Whether you’re shipping dry bulk material or liquid products, the flexible intermediate bulk container is an essential container for your business. It’s strong, durable and can hold large amounts of semi-solid goods. It also offers a lot of added security thanks to its steel cage and protective lid and spout.
FIBCs, or flexible intermediate bulk containers, are a popular choice for many industries, including food, chemical, pharmaceutical, manufacturing, construction and waste handling. They’re available in a wide variety of styles, and they can come with a variety of additional features to suit your needs.
Bags are made from 100 % artificial fibres, generally woven polypropylene (PP). They’re typically coated on the inside with a polyethylene film that lowers their permeability and provides additional protection against tearing under heavy stress.
They’re usually 45-48 inches in diameter and range in height from 39 to 79 inches depending on the design, and they can accommodate up to 4,000 pounds of product. They’re also reusable and recyclable, making them an eco-friendly alternative to traditional drums and containers.
The bags can be open top, tacked shut or tied. They are ideal for any product that requires airflow while stored, such as potatoes or onions.
FIBCs are also commonly used for the disposal of fabric and paper waste, and they can be easily stacked to save space on Euro pallets. However, they’re not ideal for storing liquids or powdered products. They aren’t a good choice for storing hazardous materials, and they can become dangerous if the bag is punctured.
Aside from the safety benefits that FIBCs offer, they’re also cost-effective. They’re significantly cheaper than rigid IBCs, so you can often afford to store several of them in a row. They’re also much easier to fill and empty, which makes them more convenient for use.
Some FIBCs are designed with a discharge spout at the bottom, which allows you to dispense the contents directly from the container. This can be helpful for distributing materials like sand or cement mix in disaster relief situations.
They can be purchased new or pre-used, and can come in a variety of colors and styles. They’re also available in different materials, such as HDPE and stainless steel.
The FIBC market has a lot of growth potential. The rising demand for food and pharmaceuticals, along with the need to reduce overall bulk packaging weight is expected to drive the market’s growth in the future.
Another factor that will affect the FIBC market is the growing number of companies offering FIBC rental services, and the increasing need to ship large amounts of solid materials that are not particularly environmentally sensitive.
The container liner market size is projected to reach US$ 4.0 billion in 2022 and is predicted to advance at a CAGR of 5.9% over the forecast period. The market is mainly driven by rising food and pharmaceutical industries across the world, and the need to reduce overall bulk packaging weight in Asia Pacific.
