Agricultural packaging is essential to the food industry. Packaging prevents food from being spoiled or ruined by pests or toxins from packages. In a health conscious world demanding to know where our food comes from, the packaging is crucial. Some packages may not hold up very well, and may become susceptible to pests or the external elements such as wet weather. For these reasons, bulk bags are one of the most affordable and effective ways to store and transport dry goods and produce. Consider the packaging best used for agricultural bulk shipping.

The Importance of Agricultural Packaging

In the United States, there are over three million people farming and/or ranching. Many agricultural products, particularly dry goods and certain produce, are transported in bulk bags. Fresh products should be delivered to preserve the quality and integrity of the food. The freshness and taste are essential to selling excellent produce.

Eliminate Unnecessary Waste

About half of the food is wasted during the production process. Post-harvest treatment procedures and lack of storage or inadequate transportation also contribute to waste. The importance of agricultural packaging preserves as much food as possible. Excellent packaging can ensure short and long-term stability between farmers and the public.

Produce and Packaging

Produce should pair well with the type of packaging used. It helps the quality crop yields, especially for fresh produce. Different foods require different types of packaging. There are primary concerns that need to meet packaging standards. Ventilation is crucial to the packaging. Heat should be able to escape, and the produce should be able to cool quickly. Produce water loss should be minimized. It will help the produce stay fresh. When the produce spoils, it can become costly for the agricultural industry.

Safety Matters

The packaging should be safe to handle. Injuries should not occur from the packaging. It should be safe to transport and easy to handle. Bulk bags hold up to thousands of pounds of dry goods. The bulk bags are moved by machinery through the use of loops. These loops can be placed in certain locations for ease of operation. Bulk bags can be customized to meet the needs of all types of customers and shipments.

Special Packaging Is Often Required

Different products require different types of packaging. There should be a separate package for every single type of produce. There are several different types of packaging available. Case and carton, flexible packaging, and retail ready packaging are available. The packaging used for bulk shipments is a great concern as this is where the largest losses can occur. It must be durable, reliable, and suitable for the products being transported. For this reason, flexible intermediate bulk containers (FIBCs) are usually the containers of choice when companies are handling dry, flow-able goods such beans, rice, and more.

Improving the Shipment Processes

Packing that improves the shipment process is crucial. Packaging should be cost-effective as well and develop key branding. Bulk bags can be specially developed to accommodate the unique needs of each type of product being transported. For example, customized printing can be added to woven polypropylene bulk bags to help brand the business. This may include the company’s name, logo and/or slogan. The woven poly bulk bags can also be printed with the contents contained within to help keep regional, national, and international shipments well-organized.

Working With a Professional

Choosing the right packaging for your agricultural business’ needs can be a challenge. Measurements need to be taken. The types of products being transported and stored must be carefully considered. Wholesale bulk bags come in various sizes and materials. Work with a professional to determine which super sacks and configurations are ideal for your purposes. Western Packaging takes pride in helping its agricultural customers find the perfect solutions for their agricultural packaging needs.

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When you’re looking for agricultural packaging solutions, you’re probably considering numerous options from different brands to different materials and packaging styles. One option is to look for woven polypropylene bulk bags, which are quickly becoming the industry standard for packaging of all kinds, from feed to seed, grain to produce. Furthermore, you can opt to have your bulk bags custom printed with your brand name, logo, or any other information you desire – a strategy that can do wonders for your business brand and promotion strategy, as well as customer loyalty and retention. Here are five advantages of custom printed woven polypropylene bulk bags. Keep these in mind as you consider your options.

1. Durability

If you’re looking for bulk bags that will last, weathering heavy contents as well as transport and distribution, this is it. Woven polypropylene bulk bags are structured to support whatever is placed within them, which means that you can rest assured knowing that no rips or tears will befall your product’s packaging. Plus, you can select from almost any custom size to find the perfect option to fit your product and your needs. Long periods of storage will not wear down this durable material, which is extremely resistant to stress, temperature, most alkali and acid, organic solvents, degreasing agents and electrolytic attack.

