FLEXIBLE INTERMEDIATE BULK CONTAINERS (FIBC)
Flexible Intermediate Bulk Containers (also known as FIBC's, Bulk Bags, or large totes) are a flexible packaging product that allows companies to safely load their dry, loose products up to 4,400 LBS with simple means of handling. FIBC's are highly customizable and suit a large variety of markets from commodity to hazardous to Food Contact.
Types of Flexible Intermediate Bulk Containers (FIBC)
Commodity Bulk Bags
Bulk-Pack can customize your package for you and your customers. From various fabrics, product identification (Loop Color, Printing), labeling, liners, sift proofing, and designs, we can offer you an economical solution for your packaging and supply chain needs.
With us being a manufacturer and importer of FIBCs, we can supply you the most simple and complex designs to fit your needs in a timely manner. This includes any additional features such as printing (3 color), color lift loops, standard/form fit/high heat/foil liners, discharge systems, and sift proofing!
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U-Panel
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Circular
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Baffle
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4 Panel
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Funnel
Food Contact and Pharmaceutical Bulk Bags (FIBC)
Our largest customers are strict on Contamination-Free and Hygiene requirements and that is our focus. Bulk-Pack manufactures FIBCs in our Mexico AIB Recognized Food Contact Package Manufacturing Facility and work with partners abroad that focus on food safety.
Our supply chain includes all major GFSI certified facilities including FSSC 22,000 and BRC certified plants. As the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) grows in enforcement, Bulk-Pack is ready to provide you with safe, continuous supply of FIBCs.
U.N. Hazardous Material Bulk Bags (FIBC)
Bulk Bags can package most dry goods in Packaging Group II and III as regulated by the U.N. and Department of Transportation. A large portion of customers have custom bags that have to be designed to meet regulation.
Bulk-Pack's major employees are certified through 3rd Party with training on a routine basis to make sure our customers are up to date with any changes that could keep them from compliance.
Bulk-Pack has in-house testing, scheduled document delivery for your requirements and keep you in compliance.
There is only one leading and trusted Type D FIBC and those are made with Crohmiq Type D fabric. Bulk-Pack is a licensed manufacturer of Crohmiq® FIBCs in Mexico and sourcing abroad.
No matter the application, Bulk-Pack can make sure your FIBCs meet the requirements of IEC 61340. With our expertise and sales staff, we can properly fit you in the correct FIBC with or without Static Dissapative Liners.
Type D "Crohmiq" Bulk Bags (FIBC)
Electro-Static Type C Bulk Bags (FIBC)
Bulk-Pack offers 2 types of Groundable FIBCs (Metal Wire and Carbon Conductive). Meeting the requirements of the IEC 61340 on both types of materials, our FIBCs will protect you from dangerous ignition environments.
Bulk-Pack manufactures these bags and has certificates from a leading 3rd Party testing laboratory on our design. Don't risk ignition, read more on how our FIBC’s can prevent dangerous situations!
De-Watering Bulk Bags (FIBC)
Our "De-Watering" Bulk Bag is made out of Geo-Textile fabric, which allows you to collect and drain the moisture from your package for drying purposes.
Made in Mexico, we can provide short lead times and customized package for your needs.
Mexico Manufacturing
About Our Facility
Each Bulk Bag (FIBC) made in our Mexico facility has the toughest attention to detail. Each bag (non-Metallic Type C) is 100% Metal Detected. Our facility is 100% Filtered Air Conditioned, Fully Integrated Pest Controlled, and Strict Glass, Ceramics and Brittle Policy.
We are designed for short runs of 25 custom bags to 5,000 bags no matter the design.
Our Facility is C-TPAT Certified, AIB Recognized for Food Contact Package Manufacturing, and has a HACCP Certified Quality Manager. We have scored above 925/1000 the last 2 years of Inspection.
We are very proud of our facility. Within 5 miles of the US Border, we have the shortest distance from factory to US against our competitors.
We would be glad to show you a video tour to show how our attention to quality, employee safety and overall service can benefit our customers whether they need 10 custom bags or 5,000 short turn around due to shortage bags.
Why Mexico Manufacturing can benefit your supply chain?
Our Mexico facility is as fine of a manufacturing facility than you will find in the world. The facility is filtered air conditioned and all under a single roof which prevents contamination.
The biggest selling point is that you don't have to order $70,000+ more of inventory at a time. Our plant is set to run small orders to large orders allowing you the flexibility to buy as you need and not have to wait 10+ weeks.
Our customers have also discovered that having Mexico as a primary or back up supply of bags eliminated risks of shipping 20' and 40' full container loads of products that are subject to delays due to shipping, transloading, or delays at discharge port due to strikes or peak season shipping.
Our plant is within minutes of the US Border vs. more interior FIBC suppliers in Mexico. If you ever are in need for rush bags or just a small special design, our plant can be there for you!
In House Performance Test Lab
From Testing Designs, Verification of Product Performance, or any other need, our Testing Lab is Top Notch
One thing that separates us from our competition is the ability to test in house for our Mexico Bags or bags from our suppliers overseas. Most of our competitors do not have this ability to do this in house and have to go through expensive testing at 3rd Party Labs.
