In Brief
Feldbinder EUT and KIP are two fundamentally different bulk trailer types — EUT is a horizontal pneumatic silo with an aerating floor in food-grade stainless steel; KIP is a hydraulic tipping body with gravity discharge. They differ in tank material, unloading principle, typical cargo and service requirements. PHS Magnum in Chorula services both: stainless steel welding and valve overhaul for EUT; hydraulic cylinder and hinge repair for KIP.
Feldbinder EUT and KIP – Two Approaches to Bulk Transport
Feldbinder Spezialfahrzeugwerke GmbH has been building bulk trailers for decades. The EUT and KIP represent two distinct engineering philosophies for moving dry bulk cargo:
- EUT (Einkammer-Universal-Tanker) – sealed pneumatic silo, stainless steel, aerating floor
- KIP (Kippbehälter) – hydraulic tipping body, gravity discharge
Both carry dry bulk materials, but their suitability, transport conditions and service needs are entirely different.
Feldbinder EUT – Aerating Floor Pneumatic Silo
Construction
The EUT is a cylindrical or oval horizontal tank welded from stainless steel plate (typically AISI 304L / 1.4307 or AISI 316L / 1.4404). Tank capacity ranges from 30 to 60 m³ for single-chamber versions; multi-chamber variants exceed 80 m³. The tank is a registered pressure vessel subject to periodic TDT inspection.
Key structural elements:
- Aerating floor – textile filter pads or PTFE membrane sections set into the tank floor; compressed air passes through them to fluidise the cargo
- Bottom discharge spout – DN100 or DN150 stainless steel spout with bottom discharge valve or butterfly valve; O-ring or flat seal in EPDM, PTFE or food-grade silicone
- Pressure relief valve – factory-set, TDT-legalized, positioned at the top of the tank
- Manhole and fill dome – top-entry, gasket-sealed, with dust filter
How It Unloads
- The tractor’s compressor pressurises the sub-floor plenum (0.3–0.5 bar)
- Air passes through the aeration pads and fluidises the bulk cargo
- The fluidised material flows like a liquid toward the discharge spout
- Internal tank pressure (up to 1.5–2.0 bar during pneumatic conveying) transfers the material through a flexible discharge hose to the receiving silo
The entire unloading cycle takes place inside a sealed, pressurised tank with no contact between cargo and external atmosphere — which is the fundamental advantage for food and pharmaceutical transport.
Typical Cargo for EUT
- Polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP) granules
- Flour, starch, icing sugar
- Mineral powders: chalk, kaolin, talc
- Dry pharmaceutical bulk
- PVC, ABS and other thermoplastic granules
Food-contact versions of the EUT must meet Ra ≤ 0.8 µm surface roughness (ISO 4287) and EC Regulation 1935/2004 or FDA 21 CFR requirements for food-contact materials.
Feldbinder KIP – Hydraulic Tipping Body
Construction
The KIP trailer has a body shaped roughly as a horizontal cylinder or V/U-profile prism, mounted on a chassis with a rear hinge pivot. The body material is typically carbon steel (S355), aluminium, or stainless steel for food/special versions.
Key structural elements:
- Telescopic or pivot hydraulic cylinder – lifts the front of the body to achieve a tipping angle of 40–55°
- Rear hinge assembly – the pivot point around which the body rotates; bronze or polymer bushings, grease nipples
- Rear gate and seal – hinged or sliding rear gate, edge gasket, mechanical latches
- Hydraulic system – pump (tractor PTO or on-board electric pump), control valve, hydraulic lines, cylinder
How It Unloads
- The hydraulic cylinder extends and lifts the front of the body
- The body rotates around the rear hinge to 40–55° tipping angle
- Cargo discharges by gravity through the open rear gate
- After emptying, the body lowers back to the chassis and is locked by mechanical latches
KIP requires no compressor or pneumatic installation at the receiving site — only a flat, stable unloading area. Unloading is fast but uncontrolled, and the open body exposes cargo to the atmosphere.
Typical Cargo for KIP
- Grain (wheat, maize, rapeseed)
- Construction aggregates (gravel, sand, grit)
- Wood pellets, charcoal
- Dry industrial waste
- Granular fertiliser (non-food-contact applications)
Service Differences: EUT vs KIP
| Component | EUT (pneumatic) | KIP (tipping) |
|---|---|---|
| Discharge valve / gate | Bottom spout DN100–150, valve seal, butterfly valve | Rear gate, edge seal, latches |
| Aeration pads | Replace every 3–7 years or on damage | Not applicable |
| Hydraulic system | Not applicable (or auxiliary only) | Telescopic cylinder, pump, lines, seals |
| Rear hinge / tipping pivot | Not applicable | Inspect every 12 months, bushing replacement |
| Tank welding | Certified welder ISO 9606-1 (stainless) | S355 or stainless welding |
| Pressure vessel inspection (TDT) | Mandatory every 6 years | Not applicable as pressure vessel |
| Passivation after repair | Mandatory for food-grade versions | Optional for stainless versions |
Common EUT Faults
- Valve seal leak – worn EPDM or PTFE seal at the discharge spout. Sign: product residue outside the tank at the spout after unloading. Repair: 2–4 hours.
- Aeration pad failure – torn membrane or blocked pad. Sign: uneven fluidisation, cargo bridging. Repair: demount floor sections, replace aeration pads.
- Weld corrosion – particularly at seams on tanks carrying products containing chlorides, or after inadequate passivation post-repair. Repair: 304L/316L welding + passivation + Ra measurement.
- Pressure relief valve – service and re-legalisation at each TDT inspection.
Common KIP Faults
- Hydraulic cylinder oil leak – worn cylinder seals. Sign: oil trace on the chassis or cylinder rod. Repair: seal kit replacement or cylinder overhaul.
- Rear wall / hinge weld crack – high stress concentration at the rear wall and hinge zone. Repair: structural welding with documentation.
- Worn hinge bushings – body play, uncontrolled tipping. Repair: replace bronze or polymer bushings, full hinge kit if required.
- Rear gate seal failure – worn edge gasket or deformed gate. Repair: gasket replacement, gate straightening.
Which Trailer to Choose – EUT or KIP?
Choose EUT when:
- Cargo is fine-grained (flour, PE/PP granules, icing sugar, starch)
- The receiving site uses a silo with pneumatic conveying
- Hermetic, contamination-free transport is required (food, pharma)
- Documentation of tank cleanliness is required by the shipper
Choose KIP when:
- Cargo is coarse and does not require hermetic transport (grain, aggregates)
- Fast gravity unloading at flat sites is the priority
- No pneumatic installation available at the receiving facility
- Lower trailer acquisition cost is a key factor
PHS Magnum – EUT and KIP Service in Chorula
PHS Magnum provides full Feldbinder trailer service at our facility in Chorula near Opole (4 km from A4 motorway, 180 km from the German border):
- Stainless steel (304L/316L) tank welding – ISO 9606-1 certified welders
- Passivation and Ra measurement – certificates required by TDT and food shippers
- EUT bottom valve overhaul: spouts, seals, butterfly valves
- KIP hydraulic cylinder repair and replacement
- Hinge and latch regeneration for KIP
- TDT pressure vessel inspections for EUT tanks
Contact: +48 602 716 551 · biuro@magnumchorula.pl
Related: Feldbinder trailer service · TDT inspection · Spare parts · Repair & renovation