initial flow |
Compatibility | Range of Piab vacuum pumps |
Price | Request a quote |
Design and Operating Principle
Bags are hard to grip because their surface is flexible, wrinkled and often porous. A thin, wide lip conforms to the film and covers a larger area, so small wrinkles do not break the seal.
A thick, long bellow gives the stiffness to carry heavy bags of liquids or dense food without the cup collapsing, while still compensating for level differences. High initial flow evacuates the cup quickly for fast pick-up.
Silicone tolerates both freezer and hot environments across -76°F to 392°F and is easy to clean, which suits food lines with washdown.
Integration and Selection
Pair the cup with a Piab pump sized for the leakage of the bag material. Use multiple cups for large or heavy bags, and allow for bellow compression in the approach height.
Validate on the full range of bag sizes to confirm the reduced-changeover benefit.
Industry Applications
Industry | Typical use |
Frozen food | Picking frozen bags |
Food packaging | Top-loading bags into cases |
Pet food | Handling dense bags |
E-commerce | Picking polybags |
Functional Uses
Bag picking
Top loading into cartons
Handling heavy liquid bags
Level compensation
Pros and Cons
Advantages
FDA-compliant silicone
Very wide temperature range
Handles many bag types
High initial flow
Limitations
Currently 40 mm size only
Silicone wears faster than polyurethane
Bag-specific design
Who Should Consider the Piab BL40-5 Bag Handling Suction Cup?
The BL40-5 suits food and e-commerce packers who handle many bag formats.
Price and Availability
Price: Request a quote. Piab prices the BL40-5 by configuration, options and quantity. Budget for the complete solution, including mounting, vacuum or air supply, valves, sensors and commissioning, rather than the component alone.
Further Reading
Piab BL40-5 Bag Handling Suction Cup FAQ
What size is the BL40-5?
40 mm; 30 mm and 50 mm versions are announced.
What material is it made of?
FDA-compliant silicone.
What temperatures can it handle?
-76°F to 392°F.
Can it handle frozen food bags?
Yes.
Can it touch food directly?
Yes, it can contact food directly in top-loading applications.
How much does it cost?
Request a quote from Piab.
