Minimum Order Quantity (MOQ): 2,000 bags
Writing “add stevedore straps” on an FIBC purchase order is not a complete specification — because the supplier still needs to know the strap configuration, how it relates to the primary lifting loops, what equipment will engage it, and which complete FIBC construction you’re actually approving.
This is where purchasing language gets dangerous.
The buyer knows exactly what they mean.
The supplier thinks they know exactly what the buyer means.
Production builds 2,000 bags.
Then somebody discovers that the new stevedore arrangement doesn’t work like the old one.
That’s why the goal isn’t to write the longest purchase order imaginable.
The goal is to remove ambiguity.
Define the complete FIBC.
Define the lifting system.
Reference the approved drawing.
Control the revision.
Then everybody is buying and manufacturing the same bag.
Stevedore straps are additional lifting straps incorporated into an FIBC lifting arrangement.
Depending on the design, they can provide a larger or differently positioned interface for appropriate lifting equipment than engaging the primary loops alone.
The exact construction can vary.
So the phrase:
“Stevedore straps”
describes the general feature.
It doesn’t necessarily define the exact construction.
The lifting system interacts with more than the bag.
It can interact with:
Forklifts.
Hooks.
Support arms.
Filling equipment.
Discharge equipment.
Pallets.
Warehouse clearance.
Operator workflow.
Customer equipment.
That means a small change to the lifting configuration can create a big operational change.
Before deciding anything about stevedore straps, define what you’re putting into the FIBC.
Relevant information may include:
Product type.
Bulk density.
Target fill weight.
Particle characteristics.
Flow characteristics.
Fine-powder concerns.
Moisture concerns.
Food-related requirements.
Electrostatic considerations.
The product drives the package.
Bulk density helps determine how much bag volume is required to reach your target fill weight.
That affects:
Bag footprint.
Body height.
Loaded shape.
Center of gravity.
Palletization.
Handling.
Those characteristics influence the lifting system.
Define how much product should be loaded into each FIBC.
Don’t tell the supplier:
“Standard capacity.”
Standard for what?
Define the actual intended fill.
The FIBC needs an appropriate safe working load for the intended application.
Do not infer SWL from:
Stevedore strap width.
Strap length.
Number of visible straps.
Primary-loop thickness.
How heavy-duty the bag looks.
The complete FIBC construction matters.
Specify SWL directly.
Before specifying the straps, explain how the bag will actually move through the operation.
Will it be:
Suspended during filling?
Lifted by forklift?
Engaged by hooks or another approved lifting system?
Palletized?
Stored in racking?
Transported to another facility?
Suspended during discharge?
Handled by a customer?
The supplier needs to understand the application.
Stevedore straps do not exist in a vacuum.
Define the primary lifting arrangement used by the approved design.
Depending on the FIBC, that may involve a particular corner-loop, cross-corner, or other approved lifting configuration.
Then define how the stevedore straps relate to it.
Don’t write only:
“Stevedore straps required.”
Instead, reference the approved configuration.
For example:
Stevedore Strap Configuration: Per approved FIBC drawing.
If the exact arrangement matters, put it on the drawing.
If particular strap dimensions are operationally important, control them.
That can include dimensions affecting:
Equipment engagement.
Suspension height.
Accessibility.
Clearance.
Relationship to the primary loops.
Don’t rely on a supplier’s default if your equipment requires something specific.
Where the straps sit can affect how the lifting equipment engages the bag.
Position may also influence:
Operator access.
Bag suspension.
Filling equipment.
Discharge equipment.
Overall lifting geometry.
If position matters, define it on the approved drawing.
This is critical.
The purchase specification should make the complete lifting arrangement clear.
Don’t let purchasing describe one feature while the supplier has to guess the rest.
Use the approved FIBC drawing to show the entire lifting system.
Call or Text us at 832.400.1394
What actually lifts the bag?
A forklift?
Hooks?
Support arms?
Another appropriate lifting arrangement?
The lifting interface should be designed around the actual equipment.
Not a hypothetical piece of equipment.
If the stevedore arrangement interacts with a forklift, inspect the real machine.
Consider:
Tine dimensions.
Tine spacing.
Approach.
Operator visibility.
Bag position.
Pallet position.
Available maneuvering room.
A supposedly forklift-friendly design isn’t useful if your forklift hates it.
How are the forklift tines normally positioned?
Will operators need to adjust them every time they engage the bag?
Can the intended lifting interface be reached cleanly?
At high volume, repetitive adjustments become expensive.
Can the operator see the lifting interface?
Can they engage it without somebody manually guiding the equipment?
Does the loaded FIBC obstruct visibility?
Does the pallet affect the approach?
The best design works in the real environment.
If the FIBC is suspended during filling, the lifting system becomes part of the filling process.
Evaluate:
Support points.
Strap position.
Primary-loop position.
Body height.
Top construction.
Filling-head position.
Operator access.
Clearance.
This is why a bag drawing matters.
Calculate the vertical space required for the complete mounted FIBC.
Not just the body.
The lifting arrangement may extend above it.
Then you may have:
Hooks.
Support arms.
Other equipment.
Measure the real system.
The bag top and lifting system need to work together.
Depending on the application, the FIBC may use:
A filling spout.
A duffle top.
An open top.
Another approved construction.
The lifting system shouldn’t make the top unnecessarily difficult to access.
If the FIBC is suspended while a filling spout connects to the filling head, the lifting geometry may influence alignment.
Check:
Suspended body position.
Filling-spout position.
Filling-head position.
Operator access.
Equipment clearance.
Don’t wait until production to discover the mismatch.
If operators need broad access to a duffle top, make sure the lifting arrangement doesn’t interfere with:
Opening.
Filling.
Closing.
Removal.
A lifting feature shouldn’t create a filling problem.
Define how product leaves the FIBC.
Depending on the application, that may involve:
A discharge spout.
A flat bottom.
Another controlled design.
The bottom construction becomes particularly important if the bag is suspended during discharge.
If the bag hangs above receiving equipment, evaluate:
Suspension points.
Stevedore strap position.
Primary loops.
Body height.
Discharge construction.
Receiving equipment.
Operator access.
The lifting system needs to work downstream too.
This is easy to overlook.
Your vertical requirement may include:
Lifting equipment.
Stevedore arrangement.
Primary loops.
FIBC body.
Discharge spout.
Required clearance.
Receiving equipment.
Measure the complete suspended package.
The purchase order or approved drawing should define the body construction.
Depending on the application, this may be:
U-panel.
Four-panel.
Circular or tubular woven.
Another approved construction.
Body style and stevedore configuration are separate requirements.
Fabric is part of the complete FIBC construction.
Don’t assume a lifting specification tells the manufacturer what fabric you need.
Control the complete bag.
If coating matters to the product or containment requirements, specify it.
Coating has a different job from the lifting straps.
Treat each requirement separately.
If the application needs a liner, define it.
A liner may address:
Moisture.
Fine-particle containment.
Product-contact requirements.
Contamination concerns.
Other barrier needs.
Stevedore straps don’t tell the supplier anything about the liner.
If the product requires specialized seam construction, state it.
Fine powders may require additional attention to potential migration through stitched areas.
Stevedore straps handle lifting.
Seams address another part of the package.
Baffles may help control loaded shape.
Stevedore straps affect lifting.
These features can work together, but they solve different problems.
Specify both independently.
If the application requires a particular electrostatic FIBC classification, state it.
Type A.
Type B.
Type C.
Type D.
Stevedore straps do not determine electrostatic type.
Type C FIBCs use conductive construction and require proper grounding during filling and discharge.
A stevedore lifting arrangement doesn’t eliminate that requirement.
Treat the complete Type C FIBC as a controlled system.
Type D FIBCs use static-dissipative construction without requiring grounding of the FIBC itself.
If stevedore straps are part of the approved design, control them as part of that complete construction.
Don’t casually swap lifting components on specialized electrostatic FIBCs.
Stevedore straps do not make a bag food grade.
Food-related requirements may involve:
Product-contact materials.
Manufacturing controls.
Contamination controls.
Liner.
Traceability.
Documentation.
Customer requirements.
Define them independently.
If the FIBC requires printing, define it.
That may include:
Panel.
Artwork.
Colors.
Position.
Orientation.
Required text.
Make sure the lifting arrangement doesn’t unnecessarily interfere with important printed information.
If the bag needs a document pouch, define:
Quantity.
Location.
Orientation.
Size.
Other relevant requirements.
Coordinate the pouch with the lifting system.
Don’t approve the complete design based only on an empty FIBC.
The product may cause the bag to:
Bulge.
Settle.
Expand.
Shift.
Change height.
The lifting system needs to work with the loaded package.
Product density, fill level, bag dimensions, and product distribution can influence the loaded center of gravity.
Stevedore straps do not correct poor package geometry.
Start with proper FIBC sizing.
If the FIBC is palletized, evaluate:
Loaded footprint.
Pallet dimensions.
