FAQ
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
- What are bulk bags?
Bulk bags are large bags used for storing and transporting free flowing dry products. They are usually woven polypropylene bags with standard base dimensions of 90 cm x 90 cm and a variable height, generally up to about 120 cm.
Bulk bags can have widely varying dimensions, based on user need and usability, but typically hold about 500 kg–2000 kgs of product.
Bulk bags can be placed on pallets or lifted by standard lift loops attached to the Bulk Bags themselves.
- What are FIBCs?
“Flexible Intermediate Bulk Containers” is the official name for bulk bags, although many companies refer to FIBCs as a bulka bags, tote jumbo bags etc.
- What are FIBCs made from?
The main material used to make Bulk bags is polypropylene, which is a petroleum based product.
- What is woven polypropylene made from?
Woven polypropylene is made from extruded polypropylene resin.
- Are bulk bags recyclable?
In some instances Bulk bags can be recycled via recyclers in New Zealand or Overseas. We offer a large range of fully or partially recyclable bulk containers and industrial packaging, including collapsible intermediate bulk containers, paper IBCs and plastic bins.
BULK HANDLING
- How many times can I use multi trip bulka bags?
There is no set number of times for which multi trip bulka bags can be used. The more care taken with bulk handling products, the longer they will last. Please refer to the safe handling guidelines for FIBCs on our website for more information on handling your FIBCs.
- Can I use lift single use bulka bags multiple times?
Single trip bulka bags are rated for one fill and one discharge only. They can be lifted multiple times for the one fill. E.g. from filling station onto pallet, onto a truck for transport, off the truck at destination, to final discharge point. Please refer the safe handling guidelines for FIBCs on our website for more information on handling your FIBCs.
- How do you pick up bulk bags?
Bulk bags are lifted by one of several types of lifting application. Some examples are standard lift loops, lifting sleeves, single point crane lift, and stevedore straps.
- How do you empty bulk bags?
Bulk bags are usually emptied by a discharge spout, which is a spout that is attached to the bottom. Usually the discharge spout is tucked inside a closure on the bottom of the bag. The closure is sometimes called a petal closure, pajama closure, star or x-cut closure. The closure is designed to protect the spout and to prevent the product from sifting out of the discharge before its intended discharge. Discharge spouts can be customised with specific sizes and closures.
SPECS
- What size do bulk bags come in?
BHNZ offers bulka bags in many different sizes. FIBCs can be customised into just about any three dimensional size possible. There are limits to the sizes of course, but standard bulka bags have a standard base dimension of 90cm x 90 cm. The heights of bulka bags can range up to 120 plus cms tall. The size and dimensions of bulk handling products are determined by safety, functionality and usability by the customer.
- Are bulk bags water tight or waterproof?
No, being, at a basic level, made from woven material, they are not “waterproof“. Users usually want a coating or lamination as a moisture barrier. (By “moisture” we mean a light amount of condensation or light amount of water.) An internal poly liner works best as a waterproofing technique in many typical applications, although technically it still is not 100 percent waterproof. The difference between using coating/lamination or using a liner is in the amount of moisture that you are trying to keep out of the product, and how much you want to ensure that this does not occur. Standard Bulka Bags are not waterproof, and are not typically designed to carry wet products, however there are other products in the market designed to hold liquid, i.e. liquid liners and various types of solid intermediate bulk containers.
- What colour fabric can I choose from?
The standard fabric colour is white, however, we can make specific coloured fabric. Coloured fabric is considered a special order and has minimum requirements.
- What different fabric weights are there?
Fabric weights are related to the amount of product that the FIBCs will be holding (Safe Working Load).
Fabric weights can also be customised to a specific weight. Usually the Safe Working Load of the bag will determine what fabric weight to use.
- Can bulk bags have liners?
Yes, liners can be inserted loosely or attached to fabric. There are different types of liners for different applications, but the main two are tube liners and form fit liners.
- Can bulk bags be stored outside? If so, then for how long?
Yes, but polypropylene bags will degrade as a result of UV exposure. Standard bulk bags have a UV inhibitor added into the fabric at the manufacturing level. Manufacturers add enough UV inhibitor to meet the required standard, although this is dependent upon where the actual product is located on the globe. This is due to the fact that UV rays vary in strength and degree in different parts of the world.
- How do I attach my documents to FIBCs?
Typically documents are attached by use of a document pouch sewn to the seam of the bulka bags. A document pouch can have a ziplock opening or a standard opening.
- Can you print onto bulk bags?
Yes, bulk bags can be printed. Usually the printing is on the side panels. Print colours are usually one or two colours, but we have the capability to print with more colours, which will affect the cost. We can also print custom logos.
TECHNICAL TERMS
- What is coating?
Coating is a moisture barrier applied to the inside of the woven polypropylene bags. A common type of "coating" is a 0.35 mm thick lamination of heated polypropylene, which is laminated to the inside of the fabric. The lamination provides a moisture barrier to protect the contents of the bulka bags. Since the fabric is made from a woven material, bulka bags are not "waterproof". Lamination is simply a moisture barrier, however the use of an internal poly liner works better in many typical applications. It still is not 100 per cent water proof. Liners and lamination are designed to keep water away from the product.