2. Branding

The elusive concept of “branding” is all-important for any business, no matter how large or small. Simply put, branding is the process of creating an image for your business, or a way that your customers (and potential customers) perceive you. Building a brand involves not just the graphic elements, such as a logo and color scheme, but also the most subliminal aspects such as your overall message, mission, and business model. When your customers think of your business, they will have a certain image of you in mind, and it is this image that you want to be able to influence in the shape that you want it to take.

Branding is important because a business with a better brand attracts more customers, and is better able to retain the customers that it has. When you can immediately bring to mind positive qualities such as reliability, efficiency, and quality just by showing your brand’s logo, your customers will immediately go to you instead of searching out alternative options from your competitors. As a result, the custom printing option for woven polypropylene bulk bags is exactly what your business needs to build its brand. Inscribe your name, logo, slogan, or any other graphic that you know will help represent your business for your customers and build in their minds a positive image of your brand identity.

3. Promotion

Although it may seem obvious, few people realize exactly how much of an impact a custom printed package has on product promotion. When your customers purchase your product, you can be assured that others in the industry will see the package as well. Showing your name, logo, or other details on your bulk bags serve as a great promotion technique, raising awareness of your brand name and attracting more customers without spending a cent on
actual advertising.

4. Economy

Since polypropylene is so easy and quick to produce, it is an extremely affordable material. This means that you won’t have to spend so much of your budget on packaging, and instead, can allocate more money towards other aspects of your business. Ultimately, saving money is good both for your profits and for the impact that you can have on the areas you channel the extra money into, from marketing to product quality to production.

5. Versatility

With custom printed woven polypropylene bulk bags, you have a number of options to choose from to find the packaging that is right for you. For example, you can start with the standard woven poly bulk bag, which is flexible in both size and number – that means that you can order as many as you need for the agricultural products you are shipping, and also vary the sizes of the bags depending upon the quantity in each bulk package. Furthermore, you can choose from a number of different fabric colors and printing options depending upon your business’ design elements, the nature of the goods you are shipping, and the audience that you want to reach.

Ultimately, these decisions are all in your hands rather than set in a predetermined sequence, allowing you and your business to enjoy the versatility of these bags for your agricultural and farming needs.

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One of the industries that use bulk bags most often is agriculture. The size, shape, and configuration of these bags are conducive for many of the jobs that need to be accomplished in a normal day for farmers. Bulk bags also provide the perfect environment for agricultural products to be stored, used, and transported in a way that is beneficial to farmers, transporters, and end users. Bulk bags are incredibly versatile for the agricultural industry, as they have quite a number of varied uses. Following are six ways bulk bags are used in agriculture.

1. Crop storage

Bulk bags are ideal for storage. Farmers can store their crops in bulk bags until they are ready to ship. They also provide the perfect storage place for crops until they are ready for use or sale. Their storage capacity is not limited to crops. Bulk bags can also store other items that are essential to the agricultural industry. They are a great way for farmers and other agriculture professionals to remain organized.

2. Crop transportation

The agriculture industry relies heavily on the safe transportation of crops. If crops are unable to get from Point A to Point B without issue, they are no good to the end user. Vegetables are delicate, and if they are crushed or marred in any way, they will not be able to be sold to supermarkets or other outlets. Vegetables are not the only crops that are transported in bulk bags. Crops such as wheat, barley and nuts are also carried in them. Bulk bags provide the protection these products need to arrive at their final destination safely so they can be transformed into bread and other products consumers need.

3. Seed storage and transportation

Just as the transportation of crops is important to the agricultural industry, so is the transportation of seeds and fertilizer. Seeds need to be kept in a dry, well-conditioned, cool location for them to be usable. They also need to be kept away and protected from various animals, such as birds and rodents, which can eat the seeds. Any loss of these products can cost a farmer more money. Bulk bags are the ideal environment for seeds to be stored and transported. Many seeds can be stored for up to one year, although some seeds can be stored for an even longer period of time. For example, watermelon seeds can remain safe and usable for as many as eight years.

