Products · new totes
New IBC totes, for the jobs that genuinely need them
Sometimes only a first-fill bottle with a live UN plate will do: a regulated shipment, an audited product, a matched set. For everything else, a reconditioned unit is worth pricing alongside.
Price new units, and a reconditioned alternative
Ask for both in the message. A partner supplier follows up with a quote.
What "new" actually buys you
A new tote provides four things that no reconditioned unit fully replicates. It is worth being precise about them, because many buyers pay for all four when they only need one.
- A live UN marking with a full clock. UN-marked IBCs are generally subject to a leakproofness test every 2.5 years and a periodic inspection every 5 years from the build date. If your product is a regulated dangerous good in transport, that clock has value. Check current regulations.
- First-fill traceability. Nothing has ever been in the bottle. Some audit regimes and customer contracts require exactly this.
- Uniformity. Same mould, same build week, same cage geometry, same colour. For an automated filling line or a returnable-asset pool, uniformity is throughput.
- Full cosmetic condition. Bright bottle, unmarked cage, clean label panel. Matters if the tote stands in a customer-facing environment.
And what it does not buy you
A new tote is not stronger than a sound used one of the same design rating. It is not cleaner than a rebottled unit, because both bottles are never-filled. It will not last longer if your handling is what damages totes. And buying new means manufacturing a new bottle, cage and pallet that reuse would have avoided.
New tote configuration options
| Option | Choices | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Capacity | 275 gal (1000 L), 330 gal (1250 L) | Same 48 × 40 in footprint; 330 is taller |
| Pallet | Composite, plastic, steel, wood | Plastic or composite for food and wash-down areas |
| UN marking | 31HA1 / Y standard | Confirm your product’s packing group before ordering |
| Lid | 6 in vented, 6 in solid, 9 in manway | Vented lids for gravity discharge without glugging |
| Valve | 2 in butterfly, 2 in ball, 3 in camlock | Butterfly is common; ball valve for viscous product |
| Gasket | EPDM, Viton (FKM), Buna-N | Match to chemistry, not to price |
| Bottle colour | Natural translucent, black (UV) | Black for UV-sensitive or algae-prone contents |
| Accessories | Tamper seals, dust caps, sight strips | See accessories |
Options vary by manufacturer and partner supplier.
Before you sign off on new totes
Buy new
- ＋Regulated dangerous goods in transport, needing a live UN plate.
- ＋Audited food, pharma or cosmetic product requiring first-fill documentation.
- ＋Automated line where cage geometry must be identical across every unit.
- ＋Customer-facing placement where cosmetics matter.
- ＋A returnable-asset pool you intend to run for many years.
Buy reconditioned instead
- −Internal transfer, storage or non-regulated site use.
- −Food contact where a never-filled bottle in a reused cage is acceptable: that is rebottled.
- −Anything where the tote is a means, not a marketing surface.
- −Budget pressure: reconditioned is usually the lower-cost line.
- −A packaging-reuse target you are measured against.
Plan the end of life at the start
Ask the partner supplier whether they will buy back or collect new units when your product run ends. Reconditioned and returned to service, they avoid a disposal bill and another new build. When the time comes, you can also request an offer for used totes.
Questions people actually ask
What is the lead time on new IBC totes?
It depends on the configuration and the supplier. Standard configurations are often available sooner than non-standard pallets, colours or valve packages. The partner supplier confirms timing with the quote.
Is a new tote stronger than a used one?
Not inherently. A sound used tote of the same design carries the same rated gross weight and stacking load. What you gain with new is traceability and a fresh test clock, not mechanical capability.
What does UN 31HA1 mean?
31 = IBC for liquids, H = plastic inner receptacle, A = steel outer, 1 = with structural equipment able to be stacked. Full decode in the UN markings decoder.
Can I buy new bottles only?
New bottles, cages, pallets and hardware are available separately through partner suppliers. See replacement parts, which is how most rebottling projects start.
Build options, and which ones affect lead time
New units are configured, not just bought. These are common options against a standard 275 gallon composite-pallet unit.
| Option | Lead time impact | Worth it when |
|---|---|---|
| Standard: composite pallet, 6 in solid lid, 2 in butterfly | Baseline | Most industrial duty |
| Plastic pallet | Usually none | Food, wash-down, clean areas |
| Steel pallet | Usually none | Outdoor, heavy duty, coastal |
| Wood base | Usually none | Short-term, not food |
| 6 in vented lid | Usually none | Any gravity discharge |
| 9 in manway lid | May add time | Viscous product, manual cleaning |
| 2 in ball valve instead of butterfly | Usually none | Viscous product, throttling |
| 3 in camlock outlet | May add time | Fast transfer, frequent connection |
| Viton (FKM) gasket set | Usually none | Solvents, fuels, acids, hot fill |
| Black UV-stable bottle | Often adds time | Outdoor storage, algae control |
| Tamper-evident cap seals | Usually none | Shipping product to customers |
| Matched build date, large quantity | Often adds time | Automated filling lines |
Black bottles and matched build dates usually run on a moulding schedule rather than a stock pick. If your project has a date, ask about those first. Pricing is by quote from partner suppliers.