Overhang.
Stability.
Bag orientation.
Forklift access.
Lifting access.
The pallet and FIBC need to work together.
Walk the actual material path.
Check:
Ceilings.
Doorways.
Racking.
Overhead piping.
Conveyors.
Filling station.
Discharge station.
Don’t discover a clearance problem with a loaded bag hanging from a forklift.
Your plant may not be the final operation touching the bag.
If the customer handles or empties the FIBC, ask:
What lifting equipment do they use?
How much headroom do they have?
How do they discharge the bag?
Do they require a particular lifting configuration?
Their workflow may need to influence the specification.
If the FIBC moves nationwide, it may pass through:
Manufacturing facilities.
Warehouses.
3PLs.
Distribution centers.
Customer plants.
Make sure a standardized stevedore design actually works at the important locations.
Call or Text us at 832.400.1394
This one matters.
If the approved lifting configuration is operationally important, don’t allow silent substitutions.
A supplier may propose an alternative.
Fine.
Review it.
Test it where appropriate.
Approve it.
Then update the controlled specification.
The drawing is where all these requirements can come together.
It can define:
Body construction.
Primary lifting loops.
Stevedore configuration.
Relevant strap dimensions.
Strap position.
Top.
Bottom.
Liner.
Baffles.
Printing.
Document pouch.
Other important construction details.
Then the purchase order references the drawing.
Suppose Revision A uses one stevedore arrangement.
Revision B changes the strap geometry.
Revision C changes the bag footprint.
Which one are you ordering?
Put the revision on the PO.
Recurring FIBC programs benefit from controlled part numbers.
A part number can point back to:
Approved drawing.
Drawing revision.
Specification.
Artwork.
Other controlled documentation.
Now repeat orders become much cleaner.
This language causes unnecessary ambiguity.
Previous what?
Previous supplier?
Previous drawing?
Previous revision?
Previous sample?
Use controlled documentation instead.
If you’re making a meaningful change, get a representative sample where appropriate.
Especially when changing:
Supplier.
Stevedore configuration.
Primary loops.
Strap dimensions.
Bag footprint.
Body height.
Top.
Bottom.
Handling equipment.
A sample can expose problems before production.
Take the bag onto the floor.
Check:
Mounting.
Lifting-system access.
Support alignment.
Top access.
Filling-head alignment.
Operator movement.
Clearance.
Does it actually work?
Use representative product under appropriate operating conditions.
Then observe:
Loaded shape.
Expansion.
Settling.
Overall height.
Center of gravity.
Stevedore strap position.
Primary-loop position.
Pallet fit.
Now you’re evaluating the actual package.
Check:
Engagement.
Accessibility.
Visibility.
Positioning.
Maneuverability.
Clearance.
Headroom.
Don’t test with equipment that won’t be used in production if the difference could matter.
Check:
Loaded footprint.
Overhang.
Stability.
Orientation.
Forklift access.
Lifting access.
Make sure the bag works as part of the logistics system.
If the bag will be suspended during emptying, evaluate:
Lifting.
Suspension.
Headroom.
Bottom access.
Operator access.
Receiving equipment.
Product flow.
A good FIBC works through its entire lifecycle.
Ask the people handling the bag:
Are the stevedore straps easier to engage?
Do they reduce manual positioning?
Do they remain accessible?
Do they interfere with anything?
Does the bag hang correctly?
Is this actually better than the current configuration?
Don’t guess about operational efficiency.
Ask operations.
A complete specification may include:
FIBC Part Number: Controlled internal identifier.
Product: Material being packaged.
Bulk Density: Relevant bulk density.
Target Fill Weight: Intended fill.
Safe Working Load: Required SWL.
Intended Use: Appropriate intended-use classification where relevant.
Body Construction: Approved FIBC construction.
Fabric: Approved fabric specification.
Coating: Coated or uncoated as required.
Top: Approved filling construction.
Bottom: Approved discharge construction.
Liner: Required liner where applicable.
Seams: Required seam construction.
Primary Lifting Loops: Per approved drawing.
Stevedore Strap Configuration: Per approved drawing.
Stevedore Strap Dimensions: Per approved drawing where controlled.
Stevedore Strap Position: Per approved drawing.
Baffles: Where applicable.
Electrostatic Classification: Where applicable.
Food-Related Requirements: Where applicable.
Printing: Per approved artwork.
Document Pouch: Where applicable.
Drawing: Approved FIBC drawing.
Drawing Revision: Current approved revision.
That’s a purchasing specification.
“Bulk bag with stevedore straps” isn’t.