4. Fertilizer storage

Fertilizer is perhaps the most important tool for a farmer. Without it, crops simply will not grow. Bulk bags are ideal for storing fertilizer and distributing it among the crops. Not only are bulk bags large enough to hold a significant amount of fertilizer, but they are also pliable enough to move easily. Bulk bags are ideal for both organic and inorganic fertilizers.

5. Fertilizer transportation

Fertilizer can come in many forms, including liquid, semi-liquid, and dry. Each type of fertilizer needs to travel to its final destination in a safe and ecologically friendly manner that also allows it to be loaded and removed from a truck in a convenient way. Bulk bags provide a safe environment that will ensure the fertilizer does not get contaminated and become unusable. Further, the handles on the bulk bags make it easy to load and unload the fertilizer without much effort.

6. Green initiatives

People in the agricultural industry know and understand more than anyone how vital it is to the planet to take steps to conserve energy and help preserve the planet for future generations. By using bulk bags instead of paper bags for transportation and storage of seeds, beans, nuts and other products, the agricultural industry is making great strides in the conservation arena. Currently, many growers of soybeans have already made the switch to bulk bags, and the corn industry is starting to make headway as well. The move away from paper bags and cardboard boxes toward bulk bags is quickly changing the entire agriculture industry as a whole. Often bulk bags are reusable, making them an ideal green option.

The versatility of bulk bags makes them the perfect choice to be used in an abundance of applications on farms and in other agricultural settings. Their size, shape and pliability combined with their light weight and durability to create an economical way for the agricultural industry to get the job done. Plus, bulk bags can be customized to suit your unique needs as well as printed to brand your business or properly organize your products.

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Bulk bags, often referred to as flexible intermediate bulk containers (FIBCs), provide a cost-efficient and inexpensive solution when it comes to material handling, storing, and transportation. Do you need a bulk bag? How do you determine the size you need? Bulk bags come in a range of sizes and dimensions as well as FIBC (Bulk Bag) specifications. Your bulk bag must be the right size for you, your material, and finally, your customer. Discover how to select the size of a bulk bag.

Consider the Material or Product

Let’s consider the following question. Which weighs more – one pound of feathers, or one pound of rocks? If you said rocks, you would have answered the question incorrectly. No matter how you look at it, one pound is one pound. It doesn’t matter if it’s rocks or feathers. They both weigh the same.

Low-Density Materials

The easiest way to determine if you have a low-density or high-density material is to determine its weight. It’s relatively easy to say that you need a bigger bag to carry one pound of feathers than you do one pound of rocks. You can probably carry a single pound of rocks in your bare hands. However, one pound of feathers requires a bag so big that it may require a truck to transport. Low-density materials weigh less, allowing you to choose a larger bag.

High-Density Materials

High-density materials weigh more. Therefore, your bag must be smaller. We’re not talking bags the size of shoe boxes. These are still bulk bags. If you have an unusually heavy product, you may want to consider a smaller bag. That way, the volume of the bag can handle more pressure per square inch without bursting or breaking.

Determine the Minimum and Maximum Dimensions

When you determine your bag size, remember that, when you transport it, the only part of the bag that is in contact with your carrier is the base of the bag. However, don’t neglect the fact that these are flexible bags. A properly filled bag will belly at the sides and increase your dimensions by up to 20 percent. You have the ability to prevent this – at an increased cost – by purchasing bags with internal baffles.

The Minimum Size

For this, you have to determine the minimum size of your carrier. In other words, where are you going to store the bag? How are you going to transport the bag? The only part of the bag that touches the carrier is the base. To ensure that your bags can fit inside your carrier, the width or length of your bags (whichever is longer) must be shorter than the capacity that your carrier can handle. For example, if the internal width of the tractor-trailer is 96 inches and you plan on putting two bags side-by-side, then the width of your bags must be shorter than 48 inches. If you put two 48 inch bags side-by-side, you will get 96 inches. Anything longer than that and your bulk bag and its dimensions will not fit in the trailer.

