Custom Bulk Bags are designed to hold large volumes of product, but how do you extract these valuable materials once they reach their destination? There are three basic ways to discharge a bulk bag, depending on the design. These are; no discharge, spout discharge and full-bottom discharge. Customers can choose what type of discharge they would like, depending on what products they put inside the bulk bags.
- No discharge – These bags have no spout or opening at the bottom. They are physically cut with a blade to discharge the product.
- Spout discharge – These bags have a spout sewn into the bottom. The spouts vary in size and are tied up inside the bag. When the knot is undone, the spout drops out of the bottom of the bulk bag and the product is discharged.
- Full-bottom discharge – These bags have a complete opening at the bottom, which is sealed before filling. To discharge, the whole bottom is opened and the load is dumped in one go.
How the three discharge methods compare
The first option is the cheapest as there are no added extras on the bags; they are simply sewn shut. However, this method of discharging is only suitable for products where contamination is not an issue. As the bag is cut with a blade, polypropylene particles can get into the product as it flows out the bottom of the bag. This is a suitable option for garden waste, compost and products that do not need to be refined or pure. The second option, the spout, is by far the most commonly used discharge method. It allows the product to flow easily and is a more precise, controlled method than the other two. The spout is more suitable for smooth-flowing products, such as sugar, fertilizer and sand. Large-grain products, such as mining ore, and viscous liquids, such as molasses, are not compatible with the spout discharge method. Bulk bags with a spout are cost-effective and the most safe option. The third choice – full-bottom discharge bags – are the most expensive option of the three. This is because of the opening mechanism that needs to be incorporated into each bag. However, it is the quickest of the three options and most suitable for large grain products and sticky materials, such as animal feed, big rocks and sugar byproducts. Custom Bulk Bags will direct clients to the right discharge methods for their needs. There are several safety aspects to note when discharging bulk bags. The first and most important is to never stand underneath a bag when it is full of product. Always use an appropriate forklift when moving bulk bags and ensure that it is certified to carry the load. Lastly, never discharge a bag into smaller containers or weak vessels as this can lead to damage of property and serious injury. Safety forms a large part of our service delivery objectives. Custom Bulk Bags has a 5:1 safety factor, which means that our bags are able to hold five times the amount of their safe workload. The world-class engineering and precision manufacturing of our products makes them extremely safe to use in all applications. ___ Custom Bulk Bags is a South African manufacturer of woven polypropylene bags for various industries, such as mining, chemicals and food. We are able to produce over 3.5-million bulk bags per year, keeping our customers in stock at all times. Our bags adhere to the highest levels of quality as a result of our stringent in-house testing and quality control programmes.
Custom Bulk Bags holds ISO 9001 certification and we currently have a number of UN-certified designs. We are a Level 3 B-BBEE manufacturer and supplier and fall under the ownership structure of Deneb Investments Limited. For more information on our products, contact sales@custombulkbags.co.za. Follow us on Facebook for our latest news and industry insights.