- What is a perimeter band?
A perimeter band is a band sewn around the outside perimeter of the top of a bag, which is designed to give extra strength to loops when lifting.
- What is a B-lock?
A B-lock is a spout accessory designed to assist in the closure to the spout. It is a quick and easy way to close a spout, manually regulating the flow of product. The device locks quickly and easily, and replaces the normal tie usually sewn to a spout.
- What is a UV inhibitor?
A UV inhibitor is an additive that is added to the resin during the extrusion process. It will assist in protecting the bulk packaging from the harmful effects of UV rays, thereby protecting it from degrading and becoming unstable and unsafe.
- What does sift proofing or sift resistant sewing mean?
Sift proofing is designed to prevent product from leaking out of the bulka bags. As Bulk Bags are sewn together, there is the possibility of product leaking out of seams and areas where it has been sewn. Sift proofing or anti-sift sewing is a method of using a felt or a spongy type yarn in the sewing process. The sewing operator feeds the sift cord along the seam of the bulk bags while sewing. The sift cord fills in the areas near the needle hole in the seam. When using felt as a sift-resistant material, the felt is sewn either along with the threaded seam or in between the fabric panels. There are many ways to utilise sift proofing in FIBCs.
- What is chain and overlock stitching?
There are several styles of stitching used when sewing FIBCs. Chain and overlock stitching are two of the most common styles used. Chain stitching is series of looped stitches forming a chain-like pattern. Overlock stitching sews over the edge of two pieces of fabric. Many manufacturers use this style of stitching to ensure a tight seam in woven sacks, which assists in reducing sift occurrences.
- What is bulk density?
Bulk density is the property of the product that you are filling into the bulk packaging. It is the mass of the product divided by the volume it occupies. The volume includes the space between particles as well as the space inside the pores of individual particles.
- What does SWL mean?
Safe Working Load. A bulk bag's safe working load is the amount of weight that it is rated and tested to hold safely.
- What does 5:1 SF mean?
Standard bulk bags are rated at a 5:1 Safety Factor, which means that the bag is specified to hold five times the amount of its safe working load. A 5:1 Safety Factor is for single use or single trip bulk handling products.
- What is a duffel top?
A duffel top is typically a 50 cm high "skirt" sewn to the top of bulka bags. The duffel usually comes with a tie allowing the user to secure the duffel closed, at the same time allowing the user full access to the product.
- What is the difference between duffel top and open top?
The main difference between the duffel top and open top is the duffel itself. An open top bag is simply missing a top closure, which means that the product is exposed.
- What is a fill spout?
A standard fill spout is a spout with an opening in the top (centre) of the bag, usually 50cm long. It's designed to allow the user to minimise dust occurrences as the bag is being filled. Spouts can be customised to fit individual applications.
- What are lift loops (straps)?
Lift loops are the means by which a forklift can raise FIBCs with its forks. In other words, they are loops attached to the four top corners of the bulka bags to enable a fork truck operator to put the fork in and lift. Lift loops can be customised to any workable size
- What is a lifting sleeve?
A lifting sleeve is a tube of polypropylene fabric used as a lifting application, designed to allow the forks of a forklift to fit into the sleeves and lift the bulka bags.
- What are baffles?
Baffles are pieces of fabric that are sewn to the inside corners of a bag to maintain its cube shape after filling. The baffles have holes that allow the product to flow freely through them. The baffles also prevent the bulk bags from bulging, which makes them stand up straight and in turn allows the bulk bags to be more efficient in their use of space.
- What is does Circular FIBCs refer to?
Circular bulk bags are made from fabric that has been woven on a circular loom. The fabric is woven into a continuous tube of fabric, which is then cut to the correct size height.
IBC Q&AS
- How high can filled intermediate bulk containers (IBCs) be stacked?
- Alpal flexible bulk handling systems – 5 high
- Tripak paper intermediate bulk containers – 3 high
- Nally Mega Plastic Bins – 4 high
- DSL Shutz Bins – 4 high
- How many units can fit into a 20FT sea container for export?
20 units filled to 1,000 litres per unit. (Depending on bulk density reference Tripak, Alpal and Schutz Bin)
- What is the total payload weight for a Tripak?
The Tripak can take a total payload of 1,400 kgs.
- Can Tripak paper IBCs be stored outside?
Whilst the board is AAA fluted, has a wall thickness of 45MM and is laminated, it can only be stored indoors.
- Can Tripak IBCs be used twice?
Tripaks are manufactured as cost effective, single trip IBCs.
- Can you put diesel in IBCs?
Yes, the new six layer DSL Schutz bin can take diesel.
- Do you have collapsible IBCs for dangerous goods?
Unfortunately, we do not have any collapsible IBCs rated for dangerous goods bulk handling and transportation. We do have the 1000 litre Ecobulk containers which are rated for dangerous goods. Please refer to our IBCs product section for more information on the Ecobulk containers.
For more information on BHNZ’s industrial packaging solutions, contact your local office.