The Maximum Size

Now that we have the minimum size, we can use this to determine the maximum size. Take the figure for the width and add it to the value for the length. Multiply this number by two and divide by pi (3.14159) and you will have the diameter of the filled bag. For example, if your width is 34 inches and your length is 41 inches, you can add these two together to get 75. Multiply 75 x 2 and you get 150. If you divide 150 x 3.14159, you get 47.75. The diameter of the filled bag will not exceed 47.75 inches. If you plan on putting two bags side-by-side, it will be less than 96 inches – but only by one-half of an inch. It will barely fit, and it may give you a little bit of trouble.

Other Design Features to Consider

There is no standard when it comes to designing your bulk bag, including a super sack. However, there are other design features to consider depending on how you handle the material.

Lifting Loops

Lifting loops come in all sorts of sizes. Usually, the lifting loops are designed to go around the tines of a fork on a forklift. They usually hang loose on the side of the bag until they’re ready to be used. When they are used, they need an overhead clearance.

Filling Inlets

How do you intend on filling the bag? The filling inlet is usually on the top of the bag and can help you determine the size of the bag. When you fill your bag, never fill it 100 percent. Only fill it up to the 90 percent capacity line. This allows you to close your filling inlet completely.

Discharge Outlets

The discharge outlet is how your customer will empty the bag. Often times, the discharge outlet is held close with a drawstring. If you’re transporting packing peanuts, you may wish to have a large discharge outlet. However, if your product requires precise measurements, a smaller discharge outlet with a more controlled release may be necessary.

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One frequently asked question in logistics is, “What are flexible intermediate bulk containers (FIBCs)?” Often FIBCs are referred to as bulk bags, super sacks, and totes. A flexible intermediate bulk container (FIBC) is a container that has been used to transport bulk materials for manufacturers in the agricultural, chemical, and construction industries since the 1950s. But what is a bulk container used for? Conceptually, it is simply a very big bag – a bag that is designed to transport and store over 2000 pounds of a flowable material.

Flexible Intermediate Bulk Containers Definition

FIBCs are large, cubic, flexible containers made out of a woven fabric, usually with four loops on each of the top four corners. When filled with material, these industrial bulk bags can weigh up to 2000 pounds or more. The loops are designed to be placed around the forks of a forklift to move the container from one location to another. You can also place the bag on a pallet and lift it up from underneath – an option that places considerably less stress on the bag itself. However, pallets are not necessarily needed.

What is a flowable material?

Flowable material means anything that is dry and granulated. For example, imagine an hourglass. The sand in an hourglass flows from one side to the other through a tiny opening. This is a perfect example of what a flowable material is. Other examples include dirt, cement, powdered chemicals, and even food.

A Short History of Flexible Intermediate Bulk Containers

No one knows when FIBCs first came into widespread use. Their history has been traced to the 1950s, and they have been used for a variety of purposes. Initially, they were manufactured from PVC-coated nylon or polyester. With the advent of polypropylene in the 1960s, FIBCs started seeing widespread use throughout the chemical industries for storing powdered and granulated chemicals.

What Makes These Bags Popular?

The ratio of cost and benefit is one of the best that anyone can hope for. When the bag is empty, it weighs nothing more than five to seven pounds. When it is full, it will weigh as much as 2000 pounds and can transport a full metric ton of material. Although reusable, many people simply cut the bag open when they are ready to pour the transported material out. These bags are economical, inexpensive to own, and make managing loose, flowing materials simple and easy.

Maximize Your Space with a Smaller Footprint

When stacked side-by-side, your space is maximized with FIBCs. Since they are made out of a flexible material, you have a little bit of play in the container itself, enabling you to fit more material in a smaller footprint. When stacked in a semi-tractor trailer, two containers sitting side-by-side will fill the width of the truck perfectly.

