The main structural component of bulk bags is the fabric – a lightweight, flexible and durable textile made from woven polypropylene tapes. The special qualities of this fabric greatly enhance the bag’s functionality. Being intrinsically flexible, bulk bags can take on a variety of forms and are suitable for a range of storage and transit uses.
The fabric’s strength is essential for managing big loads and maintaining the integrity of the goods while in storage. What’s more, the water resistance of polypropylene shields the contents of the bag from moisture damage, and its lightweight design makes transportation more affordable.
There are two processes used to create this polypropylene fabric; extrusion and meltblown. Both methods produce a fabric with unique properties that affect the bulk bag’s overall functionality. Custom Bulk Bags is a leading manufacturer and supplier of bulk bags in South Africa and we use the extrusion method.
We produce up to 3.5 million bulk bags per year and our products can safely hold between 500kg and two tonnes of material per bag. We offer several UN-certified designs and attachments, making our products fully customisable to meet your unique needs.
Extrusion method to create polypropylene fabric
Extrusion is a process whereby the polypropylene is pulled into continuous tapes or filaments, which are then woven together in a large loom. These filaments are arranged in a criss-cross pattern to create a robust, long-lasting fabric with a steady structure.
Extruded polypropylene has outstanding tensile strength, tear resistance, and puncture resistance, so it is commonly used to produce bulk bags. In addition, it has exceptional breathability, which is important for various applications where moisture control is needed, such as in the storage of grains and powders.
Meltblown polypropylene fabric
Meltblown fabric, in contrast, is made by blowing molten polypropylene through small pores to generate incredibly fine strands. After that, these fibres are gathered and fused together, to create a nonwoven fabric. Meltblown fabric is lightweight and has a high filtering effectiveness.
Which is better: Meltblown or extrusion?
The type of polypropylene fabric should be chosen based on the particular needs of the bulk bag application.
- For bags that need to support large loads, such as those used in the mining or construction sectors, extrusion is typically the material of choice. It is the perfect option for these demanding applications because of its strength, durability and longevity.
- Meltblown fabric is often used in combination with extrusion to produce laminated textiles.
It’s important to remember that, while extrusion and meltblown polypropylene fabric are the most common varieties utilised in the production of bulk bags, there are other variants and combinations available to suit particular industrial requirements. Using the foremost extrusion method, Custom Bulk Bags develops high-quality and customised solutions for our customers, guaranteeing that the bulk bags we provide are ideal for your needs.
If you understand your specific requirements, you can choose the right bulk bags for your business. However, our expert consultants are on hand to offer you guidance and advice before you place your order. Custom Bulk Bags is dedicated to offering dependable, strong, and long-lasting bulk bag solutions. For more information about our products, please contact us today.
___
Custom Bulk Bags is a leading 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 2 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, LinkedIn and Instagram for our latest news and industry insights.