Bulk-Pack's testing lab was designed by a leading consultant in the FIBC industry. With this lab, we can test:
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Cyclic Top Load to Failure Test
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Drop Test
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Stack Test
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Tear Test
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Topple Test
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Righting Test
Check out our video of the test that we can perform in House!
Importing Finished FIBC's from Asia
For Customers that can take advantage of buying in large bulk, Bulk-Pack has some of the best pricing, quality and security of supply chain in the Industry.
There are a number of companies that can import bags from overseas, but only few that can offer a complete package. Bulk-Pack's customers have peace of mind knowing that from our qualified, audited plants that we have an edge over the competition.
We are able to do this because:
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Bulk-Pack has an employee located within 30 minutes from 4 of our major suppliers and short flight to another major supplier.
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This allows us to monitor orders closely and communicate better as our employee is Chinese National and Fluent in English.
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Allows us to audit plants more frequently.
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We can get quotes faster and sampling is more accurate as communications don't have a time gap.
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We have been importing FIBC's from Asia since the early 2000's and know how planning is critical.
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Customers can use our Customer Portal to track all their shipments.
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In case of shipping delays, Bulk-Pack has a back up plant in Mexico to make sure your supply chain stays consistent.
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We are able to source at competitive prices through our purchasing power and only work with companies that meet our standards of Cleanliness, Quality, Employee Welfare, and Certifications.
Flexible Intermediate Bulk Container Association (FIBCA)
The first questions we would recommend our customers look for in a supplier would be 1) Are you a member of FIBCA?
2) Are you actively involved the association?
FIBCA is the leading North American FIBC Association for the Safety of Handling and Promotion of FIBC's. Bulk-Pack happens to be one of the founding members of FIBCA back from 1983. Bulk-Pack has had held 4 President Positions and currently on the Board of Directors' for the association.
FIBCA's Mission is to
Motivate customers to use FIBCs to maximize their profitability, safety, and sustainability; and,
Educate its members about regulations and standards, promote the use of their products, and to be a strong voice for the FIBC industry with regulatory agencies around the world.
Bulk-Pack attends every meeting, participates in the growth of the Industry and understanding of regulations, and educates our employees to be experts in the field of FIBC's from Performance to UN Regulations.
Here are some of the publications that FIBCA has produced:
The History of FIBC's
A bulk bag or flexible intermediate bulk container (FIBC) is defined as an intermediate bulk container, having a body made of flexible fabric, which
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Cannot be handled manually when filled
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Is intended for shipment of solid material in powder, flake, or granular form.
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Does not require further packaging
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Is designed to be lifted from the top by means of integral, permanently attached devices (lift loops or straps)
Flexible intermediate bulk containers (FIBCs), also known as “big bags,” “bulk bags,” and “bulk sacks,” were first manufactured in the late 1950s or early 1960s. There is some controversy as to where the first FIBCs were made; however, it is known that FIBCs were made in the United States, Europe, and Japan during the time period mentioned above. The first FIBCs were constructed with heavy-duty PVC-coated nylon or polyester where the cut sheets are welded together to form the FIBC. These FIBCs were made with integrated lift slings around the container, or attached to a specially made pallet, or a metal lifting device that the container sat on. The handling devices allowed the container to be filled from the top and discharged from the bottom.
The rapid growth in Europe in the manufacturing of FIBCs occurred in the mid 1970s during the oil crisis. The oil-producing countries building program required large quantities of cement. The demand for cement was shipped in FIBCs at the rate of 30,000-50,000 metric tons per week from Northern Europe, Spain, and Italy to the Middle East.
The demand for bulk bags in the United States grew slower than in Europe until 1984, when the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) agreed to grant exemptions for the shipment of hazardous products in FIBCs. Performance standards for FIBCs were established and issued by the Chemical Packaging Committee of the Packaging Institute, USA under T-4102-85. These standards were used to obtain exemptions until DOT included flexible containers with the other types of IBCs in the Title 49 CFR for hazardous products.
The flexible bulk container offers features that are unique to this package. It can be folded flat and bailed for shipment to the user. The weight of a bulk bag used to ship one metric ton of product weighs 5-7 lbs, offering a low package: product weight ratio. The cost of FIBCs is competitive with other forms of packaging as it is usually utilized without pallets. They are easy to store and handle in warehouses with standard equipment. When shipping by boat the FIBCs are gang-loaded with up to 14 bulk bags on a spreader bar, and are shipped as break bulk.
The standard filled diameter of FIBCs is 45-48 in., designed to fit two across in a truck or a shipping container. Special configured containers are made to meet specific requirements of the container user.
FIBCs generally are manufactured to meet specific requirements of the container users. The height of the container, the diameter and length of the spouts, coated or uncoated fabric, and whether a polypropylene liner is necessary will be specified according to the type of product that will be shipped.
When hazardous products are shipped in FIBCs, the UN mark for the product must be printed on the container body. In the United States the manufacturer or a third party lab may certify the container according to the regulations in Part 178 of the Title 49 CFR. All other countries require a third party lab to certify the container.
FIBCs containing non-hazardous or non-regulated product when shipped export from the United States must have performance testing certification if destined for a country that requires performance standards for bulk bags.
A. Brody and K. Marsh, “Flexible Intermediate Bulk Contains,” Wiley Encyclopedia of Packaging Technology, 2nd Edition, Wiley-Interscience, New York, 1997, pp. 448-449. Copyright © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
