Product
Four-Panel FIBC
Four separate body panels sewn at the vertical corners give the tightest footprint control and print registration in our woven-PP range. Chosen when a filled bag must keep a square, stackable shape.
A four-panel FIBC is assembled from four body panels cut to the same height and sewn at the vertical corners. Each face is its own piece of fabric, so width, depth and height are set independently instead of being fixed by a tube diameter.
That matters in two places. Stacking: a filled four-panel bag holds a flatter, squarer footprint, so pallet and container patterns are predictable. Print: every face is a flat panel, so a three-colour logo registers the same way on all four sides.
The cost sits in the sewing room. Four corner seams, a set-in base and loop attachment on heavier fabric take longer per bag than a tubular body, and fabric consumption is higher at the same rated load.
We quote four-panel bags from the filled dimensions you need, the load, the handling method and your filling and discharge equipment. Send those and we return a drawing before any fabric is cut.
Product Summary
A four-panel FIBC is built from four separate body panels joined at the vertical corners, giving the tightest dimensional control in our woven polypropylene range. It is the family to choose when a filled bag has to keep a rectangular footprint and print square on every face.
Core Construction
Four body panels are cut to a fixed width and height and joined at four vertical corner seams. Because each face is a separate piece, the plan can be set independently — a 100 x 80 cm bag and a 90 x 90 cm bag are equally routine — and the base is set in as a separate flat or duffle panel.
Corner seams are double-row chain stitched with folded edge tape, and the base seam carries a reinforcing patch where the loops meet it. Lifting loops are sewn into the top seam or, on heavier ratings, run down the corner seam as full-length loops with a saddle stitch at the base.
Panel-by-panel assembly costs more sewing than a tubular body and uses more fabric at the same rated load. That is the trade for shape control and print registration.
Key Benefits
| Benefit | Why It Matters |
|---|---|
| Predictable filled footprint | Faces are cut to fixed dimensions, so a filled bag keeps a rectangular plan that palletising and container-loading plans can be built around. |
| Consistent print registration | Each side is a flat panel rather than a curved tube face, so logos and handling marks print square on all four faces. |
| Independent width and depth | A 100 x 80 cm plan is as easy to make as 90 x 90 cm, which a tubular body cannot offer. |
| Straight corner loop attachment | Loops sewn into the corner seam spread lift load along a straight seam rather than across a curved one. |
| Easier to line | A square body takes a form-fitted PE liner with fewer folds, so liner film is less likely to crease at the corners and trap product. |
Configuration Options
| Option Group | Available Range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Size | Height 60-230 cm; plan 80 x 80 cm to 110 x 110 cm | Confirmed per project against your pallet or container plan. Non-square plans are routine. |
| SWL / Safety Factor | SWL 500-2,000 kg at SF 5:1; SF 6:1 available | Safety factor is fixed before loop and seam selection; changing it later reopens the design. |
| Top | Open top, duffle, filling spout with or without cover, skirt with drawcord | Spout diameter and skirt height are set to your filler head. |
| Bottom | Flat, discharge spout, full-open duffle | Spout discharge adds a base seam to inspect; duffle discharge empties faster. |
| Lifting loops | Four corner loops, corner loops with cross-corner, full-length corner loops | Loop height follows the hook or forklift frame geometry you actually use. |
| Fabric & coating | 160-230 g/m2 woven PP, uncoated or laminated, optional anti-slip finish | Coated fabric for moisture and dust control; anti-slip finish helps stack stability. |
| Liner | No liner, loose PE liner, form-fitted liner with tie or tab fixings | Liner thickness and closure method depend on the product and your dust limits. |
| UV stabilisation | Standard package; extended package for long outdoor exposure | State outdoor exposure in months at the destination. |
| Printing | Up to 4 colours per face on all four faces, plus handling marks | Flat panels allow tight registration; send artwork as vector files. |
| Packing | Baled on pallets, cartons, or compressed bales | Packing method is chosen for container fill and warehouse handling. |
Performance & Range
Typically rated from 500 kg to 2,000 kg SWL at a 5:1 safety factor, filled through an open top or spout and lifted by four corner loops from a single hook or a forklift frame. These figures assume an evenly filled, free-standing bag on level ground, no sharp edges inside the load and handling with the bag hanging free. Stack height, outdoor exposure and product temperature reduce the working envelope and are confirmed per project.
Validation & Testing
Every batch is checked in-house: fabric weight and weave, stitch count at the corner seams, sample seam pull, finished dimensions, and loop pull on a sample bag, plus a trial fill on the line where the customer's product is available. Third-party testing is arranged on request and quoted separately.
Limitations
Not the cheapest body at a given load — a tubular bag uses less fabric and less sewing for the same SWL. Not the right answer where the bag is expected to flex in use, where an internal baffle is needed to hold a cube, or where the plan is close to circular. Wide plans at high loads lengthen the corner seams quickly and can cost more than another construction.
Selection Guidance
- Best For
- Loads where the filled bag must keep a rectangular footprint for palletising or container loading, and where print on all four faces is part of the brand requirement.
- Consider Alternatives When
- Fabric and sewing cost dominate and shape control does not matter (tubular), when the filled bag must stay cube-shaped while stacked (baffle), or when the plan is roughly circular.
- Must Confirm Before Quoting
- Filled plan and height, SWL and safety factor, filler and discharger dimensions, lifting method, product bulk density and temperature, and outdoor exposure in months.
Test & Production Evidence
| Evidence Type | Evidence Note | Stage |
|---|---|---|
| Drawing / Artwork | Panel and seam layout drawing issued per order, showing cut widths, seam type and loop position. | Pre-production |
| Inspection Record | Batch inspection sheet covering dimensions, fabric weight, stitch count and sample seam pull. | In production |
| Sample | Pre-production sample bag in the ordered fabric, sent for fit and print approval. | Pre-production |
Evidence Note
Panel and seam drawings, batch inspection sheets and pre-production sample photographs can be shared on request. Customer-specific artwork proofs stay with the order. Third-party test reports, where a customer arranges them, are not ours to publish.
Related Applications
Information Required for Quote
Filled plan and height in centimetres Required
Give the finished bag dimensions after filling, not the empty bag size. A sketch is enough.
Working load and safety factor Required
State the SWL in kg and whether you need 5:1 or 6:1, plus the load type (mineral, resin, powder, granules).
Product bulk density and temperature Required
Bulk density in kg/m3 sets the fabric weight; temperature at filling and storage rules out some liner films.
Filling and discharge equipment Required
Spout diameter, filler head clearance, duffle opening, and whether the bag is emptied by spout, tip or full open.
Lifting method and hook geometry Required
Crane hook, forklift frame, single or double hook, and the loop height you need.
Outdoor exposure and print artwork
Months of expected UV exposure, and whether artwork is already available as vector files.