What Are the Advantages of Bulk Insulated Bags？

Material-handling equipment

Click here to get more.

This article is about collapsible fabric IBCs. For rigid IBCs, see Intermediate bulk container

A flexible intermediate bulk container (FIBC), jumbo, bulk bag, super sack, big bag, or tonne bag is an industrial container made of flexible fabric that is designed for storing and transporting dry, flowable products, such as sand, fertilizer, and granules of plastic.[1][2][3]

FIBCs are most often made of thick woven strands of oriented polypropylene,[4] either coated or uncoated, and normally measure around 45&#;48 inches (114&#;122 cm) in diameter and varies in height from 100 to 200 cm (39 to 79 inches). Its capacity is normally around 1,000 kg or 2,200 lb, but the larger units can store even more. A FIBC designed to transport one metric ton (0.98 long tons; 1.1 short tons) of material will itself only weigh 5&#;7 lb (2.3&#;3.2 kg).

Transporting and loading is done on either pallets or by lifting it from the loops. Bags are made with either one, two or four lifting loops. The single loop bag is suitable for one man operation as there is no need for a second man to put the loops on the loader hook. Emptying is made easy by a special opening in the bottom such as a discharge spout, of which there are several options, or by simply cutting it open.

History

Although there is disagreement on exactly where FIBCs were first made and used, it is certain that they have been employed for a variety of packaging purposes since the s. These forerunners of the FIBC as we know it today were manufactured from PVC rubber and generally utilized within the rubber industry for the transportation of carbon black to be used as a reinforcing agent in a variety of rubber products.

By the s, with the development of polypropylene combined with advances in weaving, the bulk bags as we know them today came into being and were rapidly adopted by a wide variety of oil and chemical companies to store and transport powdered and granular products.

It was during the oil crisis of the mid-s that the FIBC really came into its own for transporting huge quantities of cement to the Middle East from across Europe for the rapid expansion of the oil producing countries. At its zenith, upwards of 50,000 metric tons (49,000 long tons; 55,000 short tons) of cement was being shipped out on a weekly basis to feed the vast building program.

The modern FIBC transports a growing figure of over 250,000,000 metric tons (246,000,000 long tons; 276,000,000 short tons) of product each year and is used to handle, store and move products as varied as cereals to powdered chemicals and flour to animal feeds. With a capacity of up to 3 m3 (3.9 cu yd) and load capability ranging from 0.5 to 2 metric tons (0.49 to 1.97 long tons; 0.55 to 2.20 short tons) FIBCs are highly cost effective, easily recyclable[citation needed] and ideal for virtually any free-flowing granule, powder, pellet or flake. FIBCs are also being developed to hold and filter fluid products.

Types of Flexible Intermediate Bulk Container

[citation needed]

Styles of Bag Construction:[5]

Circular &#; This style of bag is made on the loom as a tube and is the lowest standard of FIBC. It will not maintain its shape when loaded and will sit down and bulge out in the middle. It will resemble a tomato when loaded, as the product will stretch the fabric when it is subjected to the pressure of the product being loaded. Normally it would have cross corner lifting loops.

U-Panel &#; A U-panel bag is a step up from a circular bag, as it will have two pieces of fabric resembling a U shape that are sewn together to make the shape of the bag. It will maintain its square shape much better than the circular style.

Four-Panel &#; The four-panel bag is the best bag for staying square other than a baffle bag. It is made of up four pieces of fabric that make up the sides and one for the bottom. These are all sewn together which resists the stretching tendencies of the bag and holds it in a cube shape much better.

Baffle &#; This style will be the best at keeping the cube shape of your product when the bag is loaded. It has additional baffles sewn down each corner to act as a pocket to fill each corner. In addition, there are other pockets sewn on each side for all the product to gather around the baffles and pockets. These are perfect if you have a small diameter product such as soybeans which can flow through the baffles without getting hung up. These bulk bags will be easier to stack as they will make a nice square cube.

Specialty bags:

• Pharmaceutical &#; similar to food grade certifications
• UN certified &#; will have to undergo many tests to ensure it can withstand the stress and still eliminate spillage of hazardous material
• Food Grade &#; has to be manufactured in a clean room environment which is BRC or FDA approved
• Ventilated FIBC &#; used for potatoes and other fruits/vegetables for allowing the product to breathe

Different lift loop configurations:

• One Loop
• Two Lift Loops
• 4 Lift Loops

Types of lift loops

• Standard lift loops
• Cross corner lift loops

FIBC Bags with Liners

• Products that are dusting or hazardous will have to have a polypropylene liner inside the FIBC to eliminate sifting of the woven FIBC.
• Liners can be made from Polypropylene, Polyethylene, Nylon, or a metal (Foil) liner

Electrostatic properties

• Type &#; A &#; no special electrostatic safety features
• Type &#; B &#; Type B bags are not capable of generating propagating brush discharges. The wall of this FIBC exhibits a breakdown voltage of 4 kilovolts or less.
• Type &#; C &#; Conductive FIBC. Constructed from electrically conductive fabric, designed to control electrostatic charges by grounding. A standard fabric used contains conductive threads or tape.
• Type &#; D &#; Anti-static FIBCs, essentially refers to those bags which have anti-static or static dissipative properties without the requirement of grounding.

