A lot of attention today is focused on the wrong criteria when buying a Bulk Bag (FIBC).
Most of the time we buy based on old specifications passed down over the years. Back then, the primary focus was based on fabric weight and the total weight filled per bag. The old adage was the heavier the weight of the fabric per square yard, the more the weight capacity that can be filled per super sack.
Much has changed since bulk bags were introduced in in the 1960’s. Today FIBC’s transport over ¼ billion 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.
The construction of an FIBC, or jumbo bag, has also evolved over the years.
· New extrusion and weaving technologies allow lighter fabrics to outperform the heavier fabrics of old, while maintaining and even exceeding current safety standards.
· Advanced designs maximize storing, reduce handling costs, and maximize cubic capacity during transportation.
· New applications in new industries that go beyond powder and bulk solids now include viscous, semi-liquid, and liquid bulk bags.
Along with these changes come also the perils of choosing the right Bulk Bag that can safely move your product throughout the handling cycle. This includes filling, storing, transporting, discharging, and eventually disposing and/or recycling.
Some of the points to consider when choosing the right flexible bulk bag for your correct application are:
1. What’s the life cycle of each bag? - From filling to disposal.
2. How many hands do these supersacks touch? How many times is the FIBC handled? – This includes all the times handles at your facility, during transportation, and at final destination.
3. Where is the bulk bag stored and for how long? - It is critical to get a complete timeline not only at your facility but at the final destination as well. This is especially important if at any point during the life cycle of the bulk bag, there is any prolonged exposure to the sun or outdoors to your jumbo bag and product.
4. Is the bulk bag meant for a single trip or multi trip use? – The multi-trip use supersack will require additional reinforcements in the construction of the tote bag and a higher safety rating.
5. What is the maximum load required per FIBC?
Buying a bulk bag today strictly based on fabric weight and safe working load is a recipe for disaster if the basic five variables are not taken into consideration.