Why Choose a Tapered BFM® Fitting Sleeve for Your Facility?

Tapered BFM® fitting sleeves are becoming an increasingly popular solution for customers who need a reliable, hygienic way to connect equipment with different pipe diameters—without the hassle or cost of custom steel transitions. These flexible connectors are specifically designed to connect two spigots of different diameters, helping you maintain a clean, streamlined process flow across your system.

 

What Is a Tapered BFM® Fitting Sleeve?

Just as the name suggests, a tapered sleeve has a conical shape that allows it to join two differently sized BFM® spigots. This means you can connect, for example, a 150mm pipe on one end to a 100mm pipe on the other, using a single, flexible connector.

To install a tapered sleeve, you’ll need to mount two BFM® spigots of different diameters directly onto your piping or process equipment. The larger spigot is placed on the side with a bigger outlet or inlet, and the smaller one is installed where the reduced diameter is required. The orientation will depend on your flow direction, material characteristics, and overall system design.

 

 

Why Use a Tapered Sleeve?

There are several reasons why a tapered sleeve might be the perfect solution for your facility. Here are the top three advantages:

1. Perfect Fit for Equipment with Different Diameters

If your current system includes equipment or piping with inconsistent diameters, a tapered BFM® sleeve provides an immediate solution—no costly retrofitting or custom fabrication required.

2. Improved Wear Resistance for Abrasive Products

In systems handling abrasive powders or granules, tapered sleeves can significantly reduce wear. By transitioning from a smaller inlet to a larger outlet, the product is allowed to expand and slow down, preventing it from slamming into the sleeve wall—a common failure point in straight connectors.

3. Save on Custom Fabrication Costs

Rather than fabricating a custom stainless steel reducer or transition piece—which often requires lead time, engineering, and increased costs—you can simply use a tapered flexible sleeve made from one of BFM®’s durable, certified materials.

 

Material Options for Tapered Sleeves

Tapered sleeves can be manufactured in any of BFM®’s standard flexible materials, depending on your process needs:

  • Seeflex 040E – The most popular choice for general powder and food-grade applications

  • Seeflex 020E – A softer alternative for lower-pressure systems

  • LM4 – Ideal for higher temperature environments or where a textile finish is required

  • Teflex – Excellent for chemical resistance and high-temperature applications

Importantly, there are no additional temperature or pressure limitations for tapered sleeves beyond those of the material itself. So you’ll get the same performance and compliance as a standard straight connector.

 

Common Applications

Tapered BFM® sleeves are widely used in:

  • Powder transfer lines between different-sized silos, hoppers, or feeders

  • Dosing or weighing systems where outlet and inlet ports differ

  • Cyclones or dust collection units with varied inlet/outlet dimensions

  • Retrofits in older plants where uniform sizing was not standard

 

Is a Tapered BFM® Sleeve Right for You?

If you’re dealing with mixed-diameter equipment, high-wear materials, or want to eliminate bulky transition fittings, a tapered sleeve could be the most efficient and cost-effective solution. Not only will it improve system cleanliness and maintenance access, but it could also help your facility meet strict hygiene and safety standards with ease.

 

Get Expert Advice

Think a tapered BFM® sleeve could solve a challenge in your powder processing system? Fill out the form here and our team will respond within one (1) business day to help assess your needs and recommend the ideal configuration.