Industrial bulk bag suppliers play a crucial role in the coffee industry. Although South Africa is not a major producer of coffee, it is a significant importer and distributor of coffee and downstream coffee products.
Let’s take a look at how flexible intermediate bulk containers (FIBCs) are used in the coffee industry.
Importing Coffee Beans
Given that most of South Africa’s coffee is imported, FIBCs are critical for ensuring the safe transportation and storage of green coffee beans from major coffee-producing countries such as Brazil and Vietnam, where South Africa gets 54% of its coffee, along with Uganda, Tanzania, Colombia, Guatemala, Ethiopia and Honduras.
Through the use of FIBCs, coffee can be shipped in large quantities, typically one tonne per bag. This reduces the need for individual packaging, optimises shipping space and minimises transportation costs. These efficiencies help coffee importers remain competitive in South Africa.
Protecting Coffee Beans
FIBCs play a crucial role in ensuring that coffee beans are protected during storage and transit. Imported coffee beans often spend long periods in storage as they are shipped to South African shores, stored and prepared for production.
FIBCs have useful features such as moisture barriers and UV protection, which help safeguard coffee beans from humidity, temperature fluctuations and contamination.
The quality of coffee is a critical aspect of the domestic market, where imported beans are marketed as premium products. FIBCs help maintain high-quality standards to ensure optimal roasting results.
Bulk Handling in Roasting Facilities
When South African production facilities receive their imported coffee beans, they can begin producing high-end coffee products for sale on the local market. FIBCs play a crucial role in simplifying the logistics of delivering bulk coffee to roasters.
These bags are essential within the supply chain to ensure the industry remains efficient. By using FIBCs, roasters can handle large quantities of beans quickly, reducing manual labour and minimising waste, which ultimately lowers costs.
The compatibility of FIBCs with forklifts and other machinery helps streamline the movement of beans between storage and roasting areas.
Streamlining Storage for Distribution
Once coffee beans have been roasted and converted into their final product form, FIBCs are frequently used to store the roasted coffee in bulk. This may be for further processing or for packaging and distribution.
Space is often at a premium in urban centres such as Johannesburg and Cape Town. FIBCs provide a compact and efficient storage solution, allowing roasters and distributors to maximise their warehouse capacity.
If you’re looking for reliable industrial bulk bag suppliers to support your business, look no further than Tufbag. Our bags are trusted by all industries. Contact us today to place your order.