November/December 2015
Flexitanks & Liners
BULKDISTRIBUTOR
19
India flexis its muscles
India is emerging as a global manufacturing hub for flexitanks, writes PN Suresh (vice president - marketing) for Rishi FIBC
Solutions
T
he history of flexitanks as an alternative to tankers and
ISO tank containers to move liquid bulk cargo in
containerised ocean freight transport started as early as the
1970s when British shippers started experimenting with liquid
movements in rubberised bladders from Europe to South
Africa.
These heavy duty rubber flexitanks were very expensive, costing
above US$4,000 per unit but were reusable. The increasing demand
for such flexitanks led to the idea of cheaper flexitanks made from
thermo-plastic materials (PVC) during the 1990s but were still
costing above $1,500 a unit. Many chemical exporters found it
viable to use these PVC flexitanks to transport non-hazardous
chemicals but were reluctant to take the task of fitting and filling
these tanks into containers and subsequently flexitank
manufacturers were forced to offer these services along with the
flexitanks themselves and fitting accessories.
Chemical exporters found it more economical considering the more
tare weight they were able to load per container compared with
conventional export in metal drums. Disposal of flexitanks was more
convenient than disposal of metal drums due to high profile
environmental issues chemicals companies were facing at the time.
During late 2001, new generation multi-layer polyethylene
flexitanks emerged as a cost effective solution compared with
previous flexitanks in the market and now flexitank transport has
truly become a one-way, disposable market. Today there are more
than 40 manufacturers of flexitanks worldwide. However, the quality
of many flexitank brands is questionable. One of the key players
involved in the manufacturing of quality flexitanks from India is Rishi
FIBC Solution (P) Ltd, which started producing its prime quality Fluid
Brand Flexitanks in 2012.
Geographically the flexitank market