Whether you’re reading the EPT Flexitank Blog for the first time or as a frequent visitor, we understand that you are (more than likely) already familiar with bulk packaging terms. In other words, to arrive here in the first place, you probably entered the word flexitank or flexitanks in one of the search engines and then clicked the link to this blog.
So, the purpose of covering the basics in this short Bulk Packaging Glossary is not to take you back to what you already know, but rather to encourage you to forward alink to this post to a supervisor or executive who may not be as knowledgeable as you when it comes to bulk packaging terminology.
Bulk Packaging
Any packaging, including transport vehicles, having a liquid capacity of more than 119 gal (450 L), a solids capacity of more than 882 lb (400 kg), or a compressed gas water capacity of more than 1001 lb (454 kg).
Source: TermWiki
Bulk Cargo
Bulk cargo is commodity cargo that is transported unpackaged in large quantities and is classified as liquid or dry.
Source: Wikipedia
Polypropylene
Polypropylene (PP) is a thermoplastic polymer used in a wide variety of applications including bulk packaging.
Source: Wikipedia
Flexitank
A large-multi-layered (polypropylene) flexible bag that goes inside a large rigid shipping container as a container liner. Flexitanks offer an alternative to ISO tank containers for shipping oils, juices, wines, food-grade liquids and nonhazardous chemicals across the globe. Flexitanks may be loaded into 20′ food-grade containers for maritime transport.
Sizes range from 16,000 to 24,000 liters. The materials used in the production of flexitanks must meet the US Food and Drug Administration, Food and Drug EU food-grade or German BGA standards. The idea is to isolate the liquid being transported from ambient air to avoid oxidation.
Source: Wikiipedia
BIG Red Flexitank™
BIG Red Flexitank™ is the bulk liquid shipping container liner trademarked and exclusively manufactured by Environmental Packaging Technologies (EPT) in the U.S. according to strict ISO 9001-2008 quality control standards.
While all BIG Red Flexitanks™ are flexitanks, all flexitanks are not BIG Red Flexitanks.™
Source: EPT’s BIG Red Flexitank™ web page
EPT Wine-Pac™ Flexitank
A flexitank container liner trademarked and manufactured exclusively in the U.S. by Environmental Packaging Technologies (EPT) for the purpose of safely and economically transporting bulk wine.
Source: EPT’s Wine-Pac™ Flexitank web page
Dry Liner
A shipping container liner designed for transporting dry bulk goods.
Source: EPT’s Dry Bulk web page
BIG Red Dry Liner™
The shipping container liner trademarked and exclusively manufactured by Environmental Packaging Technologies (EPT) for the purpose of safely and economically transporting bulk dry goods.
Source: EPT’s Dry Bulk Cargo web page
Intermodal Transport
The movement of goods in one and the same loading unit (container) which uses successively several modes of transport, for example, truck, railroad tank car, cargo ship without handling of the goods themselves in changing modes.
Source: Francoudi and Stephanau Shipping Terminology
One of the primary benefits of both flexitanks and dry liners is that they can be easily and cost-effectively loaded and unloaded from one transportation mode to another.
As pointed out in the hypothetical example in the previous blog post, Exporting Bulk Liquids, flexitanks may be easily transferred between truck, railroad tank car, or ship.
Posted by Herb Firestone 
