IBC growth can also be credited to a recent increase in domestic chemical production. The chemical and pharmaceutical industries account for more than 30% of industrial packaging sales to end users. Further, the chemicals market accounts for more than three quarters of the steel drum and IBC use. As the Fredonia group found, “the development of abundant natural gas supplies is expected to fuel increased investment in US chemical production as well as that of related downstream goods, which will have a positive impact on rigid bulk packaging demand”. With a strong domestic chemicals market, demand for the IBC industry is expected to continue increasing.
In highly competitive markets, companies are always facing pressures to reduce costs. The IBC is quickly gaining recognition for the benefits they possess in reducing wasted space. The cubic design of an IBC means that one 350-gallon IBC can hold the same volume of liquid as six round drums, while only taking up the same amount of space as four drums. The cubic design further promotes efficient use of space by allowing the IBCs to be stacked, which, when empty, can go up to four high in a warehouse and will double stack on a standard trailer.
Companies are also realizing savings through sustainability initiatives, and many companies are now embracing the "green" moto: reduce, reuse, recycle. IBCs, as we’ve already covered, can be
"The recycling of steel has also been proven in numerous studies to be less harmful to the environment than the extraction of virgin ore. The recycling process significantly reduces air and water pollution, as well as saving production phase energy and water, and lowering mining waste.
This trend will be most pronounced in metal packaging, as it has the ability to maintain integral strength through successive stages of recycling. This constitutes a major advantage over alternative materials, such as plastic and fibreboard, which require a degree of virgin material to maintain the desired performance."
With the numerous benefits of using IBCs for industrial packaging, it seems safe to say that the future is bright. IBCs have demonstrated numerous benefits over industrial packaging alternatives such as drums. There is a positive forecast for the IBC market as companies increasingly are beginning to realize the benefits of using IBCs for their bulk liquid storage needs.
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