Everything you need to specify, source, and order FIBC bulk bags — from bag type selection through to container-load pricing. If you're buying FIBC bags for the first time or switching suppliers, this is your reference.
FIBC stands for Flexible Intermediate Bulk Container — also called a bulk bag, jumbo bag, or super sack. They are large industrial bags manufactured from woven polypropylene (PP) fabric, designed to store and transport dry bulk materials including chemicals, minerals, food products, agricultural commodities, and construction materials.
Standard FIBC bags hold between 500 kg and 2,000 kg (Safe Working Load). They are reusable or single-use depending on specification, and can be manufactured with liners, spouts, baffles, and discharge options to suit nearly any bulk material handling application.
The construction style determines how a bag holds its shape, how it fills, and how material discharges. The four main types are:
| Type | Construction | Best For | Key Feature |
|---|---|---|---|
| U-Panel | Two U-shaped fabric panels sewn together | General-purpose dry bulk | Cost-effective, slight bulge when filled |
| Baffle (Form Stable) | Internal baffles at each corner | Space-constrained storage, stacking | Retains square shape when filled |
| 4-Panel | Four side panels plus base and top | Dense or heavy materials | High structural integrity |
| Circular/Tubular | Woven as continuous tube, no side seams | Fine powders, hygroscopic materials | Fewer seams = less contamination risk |
| Ventilated | Open mesh or perforated PP fabric | Produce, firewood, onions, potatoes | Allows airflow to prevent moisture buildup |
For materials that are flammable or combustible, the bag's electrostatic properties are critical. FIBC bags are classified by their ability to dissipate or control static electricity:
| Class | Electrostatic Properties | Use Case | Grounding Required? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Type A | No electrostatic protection | Non-flammable products only | No |
| Type B | Low breakdown voltage fabric | Flammable powders (no flammable solvents nearby) | No |
| Type C | Conductive threads woven into fabric | Flammable powders and flammable vapors/gases present | Yes — must be grounded during fill/discharge |
| Type D | Dissipative fabric (no grounding thread) | Flammable environments, grounding not practical | No — dissipates safely without grounding |
Most standard agricultural and mineral applications use Type A. Chemical and pharmaceutical applications typically require Type C or D. Consult your safety team or material SDS before specifying electrostatic type.
FIBC dimensions are specified as Width × Length × Height (all in cm or inches). Because woven PP fabric stretches slightly under load, bags are manufactured slightly smaller than the filled dimensions — account for this in your specs.
Custom dimensions are available at no upcharge on container-load orders. If you are working with a specific filling line, discharge equipment, or pallet configuration, provide us with your required filled dimensions and we will calculate the flat-pack manufacturing dimensions.
SWL is the maximum weight a bag is rated to carry in normal single-lift use. Standard SWLs are 500 kg, 1,000 kg, 1,500 kg, and 2,000 kg. The Safety Factor (SF) rating describes the multiple of SWL the bag can withstand before failure:
UN-certified bags (UN 13H3) are required for shipping regulated hazardous dry materials. They undergo third-party drop, stacking, vibration, and top lift testing and come with a UN marking and test certificate. PackAssure stocks UN-certified FIBC bags in standard sizes.
Liners protect your product from moisture, contamination, and dust ingress. The standard liner materials are:
| Liner Type | Material | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Form-Fit Liner | PE film, shaped to bag interior | Fine powders, food-grade products |
| Tube Liner | PE tube, loose inside bag | General moisture protection |
| Baffle Liner | PE film with baffle pockets | Form-stable bags requiring barrier |
| Aluminium Foil Liner | Laminated foil | Oxygen-sensitive or light-sensitive products |
Food-grade liners are manufactured from FDA-compliant PE film. All liner options can be specified with discharge spouts (bottom fill/discharge) or sealed tops (slit-open discharge).
The top and bottom spout configuration affects how the bag is filled on your production line and emptied at the destination:
FIBC bags can be printed with 1–4 colors using flexographic printing directly on the woven fabric. Typical uses include company logo, product name, batch number fields, hazard symbols, and handling instructions (this side up, keep dry, etc.).
Artwork must be supplied in vector format (AI or PDF). Print registration on woven PP fabric is ±5 mm — fine for logos and text, not suitable for photographic detail. Setup charges are amortized into per-unit pricing on container-load orders.
If you are currently sourcing FIBC bags from a distributor and want to switch to direct manufacturing, send us 2 physical samples of your current bag. Our team in Gujarat will reverse-engineer the exact construction: fabric weight (g/m²), weave count, seam type, loop attachment, liner spec, and printing. You'll receive a matched bag at the direct-manufacturer price.
All PackAssure FIBC bags are manufactured to ISO 21898 (the international FIBC standard). Our manufacturing partner in Ahmedabad, Gujarat operates under BRC, ISO 9001, and FSSC 22000 certifications. Test reports (top lift, drop test, stacking, vibration) are available for each specification on request.
Skip the distributor markup. PackAssure's exclusive manufacturing partnership in Ahmedabad, Gujarat delivers container-load quantities at factory pricing — with full spec customization, quality documentation, and a US-based point of contact.
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