The exact requirements should match the approved design, but a lifting section might read:
LIFTING CONFIGURATION: PRIMARY LIFTING LOOPS WITH STEVEDORE STRAPS
Primary Lifting Loops: Per approved FIBC drawing.
Stevedore Strap Configuration: Per approved FIBC drawing.
Stevedore Strap Dimensions: Per approved drawing.
Stevedore Strap Position: Per approved drawing.
Lifting-System Geometry: Per approved drawing.
Safe Working Load: Per approved FIBC specification.
Body Construction: Per approved drawing.
Top Construction: Per approved drawing.
Bottom Construction: Per approved drawing.
Liner: Per approved specification where applicable.
Printing: Per approved artwork where applicable.
Drawing Revision: Current approved revision referenced on purchase order.
Substitutions: No change to approved primary-loop or stevedore-strap configuration without approval.
Simple.
Controlled.
Repeatable.
Normalize the construction before comparing price.
| Requirement | Supplier A | Supplier B |
|---|---|---|
| 📦 Same body construction | ✓ | ✓ |
| 🏋️ Same SWL | ✓ | ✓ |
| 🔁 Same primary loops | ✓ | ✓ |
| 🪢 Same stevedore configuration | ✓ | ✓ |
| 📐 Same strap requirements | ✓ | ✓ |
| 📍 Same strap position | ✓ | ✓ |
| ⬆️ Same top | ✓ | ✓ |
| ⬇️ Same bottom | ✓ | ✓ |
| 🧴 Same liner | ✓ | ✓ |
| 🧵 Same seams | ✓ | ✓ |
| 🧱 Same baffles | ✓ | ✓ |
| ⚡ Same electrostatic type | ✓ | ✓ |
| 🍽️ Same food-related requirements | ✓ | ✓ |
| 🖨️ Same printing | ✓ | ✓ |
| 📋 Same documentation | ✓ | ✓ |
| 🚚 Same delivery basis | ✓ | ✓ |
Then compare unit price.
Otherwise, you’re not comparing equivalent FIBCs.
Avoid writing only:
“Stevedore straps.”
Also avoid:
Assuming all stevedore configurations are identical.
Ignoring the primary lifting loops.
Ignoring strap dimensions.
Ignoring strap position.
Ignoring the equipment interface.
Ignoring the forklift.
Ignoring filling equipment.
Ignoring discharge equipment.
Ignoring headroom.
Ignoring customer handling.
Ignoring loaded shape.
Changing bag dimensions without reviewing lifting geometry.
Assuming more straps increase SWL.
Assuming larger straps increase SWL.
Using stevedore straps to solve containment problems.
Using stevedore straps as an electrostatic control.
Failing to reference an approved drawing.
Failing to control revisions.
Allowing silent substitutions.
Skipping operational testing after meaningful changes.
Every one of those mistakes is preventable.
Before releasing the PO, verify four categories.
Product: Product type, bulk density, target fill weight, flow characteristics, particle characteristics, and relevant product requirements.
FIBC: SWL, intended use, body construction, fabric, coating, top, bottom, liner, seams, baffles where applicable, electrostatic classification, food-related requirements where applicable, printing, and documentation.
Lifting System: Primary loops, stevedore configuration, relevant strap dimensions, strap position, equipment interface, filling compatibility, forklift compatibility, discharge compatibility, customer compatibility where necessary, and headroom.
Control: FIBC part number, approved drawing, drawing revision, artwork revision where applicable, approved sample where appropriate, and substitution requirements.
Get those four categories right and you’ve removed most of the ambiguity.
Don’t order:
“FIBC with stevedore straps.”
Order a defined FIBC handling system.
Start with the product.
Define the bulk density.
Define the target fill weight.
Specify the safe working load.
Specify the body.
Specify the fabric.
Specify the top.
Specify the bottom.
Specify the liner where necessary.
Specify containment requirements.
Specify electrostatic and food-related requirements where applicable.
Then define the lifting system.
Primary loops.
Stevedore configuration.
Relevant strap dimensions.
Position.
Equipment interface.
Filling compatibility.
Forklift compatibility.
Discharge compatibility.
Headroom.
Customer compatibility where necessary.
Put the approved construction on the drawing.
Assign a revision.
Reference it on the PO.
Test meaningful changes with the actual equipment.
Ask the operators.
Then lock the design.
Because “stevedore straps” tells the manufacturer what general feature you want.
A controlled purchase order tells them which exact FIBC your operation needs to receive.
Call or Text us at 832.400.1394
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