Plastic Containers

Plastic Containers

About Plastic Containers and Plastic Container Suppliers Including: Catch Basin, Plastic Bins, Plastic Bottles, Plastic Boxes, Plastic Buckets, Plastic Crates, Plastic Food Containers, Plastic Jars, Plastic Shipping Containers, Plastic Storage Containers, Plastic Totes & Plastic Tubs.

Using plastic containers is a versatile, convenient and inexpensive way to organize, store, sanitize, package, ship and display materials in virtually every industry. Plastic containers' versatility in thickness, weight, absorption, color, density and strength makes plastics the number 1 choice when it comes to choosing a material to produce containers. They have a high tolerance to temperatures, are able to retain any size or shape, and are able to hold a wide range of weights, temperatures and densities. These properties attract the health care, food, pharmaceutical, waste management, and consumer good industries, all of which use plastic containers in many applications. Manufacturers employ plastic storage containers such as plastic bins and plastic boxes for storing, distributing and shipping large amounts of products ready for the shelves, while plastic totes are used to hold liquid materials. Plastic tubs and plastic bottles package and protect food, pharmaceutical and cosmetic products, while plastic food containers store, transport and distribute foods packaged in bulk and individually to guard against spoiling and contamination. Aside from packaging and storing, plastic containers can be used to fill other needs. catch basins, for example, filter debris from entering drain systems, and unlike other plastic containers, are not air-tight but instead have holes for water or air to pass through. Plastic buckets can be used to catch, hold or transport solid or liquid materials and are sized so that they may be hand-carried. Plastic crates are light weight and used in applications when the material inside must be ventilated.     

All plastics are made from a polymer resin, which are mostly synthetic from petroleum. Plastic containers are all thermoplastics, as opposed to thermosets, which are not moldable when heated. When heat and pressure are applied to thermoplastics, they become pliable and moldable and have the ability to take on any size or shape. After it cools, the plastic becomes rigid and holds its shape. This happens through blow molding or injection molding. Blow molding is a process used to manufacture hollow, 3-dimensional items such as plastic bottles and jars, where molten plastic is inflated inside a mold and left to cool. Injection molding, which produces larger, sturdier containers such as storage bins and thicker food containers, is a process through which molten plastic is injected into an inverse mold and left to cool. There are many different types of plastics used to produce plastic containers. A popular choice, polyurethane, is a high-density plastic used for tough containers. High-density polyethylene (HDPE) is used for bottles, jugs, pipes and bins, and polyethylene teraphthalate (PET), which is hard, clear plastic, is used for soft drink bottling.Vinyl and acrylic, which make flexible packaging, are also used. Composite materials such as fiberglass, minerals, carbon, graphite or other chopped fibers are often additives used in plastic box, barrel and pail manufacturing to strengthen and reinforce the finished plastic container.     

Storage containers are most often made from plastic because of their low cost, high production rate, durability, low weight and their unlimited shape and size capabilities. In comparison to alternatives such as wood, metal or glass, they are the best option when storing, transporting and shipping products and materials. Many plastic storage containers are reusable and last many years. Plastic bins and boxes, usually made of polyurethane or HDPE because of its strength and moisture control, are used as sturdy, stackable containers used in the manufacturing industry as well as for home and office storage. Plastic totes differ from bins and boxes in terms of reusability. They are made to last much longer than other plastic containers, and are able to transport delicate materials that need added support as well as liquids. While bins and boxes are sometimes used for point of purchase display and available for consumers, plastic totes remain useful only in manufacturing and bulk distribution.

Aside from large containers used for storage and transport in factory settings, many plastic containers are produced as packaging for pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, food and other consumer goods. Food grade containers, medical sterile containers and corrosion-resistant biohazard containers are common plastic containers produced today. Using plastic has many benefits, including a low shipping hazard since plastic bottles won't break and remain air-tight. They also provide protection from contamination, since many of the goods plastic containers hold are health care related. Since they are low in weight, shipping costs are comparatively low to using glass or wood. Most of these containers, such as bins, boxes and totes are reusable, but those that aren't can be recycled, cutting down on both cost and waste.    

