A critical question to ask yourself when considering an FIBC for your product is “how am I going to fill this bag?” There is an assortment of ways to fill them, from intricate chutes or equipment applications, down to an excavator bucket. When considering your filling method, construction of the top of the bag is critical in efficiently and effectively filling the bag.
In order to find the bulk bag that best fits your product and application, you’ll need to know about the different types of construction. The construction of an FIBC has a major impact on it’s uses, features, and application. One major part of bag construction is the top of the bag.
The two unique types of bag top construction are spout tops and duffle tops. The bag top that is best for your application usually depends on your facility’s equipment and how the bag is filled. Each has it’s own benefits and potential drawbacks that affect how and where they can be used.
Duffle top bulk bags have a thin lightweight top panel that is the same width and depth as the four sides of the bag. The larger opening provides more flexibility in filling options and the types of machinery it can be used with. After filling the duffle top can be closed to protect the contents of the bag and allow for easier transportation.
What is a Spout Top?
Spout top bags have a sturdy spout sewn to the top panel of the FIBC that is cylindrical and narrower than the width and depth of the bag. This smaller opening isn’t as flexible as the duffle top but is better for specific machinery and applications. The smaller opening allows for less dust and product spill during filling. The spout can also be tied off for to protect the product during transportation and storage.
What Top Construction is Best for Me?
The largest factor when considering what top construction is how you’re going to fill the bag. If are using multiple pieces of machinery to fill the bag with different sized outputs then a duffle top is best for you. The duffle top will allow a larger range of machines to fill the bag thus giving your bag greater versatility. If you’re using a single piece of machinery with a single sized output then a spout top bag may be the best solution. It will allow for smoother filling and better product containment (significant dust reduction).
Learn more about the different types of FIBC bulk bags by clicking here!
Thanks for visiting the National Bulk Bag blog! We hope you found this article helpful and informative.
Safety and reliability is our number one priority. Each bulk bag that we sell has a safe working load (SWL) – with the most common being 2,200lbs and 3,000lbs. To make sure the product you’re packing will not exceed the SWL of the bag you’re interested in, you’ll need to know the bulk density of the product you’re packing as well as the cubic foot capacity of the bulk bag.
Click the link below to download our Product Weight Guide and FIBC Volume Calculator to help you determine how much weight a specific bag will hold.