Used to transport

• Chemicals
• Pharmaceutical drugs
• Fertilizers
• Fiberglass
• Food products
• Grains
• Shotcrete
• Construction materials (sand, gravel)
• Pigments
• Plastics
• Refractories
• Seeds
• Salt
• Peanuts
• Starch
• Hazardous waste material - UN Rated

  [

  6

  ]

• Flyash
• Minerals
• Cattle Feed
• Wool
• Scrap

Flood barrier use

Thailand utilized big bags to erect temporary walls to protect areas during the Thailand floods. Walls built using big bags instead of smaller traditionally used sandbags were termed the big bag wall, or big bag barrier.

With competitive price and timely delivery, SANNE sincerely hope to be your supplier and partner.

In North America, FIBCs are often used in flood prevention as well. An  kg bag (4,070 lbs) has a foot print of at least 3 feet by 3 feet, and a height of almost 4 feet &#; building a solid wall of sand, 400 regular sized sandbags at a time.[7]

Emptying FIBCs

Emptying a FIBC in order to process its contents must be performed on a station specifically designed for this purpose in order to cope with the various difficulties associated the handling FIBCs, which can weigh over  kg. Those stations must be equipped with a crane to lift the FIBC, a safety cage to avoid risks related to fall, and a system to contain dust emission during discharge.[8]

See also

References

Further reading

• Yam, K. L., "Encyclopedia of Packaging Technology", John Wiley & Sons, , ISBN 978-0-470--6
• Guide for Handling Flexible Intermediate Bulk Containers, [1]
• BS EN : Specifications for flexible intermediate bulk containers (FIBCs) for non-dangerous goods

In the dairy industry, ensuring proper sanitation is crucial. Flexible intermediate bulk containers (FIBC) or bulk bags have gained popularity because of the many advantages they offer. This article will discuss these benefits in greater detail to help you determine whether they are the right option to meet your storage and shipping needs. 

What Is a Flexible Intermediate Bulk Container?

Before we delve into the many advantages of FIBC bulk bags, let&#;s first talk a little about what they are. FIBC bags are constructed from woven polypropylene thread strands and have a great weight capacity. They can hold seeds, food items, cereals, hazardous material, fiberglass, building supplies, and more. Bulk bags are available in a variety of vibrant patterns, including four-panel and U-shaped designs. 

Explore Our Selection of FIBC & Bulk Bags

The Advantages of Using FIBC Bulk Bags in the Dairy Industry

Without further ado, here are the many perks of using a bulk bag: 

FIBC Bags Can Help a Company Company Save Money

Perhaps the most important benefit of these bags is their cost-effectiveness. Because FIBC bulk bags are made of polypropylene, you can recycle and use them again in the future. What&#;s more, they can hold 0.5 to 2 tons of products, which can help to improve your business&#;s efficiency.

Baffle FIBC Bags are a space-saving and affordable storage choice since they stand upright after being loaded to capacity and offer up to 30 percent more storage space.

Plus, they are recyclable, which makes them great for the environment!

They Help to Maintain Proper Hygiene

To ensure the safety of the products, dairy manufacturers and distributors must maintain a high standard of hygiene. The FIBC bulk bags were created with cleanliness in mind. They are easy to clean, moisture-resistant, and have the option of being fitted with liners that add an additional barrier of defense against contamination. Therefore, they are a great option for storing and moving dairy ingredients and goods.

Perfect for Small Spaces

These bags are the ideal storage solution if you have a small warehouse or a limited amount of storage space for dairy products. Baffle FIBC bulk bags provide more filling area and remain upright, which allows you to store more by making the best use of available space.

Protect Your Dairy Products

If you want to become an industry leader, you must ensure that your products reach their destination uncontaminated. 

Dairy products are often powdered and sweet tasting, which invites moisture and pest invasion that damages the ingredients and inventory. The presence of insects and rodents can cause dairy products to degrade and become contaminated, which can result in inventory losses.

Since bulk bags are made of polyethylene and have a liner option, you can avoid exposure to moisture and other contaminants and infestations. 

They Offer Greater Efficiency

When using FIBC bulk bags, you may choose between top and bottom spouts for simplified and effective filling and emptying of powdered dairy products. The spout options available for these bags assist in the hygienic and safe loading and unloading of ingredients without any spilling or leaks.

Thanks to the numerous effective filling options, bag sizes, and designs available, you can use bulk bags to automate the packing process. This can, in turn, decrease the time and cost associated with bag preparation for shipment.

Bulk Bags Provide Efficient Transportation

It can be difficult to move dairy products from one place to another. FIBC bulk bags make this process easier because they are lightweight and easy to handle. They can be transported in bulk, requiring fewer trips and costing less to transport. 

Browse Our Range of FIBC Bulk Bags for Sale!

Reliable, reusable packaging is important in the dairy industry, and FIBC bags are often the option of choice because of the many perks they offer. At Container Exchanger, you can find a wide range of new and used FIBC bags available in large quantities. Whether you require one-ton bags or spout top or bottom bags, you can browse our listings to find what you are looking for! 

We also stock pallet containers, metal containers, plastic pallets, metal bins, wire baskets, Gaylord boxes, IBC totes, and so much more.

For more Bulk Insulated Bagsinformation, please contact us. We will provide professional answers.