An IBC (intermediate bulk container) tote is the standardized way modern industry moves liquids and powders between roughly 100 and 1,000 gallons. The caged HDPE tote on a steel-bottom pallet is the dominant format, and the format we recondition every week.
What we keep in stock.
- 275-gallon caged IBC totes — Schütz, Mauser, Greif, Werit. Steel cage on wood, plastic, or steel pallet.
- 330-gallon caged IBC totes — the larger industrial standard, same cage families.
- Food-grade IBCs — segregated stock, prior-contents verified, washed to food-contact spec.
- Non-food / industrial IBCs — washed to general-industrial spec.
- Rebottled IBCs — new HDPE bottle, refurbished cage. Best-of-both for budget-sensitive food and chemical applications.
- Stainless steel IBCs — special order, fully refurbished.
Our reconditioning levels.
We grade reconditioned IBCs by what they can safely hold, not by appearance. Three levels, written down:
- Level 1 · Industrial rinse. Pressure rinse, drain, leak test. Best for compatible-product refills.
- Level 2 · Detergent wash. Hot detergent wash, rinse, drain, dry, leak test. Best for switching between non-food products.
- Level 3 · Food-grade certified. Hot detergent wash, sanitization, drying, full pressure test, certificate issued. Required for food and pharma contact.
Spec sheet.
| Size | Outer (in) | Empty wt | Filled (water) | Cage | Pallet |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 275 gal | 40 × 48 × 46 | ~125 lbs | ~2,400 lbs | Steel | Wood / plastic / steel |
| 330 gal | 40 × 48 × 53 | ~145 lbs | ~2,900 lbs | Steel | Wood / plastic / steel |
Valves and fittings.
Most IBCs we ship come with a 2" NPT or S60×6 buttress outlet valve with a poly cap. We carry the common adapter chain (S60→2" NPT, 2" camlock, S60→garden hose, etc.) and stock spare valves for swap-outs. If you've got a fitting requirement, mention it in the lead form and we'll match it before shipping.
What we will not sell.
- IBCs with prior chemical contents we can't verify.
- Totes with visible cage corrosion that affects structural integrity.
- Totes that fail leak test, ever — those go to recycling.
- Food-grade totes whose chain of custody is incomplete.
FAQ
Can I get a single tote, or is there a minimum order?
Single totes ship daily. No minimum order on the IBC product family.
Can you wash my totes instead of swapping them?
Yes. We run wash-and-return programs on customer-owned IBCs.
Do you provide a certificate of cleaning for food-grade?
Always. Level 3 cleans ship with a signed certificate and a chain-of-custody PDF.
What's the difference between a rebottled IBC and a fully new one?
A rebottled IBC has a refurbished steel cage with a brand-new HDPE bottle inside. The cage saves the carbon and the cost of new steel manufacturing; the new bottle gives you a fresh food-contact surface. Roughly 60% the cost of a fully new IBC, with most of the cleanliness benefit.
Can you wash my totes instead of swapping them?
Yes. We run wash-and-return programs on customer-owned IBCs. Pickup, wash at your specified level, leak-test, return. Same per-unit pricing as our wash service standalone.
Do you stock stainless steel IBCs?
By special order. Stainless 304 and 316 available; lead time 2–4 weeks. We don't keep stainless on the regular floor.
The wash station, walked through.
Our IBC wash station has three lines, sized to handle ~12 totes per shift each. Customers ask occasionally what actually happens to a tote during reconditioning. Here is the operational sequence.
Step 1 — visual inspection
On arrival, each tote is opened and inspected. We log the prior-contents declaration, photograph the bottle interior, and check the cage for structural issues. Any tote whose prior contents we can't verify gets routed away from the food-grade wash line, regardless of how clean it looks.
Step 2 — coarse rinse
Cold water flush, pressure ~250 psi, for 90 seconds. Removes residual product. This is Level 1.
Step 3 — detergent wash
Hot water (around 150°F) with food-contact-compatible detergent. 4 minutes circulation. Removes biofilm and protein residue. This is Level 2.
Step 4 — multi-stage rinse
Three rinses with cold water to remove all detergent. pH-checked on the third rinse; must be neutral.
Step 5 — sanitization (Level 3 only)
Food-contact-approved sanitizer (we use a quaternary ammonium blend) circulated for 2 minutes. Rinsed clear.
Step 6 — drying
Forced air for 8 minutes; bottle interior verified dry.
Step 7 — leak test
Bottle pressurized to 3 psi, held for 60 seconds. Any drop in pressure fails the tote. Failed totes go to recycling, not the resale pile.
Step 8 — valve installation
Customer-specified valve installed (default 2" NPT). Outlet cap added. Tote labeled.
Step 9 — documentation
For Level 3, the certificate of cleaning is printed and attached. Chain-of-custody PDF is emailed to the customer when the tote ships.
Valves and fittings cross-reference.
| Valve type | Thread / interface | Common use |
|---|---|---|
| 2" NPT | American pipe thread | US-spec default. Pairs with industrial pumps. |
| S60×6 buttress | European/global standard | Most reconditioned IBCs ship with this stock. |
| 2" camlock | Cam & groove quick-connect | Fast fill / dispense. Common in chemical and lubricant applications. |
| Garden hose (GHT) | 3/4" NH thread | Low-pressure applications. Watering, light dispensing. |
| Ball valve, 2" PVC | Solvent-weld socket | Field-installable upgrade. Common for tote-as-static-storage. |
Adapters we carry in stock.
- S60→2" NPT, both genders
- S60→2" camlock male and female
- 2" NPT→GHT
- S60→DIN 61 (less common European standard)
- Cap blanks for all common valve threads
Prior-contents declarations we accept.
We get asked what a usable prior-contents declaration looks like. Here are the categories we accept for food-grade reconditioning and the ones we reject.
Acceptable
- Specific food-grade product (juice concentrate, syrup, edible oil, etc.) with brand or generic name.
- Inert food-grade liquid (purified water, mineral water).
- Food-grade chemical (citric acid, sodium chloride solution, etc.).
Acceptable for non-food only
- Industrial detergent or surfactant.
- Non-hazardous lubricant or hydraulic fluid.
- Adhesive or coating, specified by name.
- Glycol or other non-hazardous chemical.
Not acceptable
- "Various."
- "Chemical."
- Any Class 4–9 hazardous classification.
- Unverifiable origin facility.
Cycle-time math for IBC programs.
A reconditioned IBC tote has a 5–8 trip useful life if it's caged steel + HDPE bottle and the cycle includes a Level 1 or 2 wash between trips. Compared against a single-use plastic drum or single-use HDPE jug, the per-trip economics favor IBC reconditioning for any annual volume above about 30 IBCs.
We'll model the math against your specific volume and the wash level you need. Email through the form on this page.