National Bulk Bag Blog

How the End of Just-In-Time Logistics in the Plastics Industry will Impact FIBCs

The practice of “just-in-time” logistics has been around for well over 60 years. However, recent events, including the pandemic and severe weather across the globe, have led many supply chain leaders to reexamine their view on just-in-time practices. For many industries, including the plastics industry, just-in-time logistics are likely coming to an end.

May 02, 2022

Categories: Bulk Bags

Safe FIBC Handling Guidelines - Filling and Discharging

Updated 4-19-2022

It is important to follow safe use guidelines when transporting and storing products with flexible intermediate bulk containers (FIBCs). These include guidelines from manufacturers, suppliers, and the Flexible Intermediate Bulk Container Association (FIBCA).

April 19, 2022

Categories: Bulk Bag Safety

3 Reasons to Switch From Gaylords to FIBC Bulk Bags

If you've been following the news recently, you may have heard that there is a corrugated shortage affecting gaylord containers. This has caused prices for corrugated to skyrocket, and many businesses are struggling to find a way to get their products shipped. One great alternative to corrugated is FIBC bulk bags. FIBCs are a great replacement for corrugated because they are durable, economical, and easy to use. In this blog post, we will discuss the corrugated shortage and how switching to FIBC bulk bags can help your business!

April 12, 2022

Categories: Bulk Bags

FIBC Bulk Bag Safety: 5:1 vs 6:1

Updated 4-5-2022

When using woven polypropylene bulk bags, it is important to use them per the instructions provided by both your supplier and the manufacturer. It is also important that you do not fill bags over their safe working load and/or reuse bags that aren’t designed for more than one use/trip. Most bags are manufactured for a single use bag but some are specifically designed for multiple uses.

April 05, 2022

Categories: Bulk Bag Safety

FIBC Bulk Bag 101: Types of Bag Bottom Closures Explained

Updated: 3-22-2022

FIBC Bulk bags come in many sizes, shapes, and materials. There are a wide range of customizations to consider when choosing the right bulk bag. The type of closure used to seal the bag is an important features because it can affect the integrity of the bag. There are many different types of bottom closures that can be customized to fit your application. 

Are Bulk Bags Watertight or Waterproof?

Updated: 3-8-2022

Bulk Bags are one of the most versatile bulk containers on the market. For the most part, no matter what product you are storing and/or transporting, there is a bag that fits your unique application.

How the Pandemic Driven Labor Shortage Has Led to a Rise in Agricultural Automation

The pandemic’s impact on supply chain has been covered at great length – COVID-19 has significantly impacted the availability of goods and materials across the globe. Consumer goods aren’t the only thing in short supply, though; many employers are also struggling to find quality workers to fill critical roles. The agriculture industry is in the midst of an historic workforce shortage as laborers are difficult to come by, with many produce growers facing serious labor challenges come harvest season.

November 26, 2021

Categories: Produce Packaging

How Bad Potato Yields in 2020 Are Driving Better Market Conditions for Producers

2020 was a historically poor year for the potato industry. Record low yields and reduced global production resulted in a significant decrease in the availability of potatoes – the global cold storage stock of potatoes fell from around 1.12 billion pounds to 1.06 pounds.

November 17, 2021

Categories: Produce Packaging

The Shipping Crunch Leads Companies to Take Desperate Measures

During the COVID-19 pandemic, lead times for many goods and raw materials have been significantly extended. Beginning in late 2020 and into early 2021, many manufacturers saw a huge spike in lead times due to skyrocketing demand following the initial lockdown periods across the globe. As the demand increased, supply struggled to keep pace, due often to understaffed manufacturing centers and increased delays in shipping and delivery of raw materials. No industry was immune, including the FIBC bulk bag industry as we covered in our recent post “How the Shipping Crunch Is Impacting FIBC Bulk Bag[...]

November 04, 2021

Categories: Bulk Bags

What is Vboard (Corner board)? What is it used for?

