Product
Container Liner
A liner fitted to a 20 ft or 40 ft container so dry bulk product ships without bags or pallets, filled through one end and discharged from the other.
A container liner is not a bag. It is a liner cut to the inside profile of a 20 ft or 40 ft container, fixed at both ends, with a loading end and a discharge end built in. The container itself becomes the bulk carrier.
The reason buyers use one is that it removes packaging at both ends: no bags to fill, no pallets to handle, and no packaging waste for the receiver to deal with. In exchange, loading is slower than tipping loose product into a container, and the liner has to be installed properly to survive the load.
Most of the design work sits in the transitions — the corner posts, the door frame, the floor — and in the two ends. Tell us how the liner is filled, how the receiver empties it, and what condition the containers are in, and we will set the ends, the bulkheads and the fixing points.
Product Summary
A liner that turns a 20 ft or 40 ft container into a bulk carrier: it protects the cargo from the container and the container from the cargo, and it is filled and emptied through built-in ends.
Core Construction
A container liner is not a bag. It is a liner cut and sewn to the internal profile of the container, fixed at the door end and at the far end, with a loading end and a discharge end built in. Bulkheads hold the product away from the doors during transit, and the door area is protected where the product presses against it.
Filling is usually by spout or conveyor through the loading end; discharge is by opening the discharge end and letting the product flow, or by tipping the container. The design work sits in the transitions — where the liner meets the corner posts, the door frame and the floor — because those are where liners tear or leak.
Key Benefits
| Benefit | Why It Matters |
|---|---|
| Container becomes a bulk carrier | Product moves without bags or pallets, which cuts packaging and loading labour on suitable dry cargo. |
| Protects both ways | The liner keeps the cargo clean and keeps the container floor and walls clean for the next load. |
| Fills through a standard spout | The loading end is sized to a spout or conveyor, so existing filling equipment can be used. |
| Folds down for return | Empty liners store and ship flat, so they can be sent ahead of the cargo. |
Configuration Options
| Option Group | Available Range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Container size | 20 ft and 40 ft, standard height | Internal profile is confirmed against the container type you actually load. |
| Loading end | Fill spout, open end with bulkhead | Spout diameter follows the product and the filling rate. |
| Discharge end | Discharge spout, full-open door end | Choice depends on whether the receiver tips the container or empties it in place. |
| Bulkheads | Front and rear bulkheads, or rear only | Bulkheads keep the product off the doors in transit. |
| Fabric | Woven PP, coated or with a PE film layer | The film layer is chosen for moisture and dust control. |
| Fixing | Suspension loops and tie points to the container | Fixing points follow the container's own anchor points. |
| Ventilation | Vented versions for loads that release moisture | Venting is added where condensation in transit is the risk. |
| Printing & packing | 1-2 colours; folded and baled | Print is usually limited to handling instructions. |
Performance & Range
Typical liners are built for loads in the 20-27 tonne range for a 40 ft container, subject to the product's bulk density and the container's own payload limit. The limiting factor is usually weight rather than volume, so the loading plan is confirmed against the payload figure and the product density.
Validation & Testing
In-house checks cover liner dimensions against the container profile, seam and fixing point stitch counts, spout dimensions and the film layer where fitted. A trial installation in a customer container is the usual way to confirm fit before a full order.
Limitations
Not suitable for sharp or very hot product, for wet cargo, or for containers whose internal condition is unknown — a damaged floor or protruding fixings will tear a liner. Loading is slower than tipping loose product into a container, so it suits buyers who need protection rather than buyers who need speed.
Selection Guidance
- Best For
- Dry, free-flowing product shipped in full container loads where the buyer wants no bags or pallets at the receiving end.
- Consider Alternatives When
- The product is sharp, hot, wet or very fine and dusty with no way to control it, or the receiver cannot handle bulk discharge — bagged cargo is then the better answer.
- Must Confirm Before Quoting
- Container size and internal condition, product and bulk density, loading and discharge method at both ends, whether the receiver tips the container, and the payload limit.
Test & Production Evidence
| Evidence Type | Evidence Note | Stage |
|---|---|---|
| Drawing / Artwork | Liner layout drawing showing the loading end, discharge end, bulkheads and fixing points. | Approval |
| Inspection Record | Batch sheet recording liner dimensions against the container profile and fixing point records. | Production |
Evidence Note
Liner layout drawings and batch records can be shared on request. Trial installation records belong to the customer's container and are shared in anonymised form.
Related Applications
Information Required for Quote
Container size and internal condition Required
20 ft or 40 ft, standard height, and whether the floor is sound — a damaged floor tears liners.
Product and bulk density Required
Density in kg/m3 decides whether the load hits the container payload limit before the volume is full.
How the liner is filled Required
Spout, conveyor or blower, and the rate you need to hit.
How the receiver empties it Required
Discharge spout in place, or tipping the container — this decides the discharge end.
Moisture and dust sensitivity
Whether a film layer or venting is needed for the product and the route.