FAQ

What is a bulk bag?

Bulk bags are large bags used for storing and transporting free flowing dry products. Bulk bags are typically made from woven polypropylene. The sizes can be made specifically for the customer’s needs. The bags typically hold about 2000-4000 lbs. of product. You can drastically save time and money on moving products for they can be placed on pallets or lifted by standard lift loops attached to the bags themselves.

What are bulk bags made from?

100% virgin polypropylene, which is a petroleum-based product.  Our bags are made from high-quality, virgin polypropylene, which gives you the ultimate in quality and value for your product. You can be sure your goods are safe and protected, from storage to transport to discharge at their final location.

What is woven polypropylene made from?

Woven polypropylene is made from extruded polypropylene resin pellets.

What sizes do bulk bags come in?

Bulk bags can come in any size that the customer requests. Bulk bags can be manufactured to any specific need that the customer may want depending on the type of product and machinery they are using to put their products into the bulk bag. Midwestern Bag can customize your bag to any size you request.  If you have questions on the sizes, let the experts at Midwestern Bag & Supply help you.

How do I determine what size bulk bag I need?

Can I reuse a bulk bag?

Yes, bulk bags can be reused. This requires a multi-trip bulk bag, which is made with at least a 5:1 Safety Factor. This type of bag is designed to be used for a specific amount of uses. However, this practice may be dangerous because bags can get damaged while in use and decrease their life expectancy.

How do you pick up a bulk bag?

Bulk bags are lifted by several different lifting applications depending on the customer’s needs. Some examples are standard 10 lift loops, lifting sleeves, single point crane lift, and stevedore straps. If there is a way to lift your bulk bag, Midwestern Bag & Supply will find the right pickup method for you.

How do you empty a bulk bag?

Bulk bags are typically emptied by a spout that is attached to the bottom of the bulk bag. This is also known as a discharge spout. Usually the discharge spout is tucked inside a closure on the bottom of the bag. The closure is designed to protect the spout and to prevent the product from sifting out of the discharge before its intended discharge. Midwestern Bag & Supply can design your discharge spout size and closure for your specific need.

What does FIBC stand for?

Flexible Intermediate Bulk Container is the official name AKA bulk bag, tote bag, etc.

What is the difference between Circular and U-panel bulk bags?

Circular bags are made from fabric that has been woven on a circular loom. The fabric is woven into a continuous tube of fabric. The bag is then cut to the correct size height.

What does SWL mean?

Safe Working Load

What does 5:1 SF mean?

A standard bulk bag is rated at a 5:1 Safety Ratio, which means that the bag is specified to hold 5 times the amount of the bags safe working load.

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 a bulk bag without a top closure, keeping the product exposed.

What is a fill spout?

A standard fill spout is a spout with a 14″ diameter opening in the top of the bag, usually 18″ long. It’s designed to allow the user to fill the bag, minimizing dust occurrences as the bag is being filled.

Can you print onto a bulk bag?

Yes, bulk bags can be printed. Usually the printing is on the side panels of the bag. Print colors are usually one, two, or three colors, but we have the capability to print with more colors, which affects the cost of the bag. We can also print custom logos.

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 bag from bulging, which makes the bag stand up straight not allotting for wasted storage space.

What is a perimeter band?

A perimeter band is a band sewn around the outside perimeter of the top of a bag. This feature is designed to give extra strength to the lifting loops when the bag is picked up.

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.

What is a full open bottom?

A full open bottom bag has a flap that covers the entire bottom. Once the flap is untied, the bulk bag can be discharged quickly through the open bottom. The open bottom allows the ability to release the product from the bottom of the bag without having to reach underneath the bag. This type of bag is great for material that tends to cake or bridge when discharging.

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 bag 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 bag. Bulk bags are made of a woven breathable product there is the possibility of product leaking out of seams and areas where the bag 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 bag 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 utilize sift proofing, these are some of the ways that sift proofing has been used to prevent product from sifting out of the seams.

What different fabric weights are there?

Fabric weights are related to the amount of product that the bulk bag will be holding (SWL). The Safe Working Load of the bag will determine what fabric weight to use for making a bulk bag i.e. 5 oz., 6 oz., 6.5 oz., and 8 oz. Fabric weights can be customized for specific customer needs. If you plan to reuse your bulk bag, we recommend choosing at least 5oz material for optimal usage.

Can bulk bags have liners?

Yes, liners can be inserted loosely or attached to the bag as well. There are different types of liners for different applications, but the main two are tube liners and form fit liners.

What is an anti-static bulk bag?

An anti-static bulk bag is a bulk bag made with a static protective fabric, which allows static electricity to discharge safely without the use of a groundable tab, commonly seen in Type C bulk bags. This is referred to as a Type D bulk bag.

Can bulk bags be stored outside?

Yes, but bulk bags will degrade as a result of UV exposure. A standard bulk bag has a UV inhibitor added into the fabric at the manufacturing level. Manufacturers add enough UV inhibitor to resist UV rays for approximately 2 months. However, UV rays vary in strength and degree in different parts of the world.

What is UN Certification?

UN Certification is a testing certification done by an independent testing facility that puts the bulk bag through a set of thorough examinations. A UN test includes strength testing to determine if bags meet their specified qualifications.

What are food grade bulk bags?

Food grade bulk bags are bags that are made with the intent of using the bulk bags in a food grade facility for the packaging of food products. Proper food grade bags are manufactured in an AIB certified facility.

What is an AIB certified bulk bag?

An AIB certified bulk bag is a bulk bag that is made in a facility that has undergone an audit by the American Institute of Baking, which is the gold standard for food grade requirements.

Are your bags AIB certified?

Yes, our commitment to hygiene and cleanliness has translated into rigorous adherence to high standards; which are maintained to ensure that all FIBC products being manufactured for the food and pharmaceutical industry are absolutely sanitized and free from dust, germs and pollutants. Necessary products are made in compliance with HACCP, BRC and AIB standards.

Do your food grade bulk bags meet FDA requirements?

Yes. All of the resin used by our global sources has met all FDA requirements for food grade packaging.

Do you have a HACCP plan?

Yes, our manufacturer has a HACCP plan in place for manufacturing bulk bags.

What is HACCP?

Hazard Analysis Critical Control Points – HAACP is a systematic preventive guideline to food safety. HACCP is used in the food industry to identify potential food safety hazards, where actions, known as Critical Control Points (CCP’s) can be taken to reduce or eliminate the risk of the hazards occurring.

How fast can I get my bulk bags delivered?

That depends on several different factors including availability. For stock bags, we can ship the same day, depending on what time the order is placed. For custom made bags that are imported, the lead times are usually 10-12 weeks for bags made overseas. Lead times can vary from manufacturer to manufacturer. Since we are importers, we try to give the best estimate, and we do everything we can to expedite the process.