16-04-2025
At Bates, we are proud that our company has been providing innovative solutions in the packaging industry worldwide for over 100 years. But where did it all begin? What sparked the need to develop machines for filling bags? In this article, we take you through our journey.
It all started with Mr. Adelmer Bates in Chicago at the end of the 19th century. He was an entrepreneur who sold salt and held the title of “Saltcellar.” He was so successful that his company struggled to package salt quickly enough to meet demand. During a visit to his factory, he identified the bottleneck and saw workers filling bags with scoops, weighing them, and sewing the open ends shut by hand. He knew there had to be a better way.
One evening, Bates had a dream in which the idea of the valve bag was revealed to him, as if it were an eureka moment. He woke up, immediately tore the bottom of his shirt, and using a few pins, he crafted the very first homemade prototype of the Bates valve bag.
In July 1898, patent applications were submitted, and a few years later patents were granted for the full concept. While the valve bag improved packaging, there was still no efficient way to fill the bags themselves. Bates built a rough wooden-framed filling machine, leading to several equipment patents, but he lacked the funds and resources to fully develop his ideas.
Then Mr. John Cornell entered the picture. As the owner of the Hyde Park Hotel in Chicago, he was always open to bold investment opportunities. Recognising the potential of Bates’ invention, he provided the financial backing needed to bring it to life. With the formalities settled, the Bates Valve Bag Company was founded in 1901.
Bates initially attempted to expand into flour packaging but soon realised that this market wasn’t yielding success. Instead, he discovered the biggest market for his bag and filling machine lay in construction materials like cement, gypsum and lime. With some modifications he adapted the machine to these industries, securing additional patents along the way.
By 1909, just eight years after its founding, Bates had firmly established itself in the industry, filling bags at an unprecedented speed. In 1910, the Bates Valve Bag Company expanded to the Netherlands, establishing itself in Maastricht.
And so, Adelmer Bates laid the foundation for the company as we know it today. Even in 2025, his ideas continue to shape the company. Bates has always been, and will always be a company driven by ambition, pushing forward with innovative projects every day.
07-05-2025
The robot palletising system is a fully automated stacking solution for bagged goods. It significantly increases productivity, reduces physical strain and contributes to a safer work environment. Learn more about how it works, its benefits and the added value the system brings to industrial operations.
