Sugar, powdered milk, fertilizers and other granulated substances are often shipped in FIBCs – otherwise known as big bags or bulk bags. FIBC is an abbreviation for flexible intermediate bulk container. FIBCs have loops attached at each corner through which forklift truck tines can be inserted. These are essential, as it would be impossible to move them otherwise. Another reason for using these loops is that FIBCs have to be suspended because their underside often has a means by which they can be easily emptied.

Loading & Unloading Loops

As shown in the photograph, the forklift truck's mast extends above the top of the big bag. This means that the sea container's roof needs to be higher than the mast, otherwise the forklift truck would not be able to fit inside the container. Loading and unloading big bags into and from containers by their loops is also dependent on the height of the big bag and the forklift truck's mast. It is virtually impossible to stack big bags one on top of another inside a container by their loops using a standard forklift truck without using any special systems.

Palletized FIBC Handling

This is why FIBCs are usually shipped on wooden and/or plastic pallets in trucks and/or containers. FIBCs can even be stacked on top of one another to optimize the use of the space available, thus reducing shipping costs. Pallets are increasingly viewed as a necessary evil, especially when shipping in sea containers. Why is this?

• Pallets take up valuable space
• Wooden pallets have to be handled in accordance with ISPM 15
• Plastic pallets have to be used to comply with HACCP directives and are significantly more expensive than wooden pallets

Slipsheeted FIBC Handling

A far better alternative exists for pallets – slipsheets. Big bags can always be put into internal storage on a pallet if so required. A solid cardboard or plastic slipsheet is then placed between the pallet and FIBC As soon as these FIBCs need to be shipped in a container, the FIBC and its slipsheet is lifted off its pallet and placed in the container on its slipsheet. If necessary, two big bags can even be stacked one on top of the other. These big bags are stacked before being loaded into the container. A forklift truck then manoeuvres the two stacked big bags into the container in one go.

Advantages of Slipsheeted FIBCs:

• Slipsheets comply with ISPM 15 and HACCP directives
• Slipsheets are significantly cheaper than either wooden or plastic pallets
• Slipsheets are ultra-thin meaning that they do not take up space that can be used for the materials being shipped
• Slipsheets generate less waste at the recipient

Handling equipment for slipsheeted FIBCs

PushPull, Hydraulic boom or RollerForks can be used to move slipsheeted goods.