What is an IBC Tote Container
In the market of storage and transport solutions, you may come across the term ‘IBC Tote’ quite often. But what does this mean? Simply put, IBC is an acronym that stands for Intermediate Bulk Container. These containers are designed to store and transport materials in what is considered “intermediate quantities,” primarily liquid cargo. Their engineering and manufacturing must meet certain standards to be approved for regulated transport (UN/DOT certification). Per government standards, an IBC container must be between 119 gallons and 793 gallons–which is considered to be an “intermediate” volume between 55 gallon drums, tanker trucks, and ISO containers. Typically holding around 275 to 330 gallons, they provide a middle ground solution that sits between the smaller containers and large industrial tanks.
IBC totes are industrial grade, reusable containers built to handle bulk liquids, (water, chemicals, ingredients, etc.) with ease and can be easily relocated, loaded, and transported with the help of a pallet jack or forklift.
The Term “Tote”
The “tote” commonly added to an IBC comes from the verb meaning to carry or bear. In the context of IBCs, it refers to the mobility and ease of transport these containers offer. So, an ‘IBC Tote’ is essentially a portable, intermediate sized container built for the efficient storage and transportation of materials. Due to their cubical design and integrated pallet base, IBC totes are easy to organize and move around either in storage yards, warehouses, manufacturing facilities, production plants, or truck beds.
To learn more about how intermediate bulk containers can improve your operations, review the information we have on our resource center or in our knowledge base.