Large bags that are commonly referred to as Flexible Intermediate Big Containers (FIBC) are an excellent device for shipping products however, they have difficulty gaining acceptance within certain industries. In Europe bags are much more widespread and their uses are greater across many more industries. In the UK bags are extensively used in certain industries, whereas others have not adopted them as the go-to for their primary packaging.
What is an FIBC?
A FIBC (also known as a big bag) is essentially a bag that is constructed of threads of polypropylene that are woven. The bag fabric is made the same way you would produce cotton clothing where the threads are created and stitched together. The difference is that these bags are able to hold a significant deal of weight. In general, they are packed with between 2200 and 3000 pounds of various materials. If the proper storage equipment has been installed, these bags can accommodate 12,000 pounds of material.
What types of products or materials are stored in FIBCs or big bags?
Many industries already utilize large bags for agriculture or aggregate, grains, fertilizer, plastics and mining powders etc. The most popular markets that use bags are food, pharmaceuticals, agriculture and chemicals.
Each of these markets would prefer to have their goods shipped in huge quantities, however it’s not always feasible. Some customers aren’t able to handle big trucks and need a smaller amount of material. For example a farmer who needs only 2,000 lbs of fertilizer or seeds might not accept an entire truckload, which is why big bags are perfect. Another example is when shipping out of the country in shipping containers, large bags make it easier for developing countries to get items. The transportation of chemicals used in the gold mining industry to Africa does not lend itself to big transport. The product should be placed contained in small or large bags which allow them to handle them even with a basic infrastructure (dirt roads, a lack of equipment).
Why aren’t FIBCs and big bags being used more often?
Some reasons why FIBCs are not used in more industries are skepticism or misinformation about the product. In terms of skepticism, a lot don’t believe that a 5 bags of plastic can carry 3,000 lbs. until they are within an industry that they see this taking place. It is because people aren’t aware of how they are used and think that a huge infrastructure is needed to load or take the boxes off. Big boxes are easy for certain industries to recognize with, because they know how they work. Additionally, certain companies have made significant investments in equipment for unloading boxes , such for box tippers. Stacking can influence the decision also. Many companies stack on the floor three times and boxes can be stacked three feet high without much effort, whereas large bags take more preparation and knowledge of what the merchandise is.
Why Do You Need Big Bags?
Easy to store
On average, large bags that have the same amount as a large box will have approximately 200 bags on one regular-sized pallet. In other words, on average, 7000 bags will take up the same area as 500 big boxes. If your company is tight in space, this can prove to be an incredible benefit.
Easier to procure
For new boxes procurement managers are required to continuously procure boxes to fill demand. When it comes to used boxes, which most industries use, they aren’t always readily available and the need to search with many suppliers (each each month) is required. Finding used gaylord containers is contingent upon the volume of production and the people who produce the boxes being discarded. If industrial production is down, there’ll be fewer boxes available on the secondary market to purchase. If bags are used, purchasing will be much less often due to the fact that the space to store one bag will be as big as one truckload of boxes.
Simpler to handle
A large-sized bag weighs 4 to 6 pounds which means that a female worker can carry them without difficulty. On the other hand, an octagon box will require two people to get ready to load and can weigh from 30-45 pounds.
Ability to hold more weight
A large box with 4-5 walls holds between 1800 and 2,000 lbs. while a bigger bag can be designed to hold up to 4,000 pounds. in the same footprint big boxes. So, you’re using the same footprint but two times the mass.
Landscaping Supply Companies
A few companies deliver mulch, rocks and stones, sand, dirt and so on. in big bags. More should utilize these bags as they could easily send a load of 5 or more materials to the same job site in separate bags, which keep every item separate. Additionally, each bag could be delivered to the precise spot where it is going to be utilized. Most use big trucks which means they will have materials mixed in the shipment, or transport several trucks. In addition, they’ll dump it in one central location, then it will be transported by hand or some other means to where it is needed.
Construction
What kind of building materials are there? Construction firms could profit from using bagssince they can place the bags close to the place where the product is being used or discarded. Thus, eliminating the need to carry materials over and over again, which requires a lot more effort. For instance cement ties rebar, mortar, bricks and so on. If materials that are thrown away in an improvement project The bags can be placed near the rehab site and then loaded once and then transported to a dumpster. Big bags could save considerable time.
Recycling
Whether you are recycling plastic, metal or clothing, these bags can be a huge benefit over large boxes. If you’re sending these materials overseas, the bags can easily be stacked 2 high on a shipping container , and made to remove any wasted space. Also, you can avoid the need for expensive heat-treated pallets. With boxes, you must use pallets, therefore the costs are higher.
Charitable Organizations
Charitable organizations take in a vast number of materials such as clothes, books, toys, shoes, and so on. They must manage all these items to either sell it to a retailer or get it ready to ship overseas. Bags could be made at different heights/widths to accommodate the various kinds of materials that need to be handled. For instance bags could be constructed 84″ high, which means there would only be a need for one bag for every two boxes to go into an overseas container. Likewise, the big bag could be 24″ high , which would be able to fit on a table to sort it into bags, giving greater possibility of flexibility.
As stated above, there are many advantages to using big bags, so some companies or industries ought to examine the requirements to make the switch. You won’t be disappointed. If you’re looking for more information make contact with a big bag supplier to get more details.