As we have expanded our product offering at National Bulk Bag into the agriculture industry, we’ve greatly expanded on the types of topics covered in this blog. A big part of that has been the packaging and/or storage materials that we carry. Almost all products that we sell at NBB are used in bulk transportation and/or storage – that’s simply a fact.

October 31, 2021

Categories: Produce Packaging

What Are the Different Types of FIBC Construction – What’s Right for Your Application?

We’ve covered FIBC construction extensively on this blog in the past, however, it’s been a while since we’ve specifically covered the types of construction as it relates to the way bulk bags are put together. This includes the seams, panels, and how they are sewn together.

October 25, 2021

Categories: Bulk Bag Construction

How the Shipping Crunch Is Impacting FIBC Bulk Bag Lead Times, Prices

As supply chain issues continue to impact the world, many industries are feeling the crunch. As part of our commitment to keeping up on the latest industry news, we’re continually examining the FIBC market and lead times, and sharing our findings with you. By doing so, we hope to keep you informed and to help you minimize the impact supply chain issues have on your business.

October 06, 2021

Categories: Bulk Bags

The Different Types of Baler Bags

For decades, the agricultural space has made use of baler bags for a wide range of applications. Over the years, baler bags have undergone significant transformation in order to meet the changing needs of those agricultural users. Baler bags are no longer the simple cloth bags they started as. Instead, baler bags are available in many different materials, with many different types of construction.

September 28, 2021

Categories: Produce Packaging

6:1, 5:1, and Purchasing Used FIBCs

Organizations looking to reduce storage and transportation costs will likely be excited about the recently growing market for used FIBCs. It has become increasingly popular for companies to sell their bags after their first use, and for other organizations to purchase those bags for their own purposes. The sale of used FIBCs helps the seller recoup some of the original purchase cost, while organizations that purchase used likely save a few dollars.

September 14, 2021

Categories: Bulk Bag Safety

What is National Ag Day? Why is it Important?

Each year in March, the United States celebrates National Ag Day. The holiday is organized by the Agriculture Council of America (ACA), which is a nonprofit organization composed of leaders in the agricultural, food and fiber community. ACA dedicates its efforts to increasing the public's awareness of agriculture's role in modern society.

September 06, 2021

Categories: Produce Packaging

The Basics of Barcodes

We see barcodes every single day. We see them at the grocery store, we see them at home and on our electronic devices. Industries ranging from food to electronic to small manufacturers use the same system of barcodes to keep their inventories and products organized and easily identifiable. Barcodes are everywhere and they aren’t going anywhere anytime soon.

August 24, 2021

Categories: Produce Packaging

Wicketed Bags vs Flat Packed Bags

The rising popularity of facilities automation has led to increased efficiency and safety in manufacturing facilities across the globe. To support facilities automation efforts, many businesses have begun to source packaging that offer useful features and technology that help eliminate slowdowns or bottlenecks during the manufacturing or storage process.

August 18, 2021

Categories: Produce Packaging

Recent Changes to the Classic Paper Window Bags

Paper window bags are a staple in the agricultural industry. Due to their sturdy paper construction and the window that allows product to be showcased, many retail agricultural operations prefer the paper window bag over any other packaging option.

August 06, 2021

Categories: Produce Packaging

Using Baffled Bulk Bags at Seed Processing Facilities

The agriculture industry ranks as one of the heaviest users of bulk bags and FIBCs. This is only natural, as the agriculture industry includes countless applications and uses for these types of bags, including storing and transporting produce, grain and other crops. The wide variety of bulk bags available on the market makes them an ideal solution for many of these applications.

Excess Produce Donations? Use Generic Produce Packaging.

As a natural part of their operations, many farmers and food processing facilities find themselves with produce or product at the end of their growing or production season that is unsellable due to its size or appearance. Many of these organizations are extremely generous with excess product and choose to donate their overruns or unsellable stock to charities or food shelters.

July 17, 2021

Categories: Produce Packaging

Download our Product Weight Guide & FIBC Volume Calculator

Product Weight Guide and FIBC Volume Calculator

Download our Product Weight Guide and FIBC Volume Calculator to help you determine how much weight a specific bag will hold.


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