Plastic containers are employed for a number of other uses. Plastic drums are heavy-duty and made of polyethylene, used to store many different raw materials used in manufacturing. Plastic carts, which are like bins with wheels, are also produced by some plastic manufacturers. Plastic crates, which are able to hold boxes of products, are light-weight but are made in a grid-pattern and therefore are not air-tight or waterproof. Catch basins are also not waterproof, because they filter debris out of drain systems. They are employed in gutters, street sewers, and shower drains. They prevent clogging and water pollution. Because of safety concerns, most plastic container manufacturers must follow regulations set by the EPA, FDA, DOT or HazMat when storing, shipping, or packaging organic or hazardous materials. 

Plastic Containers and Plastic Container Suppliers Image Provided by Myton Industries, Inc.	Plastic Containers and Plastic Container Suppliers Image Provided by Rahway Steel Drum Company, Inc.

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Plastic Container Types

• Attached lid containers are containers with lids that are attached, usually by hinges, for product protection and to prevent loss of lid.
  
• Bins can be containers available in various sizes, usually large, for storage or to carry materials/products.
  
• Bottles are classified as containers that hold no more than 5 gallons, which have a narrow opening at the top with a neck or spout.
  
• Bottom-hinged containers have an opening on top and bottom. The bottom opening usually locks and unlocks for easy product removal.
  
• Buckets are available in hand held sizes and bulk sizes used for storage or transport of material or product or general use.
  
• Bulk containers are containers to hold, move and ship large quantities of product together.
  
• Catch basins are cisterns located at the ends of gutters.
• Drums are containers to hold bulk product, food, liquor, wine, water, parts and various other materials, available in various sizes. (http://www.steel-plastic-fibre-drums.com)
  
• Holding tanks are built similarly to a septic tank to contain wastewater until it can be removed for treatment and disposal.
  
• Hoppers are containers for short-term storage, designed so stored material can be easily discarded.
  
• Lockers are used for safe, private storage of items like clothes or valuables, used mainly in changing rooms, available in various sizes and styles.
  
• Nestable containers are containers that can fit together or inside one another for easy storage.
  
• Neutralization tanks are containers to collect and neutralize acidic and basic waste water for safe removal.
  
• Openhead containers have a cover or top that is removable.
  
• Overpack containers are for damaged drums and other leaking containers, usually containing hazardous material.
  
• Packaging containers are usually commercial in nature, sometimes custom designed for ease of use and presentation depending on the product contained.
  
• Plastic bins are storage boxes made out of various plastic materials.
• Plastic boxes are storage containers made from plastic materials.
• Plastic food containers are usually made of polypropylene and come in a variety of shapes and sizes to accommodate different quantities of food.
• Plastic storage containers are stackable containers are used to store various goods.
• Reusable containers are containers that can be reprocessed for repeated uses.
  
• Shipping containers can be any container meeting standards for shipping related to the specific item being shipped.
  
• Stackable containers are containers that stack easily without causing damage to one another or the product, and sometimes may "lock" with surrounding containers.
  
• Storage containers are for meeting the needs and standards for storage related to the specific material/product being stored.
  
• Tanks are containers used for storage and transport and to dispense liquids usually in bulk or heavy quantities. (http://www.plastic-tanks.biz)
  
• Tighthead containers have attached, non-removable covers or tops.
  
• Tooling boxes are plastic cases with small compartments to store punches and dies, available in various sizes and capacities.
  
• Totes can be plastic baskets, usually with handles, to hold or carry products/materials.

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Plastic Container Terms

Blow Mold - To make hollow objects by extruding plastic into a chamber that is blown outward to take the shape of the plastic container mold cavity.
 
British Thermal Unit (BTU) - The amount of heat necessary to heat one pound of water one degree Fahrenheit.
 
