IBC Cleaning

Intermediate Bulk Containers (IBCs) have become indispensable across numerous industries

Intermediate Bulk Containers (IBCs) have become indispensable across numerous industries for the storage and transport of liquids, ranging from chemicals to food products and raw materials. After use, these containers must be thoroughly cleaned before being redeployed, especially when switching products. When a company needs to clean multiple IBCs every week, choosing the right cleaning method quickly becomes decisive for the efficiency, safety, and cost of operations.

Spraybest supports companies in cleaning IBCs with technical solutions that are thorough, safe, and repeatable. We think along with you about the right spray and high-pressure technology for your situation. We work with renowned brands such as BETE and MOOG, both of which offer solutions for the automatic, rotating cleaning of tanks and IBCs.

The challenge of cleaning IBCs

Cleaning an IBC is trickier than it looks. The top and corners of the tank in particular are hard to reach, yet it's precisely there that residue can remain. This residue forms a breeding ground for bacterial growth and can lead to contamination of the next product or the surrounding environment. Companies that handle this manually often use a high-pressure cleaner and have an operator work on the inside of the container. This process is labor-intensive, takes a lot of time and water, and produces a slightly different result for each IBC, simply because the human factor is never fully consistent.

Outsourcing this cleaning to an external party solves the consistency problem, but brings structurally higher costs, especially when dozens of IBCs need to be cleaned every week. For companies cleaning IBCs on a larger scale, a solution is needed that combines the best of both worlds: the cost control of in-house cleaning with the consistency and quality of a professional process. Without a structured approach, this issue grows along with the number of IBCs that need to be processed weekly, meaning the hidden costs of manual cleaning are often greater than they first appear.

Automatic 360° cleaning as a solution

MOOG offers compact, user-friendly high-pressure cleaning systems specially developed for cleaning IBCs. Thanks to Swiss precision, these systems ensure efficient cleaning with controlled water consumption, contributing to both cleaning quality and the sustainability of your process. Because the system is set up once and then runs independently, the operator can focus on other tasks while the cleaning is completed in the background.

In addition, BETE supplies rotating spray heads designed to reach the entire interior of an IBC or tank, including the top and corners that are difficult to reach with manual cleaning. Because the spray head rotates automatically, full 360° coverage of the tank surface is achieved, without an operator needing to be continuously present. This ensures a thorough and repeatable cleaning result, regardless of who performs the cleaning or how often it is repeated.

Less risk, more safety

Manual cleaning with a high-pressure cleaner carries risks that are often underestimated. The operator has to move around the IBC, manage the hose, and sometimes work at height, which can lead to trip or fall hazards. There is also the chance of splashback water that may contain residues of aggressive chemicals or cleaning agents. Repeated strain from handling a high-pressure cleaner can, moreover, lead to physical complaints among operators.

By switching to an automatic cleaning system, the operator can step away from the tank after starting it up, significantly reducing exposure to splashing liquids and physical strain. This makes the cleaning process not only more efficient, but also noticeably safer for your staff. In many cases, it also eliminates the need for staff to physically enter the tank, further limiting the risk of accidents in confined spaces.

Efficiency and returns

Besides safety and consistency, cost also plays an important role in choosing a cleaning method. Automatic cleaning systems from BETE and MOOG use targeted, powerful spray jets that remove even stubborn contamination without using unnecessarily large amounts of water. This results in lower water consumption than traditional manual cleaning, while the cleaning time per IBC is often significantly shorter.

Another advantage is that these systems cause less wear on the IBC wall than a manual high-pressure jet, which reduces the risk of leaks over time. Because operators are freed from a repetitive and time-consuming task, staff can be deployed for work that adds more value to your business. Combined with the savings on water and time, many companies see the investment in an automatic cleaning system pay for itself within a few months.

Spraybest for IBC cleaning

Whether you clean a few IBCs a week or process a larger volume: Spraybest thinks along with you about the right technology to make this process thorough, safe, and cost-effective. With brands such as BETE and MOOG, we offer high-quality solutions for automatic, rotating cleaning, aimed at less contamination risk, lower water consumption, and a safer working environment.

Would you like to know which solution best suits your IBC cleaning process? Contact Spraybest. Our specialists are happy to advise you on the right spray and cleaning technology for your situation.