FIBCs have been around for a very long time and just like any other industry, today, they also have their own extended glossary of terms. If you are a person whose business relies on FIBCs for storage and transportation of materials, we’re sure you will find it useful to familiarise yourself with the following terms and why and where they are used.
Here are a few key terms that FIBCA or the Flexible Intermediate Bulk Container Association have pointed out.
When manufacturing FIBCs, the designers might use this term to describe the section of the bag which is used to tie the inlet or outlet spouts of the bag as a bias strap or tape. These are usually made out of multifilament yarns (MFY), polyester or polypropylene. A few other names used for bias strap are a web tie or a bias strap.
Sometimes the inlet of the bag at the top is structured in a pyramid shape, which means that when you close the inlet it forms a pyramid shape. The top of this type of a bag is referred to as a cone top and cone tops are designed to allow over-filling of bags and can increase capacity. Sometimes, these are also referred to as conical tops.
In FIBC terminology, a card lock is referred to the closure device which is used to hold the rope or cord on the spout in place. These can be used while filling but are mostly used during discharge to control the amount of material coming out of the bag. Card locks have replaced the hand knots that were traditionally used to control the outflow and come in a variety of sizes making them useful across the board.
When an FIBC design claims that it has a sift-resistant construction, this means that the bag offers resistance from the sifting of very fine particles of the product when it is being filled. This resistance is achieved by utilizing coated fabrics and filler cords in the sew lines.
UV-stabilized FIBCs are the bags that offer protection against the harmful ultraviolet or UV radiations of the sun. Protection against the UV rays is achieved by blending an additive to the resin before it is used for the extrusion of the yarns that are then used to make the bags.
The safety factor can be described as the ratio of the weight an FIBC can carry as compared to its own weight. Generally speaking, an FIBC is able to carry five to six times its own weight with ease. Therefore, if you see that the SWL or the Safe Working Load for an FIBC is 5:1 or 6:1 SF, this means that the FIBC can carry five or six times its load, respectively.
Being acquainted with the terminology used in the manufacturing, storage and utilisation of FIBCs is important for every person involved in the industry. If everyone from the CEOs to the designers and workers are aware of what they are dealing with, it automatically brings down the number of accidents and losses, making for a more successful business.
, polyester or polypropylene.)
