Various Types of Packaging for Bitumen Export
Various Types of Packaging for Bitumen Export
Given that bitumen is an extremely viscous liquid, packaging is crucial when taking into account aspects like cost, environment, storage, and shipping. The bitumen packaging is divided into three categories: bulk, jumbo bags, and new steel drums. The optimum type of packaging is selected based on the customer's requirements, bitumen volume, and bitumen weight. We cordially encourage you to watch our in-depth video about bitumen packages and read this article to learn more about these packages.
Drums for Packaging Bitumen
Due of its security and dependable quality, the drum is the most popular bitumen packing. It varies based on the amount of bitumen, the height, the thickness, and the lid. The drum's body is 6 mm thick. Liquids and pasty materials like bitumen are transported and packaged in these steel containers. Steel is more expensive than plastic, therefore even if new steel drums are favored for bulk commerce, they are still more expensive when compared to jumbo bags.
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Packing of Bitumen in Jumbo Bags
Jumbo bags, also known as bitu-plast, bitu-bag, polybag, and poly cube, are enormous, flexible multi-layer bags. One of the greatest varieties of bitumen packaging is this high-quality, resistant poly-alkene bag type. It has become very popular in sectors due to its affordable pricing and simplicity of use. Recently, bitumen exporters have switched from using steel drums to jumbo bags. Jumbo bags, as opposed to drums, reduce bitumen waste by 3–4%. When emptying the drum, the bitumen must be heated, but with jumbo bags, it is sufficient to rip the outer layer and place the inner layer of the giant bag in the molten furnace.
Bulk Packaging (Bitumen Carrier) of Bitumen
Bitumen trucks are necessary in bulk trade to transport the cargo from the refinery to the bitumen tanker at the port. Another bitumen truck will pick up the cargo at the destination and transport it to the construction site or certain bitumen warehouses. This style of packaging is less expensive than others; nonetheless, exchange rate swings, loading time, and bulk capacity all have an impact on the cost. In general, it is inexpensive.
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Bitumen Packing Costs: A Comparison in General
When comparing the price of bitumen packaging, we take into account that, depending on how it will be transported, the price of bulk bitumen may be very expensive. For instance, it requires a particular kind of tanker, vessel, and vehicle to transport it from its origin to its destination. It is expensive to maintain at the destination and has a high operational cost. Because it is unpacked, bulk bitumen has the least expensive overall bitumen packing out of all of them, but its transportation and storage costs may be higher.
Jumbo Bags and New Steel Drums are more cost-effective since they can be transported by regular trucks, and they can be stored for much less money than bulk bitumen because any regular storage facility can accommodate them. It's best to be aware that new steel drums can cost a little more than jumbo bags because steel is more expensive than plastic.
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Bitumen Packaging's Environmental Impact (Bulk Bitumen, Jumbo Bag, New Steel Drum)
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When heated, bulk bitumen produces a significant amount of carbon, a greenhouse gas. Because they feel that the bitumen remnant in the drums can contaminate the environment, several nations, like Australia, forbid the importation of bitumen in fresh steel drums.
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What about large bags, though?
Fortunately, this multi-layer bitumen bag packaging method is eco-friendly. The exterior layer is recyclable, whereas the interior layer is entirely consumable.
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BITUTAINERS
Bulk bitumen is transported straight to customer sites from the depot using Bitutainers. All Bitutainers have complete insulation and heating systems.
These Bitutainers have 30% greater capacity than regular tank containers.
The storage and transportation of bitumen, bitumen emulsions, PMBs, and heavy fuel oils are all suited for this container.
In addition to the bitumen packing options mentioned above, there are also Bituplast, and Poly Cube.
Comparison of Different Bitumen Packings
In general, we have defined each of these packaging. The following table compares each of these packaging based on the many factors:
