One of the major issues that many businesses experience with bulk produce is the ability to store and stack bulk bags properly and safely. Many companies store their products on wooden pallets, but these can be wasteful, expensive and may not provide the stability required. The ideal solution lies in bulk bags.
Custom Bulk Bags are manufactured to the highest international standards. Our products have a minimum 5:1 safety factor and meet the strict ISO 9001 quality management parameters. Bulk bags have a roughly cubic shape, which means that they can be stacked on top of one another when filled. We recommend the following steps to stack your bulk bags safely and securely.
Tips to stack bulk bags
To stack one bulk bag on top of another, use a forklift to lift the top bag by its loops and lower it onto the exact centre of the other. Once lowered, push down gently on the top bulk bag with the forklift to set its resting place securely on the lower bulk bag. This pressing produces a “nest” for the top bag and locks the two together.
Some stacking procedures will remain the same, regardless of the approach you use. As you stack your bulk bags, keep the following in mind:
- Never force a bag into a stacked pile, or pull one out from the middle, as this can result in damage to the fabric and straps.
- If you’re attempting to remove a damaged bulk bag, never pull or push from the centre of the stack – you could cause the stack to collapse and destroy further bags or injure yourself.
- If stacked bulk bags are tilting, have odd forms or don’t seem to be able to support the weight of more containers, stop multi-stacking and store the bags as a single layer.
- Don’t stack your bags in puddles of water.
- Remember to tie off the top closures and cover the stack with a waterproof covering if storing them outside.
Pyramid and supported stacking
There are two methods for stacking numerous bulk bags: the pyramid and the supported stacking methods.
- Pyramid stacking – To use this method, start with a bottom layer of bags in the specified storage location. Then add another off-centre layer on top, tiering them to form a pyramid. Each bulk bag should be supported by at least four bags beneath. This method is ideal when there are no available supporting walls.
- Supported stacking – When there are walls or shelves available, supported stacking should be used whenever possible as it provides optimal stability in the smallest amount of space. It can be done with two retaining walls, but three is best because you can stack the bulk bags higher and take up less space. Place bags on top of one another like bricks in a wall, so that each bag is supported by two below it.
By following these instructions, you can ensure that your bulk bags are handled and stacked safely. These methods have been tried-and-tested and proven to be stable and secure. When storing large quantities of raw materials, produce or chemicals, be sure to stack the bags properly. For more information about our bulk bags, please contact us today.
___
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.
