Trade Bodies Recommend TODO®
28 January 2003
Source: HAZARDOUS CARGO BULLETIN, Jan 2003
Todo® International, which has long maintained that it offers 'the most comprehensive range of dry-break® couplings for chemical applications in the world,' may now have solid backing for this claim after two trade bodies made up of major European chemical companies concluded that its trademark Todo-Matic® Dry-Break® couplings should be recognized as an industry standard.
One of those organizations, known as the Technical Working Group or TECH 2000, carried out testing beginning in 2001 of dry-break couplings from several top manufacturers, and now says that the Todo-Matic was the leader in its class for use in the transport of dangerous chemicals. Before reaching its conclusion, the working group tested each of the couplings for ease of handling, ability to reduce exposure to hazardous vapors, robustness and whether or not a compatible key system was available.
In addition, two ad hoc working groups of the Federation of the European Chemical Industry (CEFIC), which were assigned a similar task of selecting a dry-break coupling to be recognized as the industry standard for the transport and handling of acrylonitrile and ethylene oxide, also came to the conclusion that the Todo coupling should receive top recognition in those areas.
Todo says it received the acknowledgement because it offers an unmatched design that guarantees that valves open and close automatically on connection and disconnection, operate with a simple, single action that involves no levers or switches, are guaranteed to close prior to disconnect and a maintain a maximum residual loss on disconnection of 0.35 cc.
Following the recommendations of these trade bodies, BP Chemicals – one of the companies involved in conducting the studies – now says it intends to fit Todo couplings on all its ethylene oxide transportation equipment. This is in-line with the January 1, 2007 date that CEFIC has set as a target for full implementation of the working groups’ recommendations by its members.
'BP Chemicals is promoting the Todo coupling to its customers in continental Europe not only because of the advantages identified in the studies conducted by CEFIC and TECH 2000, but also because of the good cooperation it has with the Todo management team, and the continuous support that is offered,' says Luc Van de Velde, senior distribution safety engineer for BP Chemicals Belgium.
Todo has also obtained TÜV approval for its dry-break coupling for use as a first closure on top-loading equipment. Sizes in which the product is available in aluminium range from the 1-inch DN25 model to the 6-inch DN150 model. Stainless steel versions range from the 1-inch DN25 model to the 4-inch DN100 model. These have a maximum working pressure of 25.0 bar-g with a minimum safety factor of 5:1 (125.0 bar-g). Gunmetal versions of the Todo-Matic are also available, and couplings made with special materials such as Hastalloy C276 are available by special order.
