This emptying
station is suited for emptying contents from bulk bags, especially bulk bags containing particulate hazardous materials as their contents. The emptying
station includes a bulk-bag receptacle body having a top opening and bottom outlet, a bulk-bag
cutting subassembly in the receptacle body, a raisable and lowerable top closure, and a sealing structure. The
cutting subassembly includes at least three cutters each having an associated blade facing upwards, with the cutters collectively arranged to define a
pyramid having an apex, and puncture pin positioned at the apex to point upwardly. In operation, a bulk bag is suspended from the top closure, then lowered with the top closure to pass the bulk bag into the receptacle body and cause the substantially flat bottom of the bulk bag to be pieced by the puncture pin and
cut by the blades of the cutters to start emptying contents from the bulk bags to the bottom outlet. The sealing structure seals gaps formed between inner surfaces of the side walls and the bulk bag to prevent dust from escaping through the top opening. As the bulk bag is emptied, the top closure continues to lower until the top closure is positioned in a
closed state in the top opening. Spray nozzles are preferably arranged in the receptacle body for external and / or internal rinsing of the emptied bulk bag.