Ask about buyback at the time of purchase
Some partner suppliers will state a buyback or collection arrangement when you buy new units. It is worth asking, because a tote with a known history is easier to recondition and resell than an unknown unit.
Conditions to expect
- The unit is drained, capped and accessible to a trailer.
- Prior contents are documented.
- Damage below the liquid line reduces the value; a bent cage bar usually matters less.
- Some contents make a unit unsuitable for return. Ask before you fill it.
Good reasons to buy new, and weaker ones
Good reasons
- ＋Your product is a regulated dangerous good and you need a live UN marking with a full test clock.
- ＋An audit regime or a customer contract requires documented first-fill packaging.
- ＋You are commissioning an automated line where cage geometry must be identical across every unit.
- ＋The tote will stand in a customer-facing environment where cosmetics are part of the product.
Weaker reasons
- −"Used totes are dirty." A properly washed Grade A unit can have a very clean interior.
- −"We need food grade." A rebottled unit gives you a never-filled food-contact surface, usually at a lower price.
- −"New will last longer." Units of the same design carry the same rating; handling and UV decide service life.
- −"It is easier to get approved internally." Often the real reason, and a written specification comparison can fix it.
Buying new, in practice
Can I order a single new tote?
Often, yes, though freight is a large share of the total on one unit. Local pickup, where a partner supplier offers it, can help with small quantities.
Do new totes come with a warranty?
Any warranty comes from the manufacturer or the partner supplier, not from this site. Ask the supplier what applies. See terms.
How long does the UN marking last on a new tote?
For units in regulated service, a leakproofness test is generally due every 2.5 years from the build date and a periodic inspection every 5 years. The clock starts at manufacture, not at purchase, so check the plate date on stock units. Check current regulations.
Can I buy new bottles without cages?
Yes, through partner suppliers. New bottles are the starting point for most rebottling projects. See replacement parts.
What happens when you order a new tote
The supply chain behind the catalogue line, and why lead times behave the way they do.
Standard configurations
A standard 275 gallon unit on a composite pallet with a solid lid and a butterfly valve is often a stock item.
Non-standard configurations
Change the pallet, the valve or the lid and it becomes an assembly job, usually still quick because the components are common.
Black bottles and colours
These run on a moulding schedule. Pigmented resin means a colour change on the machine, so the moulder waits for enough demand to justify it.
Matched sets
A large quantity from one build date can mean reserving a production window. Worth planning if you are commissioning an automated line where cage geometry matters.
What moves the price
Resin, steel and freight, none of which you control. Pricing is by quote from partner suppliers.
Practical advice
If you have a date, consider ordering the standard configuration and changing the hardware afterwards. A vented lid and a Viton gasket take minutes to fit in your own workshop.
New versus reconditioned, decided by scenario
| Scenario | Consider | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Shipping a regulated corrosive by road | New, or a unit with a current test | Live UN marking with a valid test date |
| Storing the same corrosive on site | Grade A washed | No transport; check site rules |
| Bottling a new beverage line | Rebottled | Never-filled food-contact surface in a reused cage |
| Glycol loop in a brewery | Grade A or B | Never touches product |
| Automated filling line | New, matched build | Cage geometry consistency |
| Emergency potable water reserve | Rebottled | New bottle, potable gasket, sealed |
| Site water on a construction job | Grade C | Cosmetics and interior irrelevant |
| Rainwater for a market garden | Rain grade, benign history | Documented history is the control |
| Customer-facing display | New | Cosmetics are part of the product |
| Fertiliser storage on a farm | Grade B | Robust duty, watch gross weight |
| Replacing a set of tired units | Rebottle the cages | Usually the most economical route |
| One-off experiment | Grade C or a smaller tote | Do not buy a fleet to answer a question |
Check current regulations for anything moving as a dangerous good, and confirm documentation with the supplier.
New tote questions
Can I mix new and reconditioned units?
Yes, and many operations do. It matters most in automated handling, where cage geometry differences between manufacturers can upset a line. For manual handling it is rarely an issue.
Do new totes need washing before first use?
A rinse is sensible, since bottles pick up dust during production and transit. For food service, a potable rinse and a visual check before first fill is common practice.
What warranty applies?
Any warranty comes from the manufacturer or the partner supplier, not from this site. Ask the supplier, and see terms.
Can I order a new tote for a specific UN packing group?
Design types are tested to a packing group; many stock units are marked Y (packing groups II and III). If you need X, mention it early, as supply is narrower. Check current regulations.
Reuse first, then recycle.