Different Forms and Properties

So what types of FIBC bags are out there? These bags come in many different structural forms with various electrostatic properties. Structural forms refer to how the bag is made, its different features, and the specifications that comprise its structure. These can include construction types such as u-panel, circular, and baffle.

Common Uses

Just about any dry, granulated material can be securely stored and transported in an industrial bulk container. Primarily used by the chemical and agricultural industries, these bags can store and transport a variety of materials. Food products include seeds, cereal, starch, grains, beans, and peanuts. Other agricultural products that may be stored and transported in bulk bags are topsoil, fertilizers, gravel, and sand. Bulk bags are also used for chemicals and construction materials such as pigments, cement, fiberglass, plastics, detergents, and other powdered chemicals.

FIBCs are flexible, can often be disposable, and will get a job done efficiently and within budget. With FIBCs, users are given the ability to transport and store these materials at a much lower cost than any other possible option.

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Industries involved with shipping materials are always concerned with finding the best and most cost-effective ways to get their goods from origin to destination. A bulk bag is a great shipping container for companies that need to distribute dry, flow-able goods. Discover the history of bulk bags and how they are used today.

What is a bulk bag?

Flexible intermediate bulk containers (FIBCs), commonly known as bulk bags, are intermediate bulk containers that have bodies made of flexible fabric that must meet the following parameters:

– They cannot be handled manually when they are filled
– They are intended for shipment of solid material in powder, flake, or material form
– They do not require additional handling
– They are designed to be lifted from the top using integral, permanently attached devices (loops or straps)

The beginning uses of bulk bags

FIBCs have been in use for decades. The exact date of their first use is unclear, but it occurred somewhere between the late 1950s and early 1960s. These bags were mostly used in the United States, Europe, and Japan.

Construction

The original bulk bags were made from heavy-duty PVC-coated nylon or polyester. The cut sheets were welded together to create the bags. These bags also had lift swings that were integrated into the container or attached to a special pallet. The swing made it easier to load the bag from the top and empty it from the bottom.

Growth in the ‘70s

Despite its value, the use of bulk bags didn’t start to take off until the 1973 oil crisis. In Europe, bulk bags experienced a significant surge in use in the 1970s due to the oil crisis. Due to the crisis, the Middle Eastern countries that produced the oil needed a large amount of cement for their building programs.

They used bulk bags to transport the cement in 30,000-50,000 metric tons per week from Northern Europe, Spain, and Italy to the Middle East. Using FIBCs was the most cost-effective way to move the material, which led to their growing popularity over that period.

The demand for bulk containers in the United States

The demand for bulk bags grew slower in the United States than it did in Europe. However, in 1984 the demand started to grow rather quickly due to the U.S. Department of Transportation agreeing to grant exemptions for bulk bags to be used for the shipment of hazardous materials. This decision required the creation of performance standards for FIBCs that were established and issued by the Chemical Packaging Committee of the Packaging Institute.

Popular Features of FIBCs Today

FIBCs have several unique features that make them cost-effective and easy to handle and use, increasing their popularity over time and into today. First, they can be folded flat, which results in easier shipment to the user. When FIBCs are used for shipping via boat, they can be shipped as break bulk. They have a low package-to-product ratio, weighing only between five and seven pounds.

The cost of bulk bags is also quite competitive. Other types of packaging and pallets are not necessary when bulk bags are used. Further, they are easy to store and for warehouse workers to handle. And once they have outlived their usefulness, these bags are easily disposed of and recyclable, making them environmentally friendly.

Size

A standard-sized bulk bag varies based on the application. They are designed to fit two across in a truck or shipping container. However, they can be custom-made to fit the needs of the user. Manufacturers are able to change the height, diameter, and length. The length of the spout and treatment of the fabric of an FIBC can also be customized.