Coextrusion - A manufacturing process in which plastic containers are blow-molded with walls containing two or more layers of different materials. This manufacturing process often uses recycled plastic materials.
 
Extrusion - The most common of the plastic container processing techniques, covering a vast range of applications in which plastic resins are melted, heated and pumped for plastic container processing.
 
HazMat - Hazardous materials. The Environmental Protection Agency has standards for plastics regarding the ability to handle various HazMat substances.
 
High Density Polyethylene (HDPE) Colored (Pigmented) - Often used for bleach, liquid detergents, motor oil and other household and automotive products. These plastic containers commonly bear the number "2" in the recycling triangle symbol on the bottom of many plastic storage containers.
 
High Density Polyethylene (HDPE) Natural (Non-pigmented) - Commonly used for plastic containers and plastic storage containers used to hold liquid dairy products, juice and other household products. These plastic containers usually bear the number "2" in the recycling triangle at the bottom of the plastic storage container.
 
High Density Polyethylene (HDPE) Wide - Natural and pigmented, these plastic containers are often used to store butter and other food products as plastic storage tubs, some medicine bottles and 5-gallon plastic buckets. These plastic containers usually display the number "2" in the recycling triangle symbol at the bottom of the plastic storage container.
 
Injection Mold - Under pressure, heated plastic granules are "injected" into a mold, where the molten plastic hardens into the designated plastic container shape.
 
In-line Fluorinated - A term that describes the chemical modification of the interior of HDPE plastic containers caused by fluorine gas as they are blown. This chemical reaction forms an inner barrier that withstands solvent-based chemicals, making the plastic containers suitable for the packaging of janitorial, industrial and consumer products.

ISO Container - Intermodal plastic shipping containers used to transport freight and designed for shipping and transportation by more than just one mode like ship and rail. Plastic shipping container sizes vary but typical sizes of these plastic containers are 20 feet and 40 feet; the standard width of ISO plastic containers is 8 feet, and the standard heights for ISO plastic containers are 8 feet 6 inches and 9 feet 6 inches.

Low Density Polyethylene (LDPE) - Used for plastic shrink-wrap, plastic bags, garment bags, dry cleaning bags and squeezable plastic food bottles.

Monomer - A comparatively simple compound that can react to form a polymer. The core element in plastic containers.
 
Polyethylene Teraphtalate (PET) Slim - Color and clear, these plastic containers are used to contain cosmetics, water, salad dressings and cleaners. These plastic containers usually bear number "1" in the recycling triangle at the bottom of of the plastic storage container.
 
Polymer - A compound, natural or synthetic, whose structure can be represented by a repeated small unit. Synthetic polymers are formed by condensation polymerization of monomers; some polymers are rubber, some plastics.

Polypropylene (PP) - Often used in plastic food containers designed for margarine and yogurt plastic containers, caps for plastic containers, and wrapping to replace cellophane on plastic storage containers like medicine bottles.

Polystyrene (PS) - Used for plastic containers such as egg cartons, fast food trays, disposable plastic silverware, cups and compact disc jackets.

Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) - Used in plastic containers like food wrap, vegetable oil bottles and blister packaging.

Recycling - The cycle of actions by which discarded materials are collected, sorted, processed and transformed back into raw materials and then used in the production of new plastic containers.
 
Resin - Most resins are polymers, a class of solid or semi-solid organic products of natural or synthetic origin, of high molecular weight with no definite melting point.

Rigid Plastic Containers - Any formed plastic container or molded plastic container that retains its shape when full or empty. This classification of plastic containers does not include plastic storage bottles.
 
Rotational Molding - Hollow plastic container molds filled with powdered resin that swings the entire plastic container mold into a furnace that melts the powder, making it stick to the plastic container mold as it cools. The plastic container mold slowly rotates and water is used to cool the plastic container mold while the plastic hardens into a hollow part. 

Tare Weight - Weight of plastic containers when they are empty.
 
Thermoforming - A process of heating a thermoplastic sheet to an effective temperature and then forming it into a completed plastic container shape by means of heat or force.

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