Shipping bulk liquids is a task that requires a reliable solution that meets all safety standards, while ensuring efficiency during bulk liquid transportation. Traditionally, those dealing with transporting bulk liquids have used containers such as ISO tanks and IBC totes, and drums. However, in recent years there has been a shift with many switching to flexitanks, commonly known, flexibags, for their transportation needs. Some of the reasons that have prompted this shift include high investment cost and ongoing maintenance expenses.
Flexitanks have emerged as a more cost-efficient and viable alternative for many businesses. Flexitanks are a bulk storage unit made up of multiple layers of polyethylene and polypropylene that provides a cost-effective and safer alternative for bulk liquid transportation of non-hazardous liquids such as wines, alcohol, edible oil, glycerin, water, and fruit concentrates, etc.
These soft, light, giant bladders, consist of fitting plastic and disposable bags. They are designed to fit in a 20-foot shipping container and can be transported much like any other freight. The cubic capacity of these tanks ranges from 10.000 to 24.000 liters.
ISO Tanks, Flexitanks, Drums: Which is a better solution for bulk liquid transportation?
Flexitanks vs. Drums
Drums are of various kinds, that is, those made of plastic, fiber, or steel. But irrespective of their type, drums need to have an inner coating or lining for maintaining food hygiene, as well as a pallet and strapping for ensuring safety. For many businesses, drums have been a standard way of transporting bulk liquids. They do offer certain benefits owing to the uniformity in their size, which makes it easy to stack and transport them. Yet, despite the benefits, drums as compared to flexitanks, are a challenging mode of transportation, when considering safety, maneuverability, and storage.
- Traditionally, the 55-gallon drums have been used for transporting bulk liquid. At its maximum, the containers consisting of these drums can transport 16,000 liters, whereas with a flexitank you can transport 24,000 liters, meaning with a flexitank you can transport 8,000 liters more on the same freight.
- Flexitanks allow a better space utilization than drums given they are expandable and you can optimally fill up all the available space—potentially lowering the number of shipments you have to make, thereby reducing your transportation cost.
- In addition, bulk liquid transportation via drums is more expensive owing to their weight, and handling, cleaning, and relocation requirements.
Flexitanks vs. ISO Tanks
ISO tanks have been another standard mode of bulk liquid transportation for both hazardous and non-hazardous materials, which sets them apart from flexitanks. Made of stainless steel, these tanks are designed to be transported by sea, rail or road, and eliminate the risks of transferring liquids from one container to another, as the same vessel is used throughout the shipping journey.
These tanks can be easily stored during delays or layovers, and are reusable and robust, owing to their stainless steel frames, and can resist extreme weather conditions and damage. Typically, ISO tanks have a capacity of 26,000 liters, which is slightly larger than the capacity of a flexitank.
Yet, despite many advantages, ISO tanks are not the most optimal solution for transporting bulk liquids. One of the major concerns is cleaning, which often results in increased cost, given they have to be cleaned at an approved facility. Moreover, ISO tanks are expensive to produce and replace.
While ISO tanks have their benefits, Flexitanks offer the shipping, transportation and storage industries an innovative and cost-efficient solution.
- Flexitanks are a single-use and disposal item, so unlike ISO tanks, you don’t have to worry about paying for cleaning or transporting empty tanks immediately after use.
- Flexitanks are economical to stock and can be easily shipped and transported in a 20-foot container anywhere hassle-free.
- Flexitanks are more viable as they make it possible to reuse a standard ocean container again whereas an ISO tank needs to be emptied and sent empty to another destination owing to the fact that there are no return shipments.
- Flexitanks are environmentally friendly as they are completely recyclable.
Conclusion
Flexitanks are one of the most economical ways of shipping your bulk liquid cargo in reasonably small batches. In addition, flexitanks offer you the flexibility of shipping your product to areas that are away from direct ports in various countries and you also gain greater access to the interior markets, hence reaching the end-user for your product.
Looking for an economical way of bulk liquid transportation? Contact us.