Although there are many types of
industrial &commercial packaging, bulk bags are one of the most versatile products, perhaps. Some of the most common markets that are making use of bulk bags will prefer to ship in bulk,however it is not always possible since some of the customers will not have the capacity of taking bulk trucks and would need a smaller amount of material.
For example, a farmer who wants only 2000 lbs. of seeds will not accept an entire truckload, and this is where
bulk bags come into the picture. The bulk bags market is anticipated to reach USD 8.0 billion by 2028. The packaging industry has to stay ahead of the curve as several global markets continue to evolve and now this means that the bulk bags industry should remain innovative for catering to the changing needs of customers.
Innovation in the manufacturing facilities
A groundbreaking design is possible only when the facility has the capability to successfully manufacture bulk bags as per the exact requirements. Although automated machinery augments the manufacturing processes & makes sure there is better precision, there is still no replacement for manual inspection & quality control. This is where
CBB comes into play. The company uses tried-and-tested production methods which ensure and guarantee that durable as well as capable bulk bags are delivered to the customer on time.
Innovations in the materials & design of products
While bulk bags are usually manufactured using woven polypropylene fabric, it sometimes requires to go through additional processes to render the fabric supplementary properties that include water resistance, flame retardation as well as Ultra Violet (UV) protection.
These qualities emerge from chemicals which are either being sprayed into the fabric or being mixed into the polypropylene resin in the early stages of manufacturing. Based on the requirements of the customer as well as their storage facilities, these qualities can prolong the shelf life of products & make sure that there is no wastage happening during the shipping process & storage.
While storing dry materials like grains or powders, one should make sure that moisture cannot get into the bag & spoil the product that is kept inside
the bag & this is highly essential in humid regions and other places during the rainy season. Therefore, in such conditions or instances, splash-proofing is highly recommended. Likewise, if any product is either flammable or being kept in hot & dry conditions, then the flame-retardant fabric is crucial.
If bulk bags are stored in direct sunlight, it can degrade the polypropylene fabric slowly, making it not only brittle, which will make it a serious safety concern. Hence, it is important to think of ordering bulk bags that come with UV protection.
Innovations in security and sustainability
Since security is a major concern in the logistics industry, how can the logistics industry make sure that their goods stay safe while in transit & storage? To ensure this, customers can order bulk bags with tamper-proof seals as well as attachments& a few of these designs stop the bags from being opened in the shipping process.
The growing importance of Sustainability in the bulk bag industry
Similar to other industries, sustainability is a growing practice in the bulk bag industry. One such company that is a leader in the bulk bag industry is BAG Corp. The company has introduced and is innovating processes & best practices through experience. As a developer, manufacturer, supply chain & logistics provider, BAG Corp move products across the globe & meets its client’s inventory needs daily.
Some of the industries that bulk bag sector caters to include mining, agriculture, chemicals, and many others. While bulk bags are extremely useful in the agricultural industry, most of the agricultural products are mainly manufactured to be used either in livestock feed or animal food consumption. Hence, it is important to manufacture chemical-free bags that have are not only certified to be safe for food products but also transporting these products from one place to another easy & worry-free.
Another industry where bulk bags are used to a large extent is the food processing industry. This is because most transported foods are dry bulk products & bulk bags are the right vessels for moving food products. Several bulk bags are designed particularly for this application & have been certified as safe for transiting human food-grade products.
Although products that are used in chemical industries can be highly hazardous bulk bags appear in a variety of options to carry these hazardous materials & decrease the risk of static shock. Bulk Bags that are rated B through D render different types of protection which chemical firms can choose from based on their product requirements.
The road ahead
"My expectation is that Indian FIBC market will continue to grow at 20 percent YOY, but in absolute numbers, it is at the bottom of the ladder in industrialized nations, and in next 10 years, it will be at an average of this matrix,” says Jitesh Agarwal, CEO & President, SafeFlex International.
Owing to several factors that include surge in demand for heat-resistant & durable bags, fast-paced industrialization, rapidly increasing construction activities around the globe, the bulk bags market is anticipated to register a significant CAGR in the near future. Other factors such as the cost-effectiveness as well as the recyclability of bulk bags make them a highly feasible solution for packaging, and this in turn is set to accelerate the bulk bags market growth.