Shipping hazardous materials

High-quality, reliable bulk bags are essential for businesses that transport, haul, or store hazardous materials safely and securely. When a bulk bag is used for shipping hazardous materials, it must be marked with the UN mark that is associated with the product. The container must also be certified by a third-party lab in all countries except the United States, where that action is a suggested option.

Shipping of non-hazardous materials

Bulk bags containing non-hazardous materials that are to be exported must have a performance test and certification if the country of destination requires that it be done.

FIBC Bag Types And Uses

You can ensure you have the ideal solution for your business or requirement by being fully aware of the various FIBC bag types. The primary FIBC bag types are A, B, C, and D. 

There is likely to be a buildup of static electricity during the filling and emptying of FIBCs. If you work with flammable and dangerous materials, preventing this electrical charge from accumulating is essential. Issues with flammability may not be a concern with other materials.

Type A

Plain-woven polypropylene and other non-conductive textiles are used to make Type A FIBCs. While being loaded or emptied, items move across or rub against the interior surface of the bulk bag, creating static electricity. The Type A FIBCs do not offer static protection. 

Transporting non-flammable products and materials can be done securely using type A bulk bags. A Type A FIBC shouldn’t be exposed to or stored near flammable gases or liquids. Primary uses of Type A FIBCs include locations with non-hazardous conditions and storing or transporting non-hazardous materials. 

Type B

Like Type A bulk bags, Type B bulk bags lack a static electricity dissipation mechanism. To avoid the development of extremely powerful and dangerous propagating brush discharges (PBD), Type B bulk bags are built from materials with a low breakdown voltage. 

Despite being able to prevent PBD, Type B FIBCs cannot be categorized as antistatic FIBCs since they do not eliminate the electrostatic charge. Normal brush discharges can still happen and set flammable solvent vapors on fire. Type B FIBCs are primarily used to transport dry, flammable powders and in environments without flammable gases or solvents. 

Type C

Type C FIBCs, often called conductive FIBCs or ground-able FIBCs, are constructed from non-conductive polypropylene textiles with conducting threads woven into them. These fabrics are typically sewn in a grid pattern. During filling and discharging, these conducting threads must be electrically linked to one another and a specific ground/earth. 

Safely using Type C bulk bags depends on maintaining this connection to the ground/earth during filling and discharge. Type C FIBCs are typically used to transport flammable powders and environments with combustible dust, vapors, and gases. 

Type D

Type D FIBCs are anti-static bulk bags composed of static protective fabric intended to safely prevent the occurrence of incendiary sparks, brush discharges, and spreading brush discharges without the requirement for a connection from the bulk bag to the ground or earth. 

The inherent risk of grounding failure that exists anytime conductive Type C FIBCs (grounded FIBCs) are used is eliminated when making anti-static bulk bags out of CROHMIQ fabric. These bags are primarily used in environments where flammable dust, vapors, and gas are present and to transport combustible powders safely.

Why Should You Use Bulk Bags?

The need to use bulk bags continues to grow. Consider just a few of the leading reasons to use bulk bags.

– They have the lowest package to product ratio of any intermediate bulk container.
– They can be handled, transported and stored without pallets.
– When empty, they are lightweight and can fold flat.
– They can be customized.
– They have a wide range of uses, including chemical, mineral, food and agriculture.
– They are recyclable.

Common Uses of Bulk Bags

Many industries can benefit from bulk bags, including agriculture, food processing, construction, mining, and chemical. Some common uses of bulk bags today include the shipment of:

– Chemicals
– Fertilizers
– Fiberglass
– Food products
– Grains
– Construction materials
– Pigments
– Plastics
– Seeds
– Peanuts
– Starch

If you are a shipper in need of transporting and storing dry, flow-able goods, consider using bulk bags. They are strong and durable containers that have truly stood the test of time. If you are in need of bulk bags, contact Western Shipping to get the supplies you need for shipping and storing a wide variety of goods.

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