Plastic Buckets
Buckets made of plastic are cylindrical containers used for catching, holding and transporting any solid and liquid materials. They usually have metal or plastic handles and when full, are able to be lifted by hand, but some are made in bulk sizes and must be moved with the help of a forklift. Plastic buckets are used in virtually any industry that needs some sort of hand-held carrying container, including the food, beverage, agriculture and construction industries. Buckets are also very useful as general household items. Today, all buckets available for purchase meet FDA standards. They are all able to hold materials up to 190 degrees F as well as frozen products. They are measured in gallons and often have lids that are applied by force from a hammer and must be pried open.
Most plastic buckets, regardless of application, are made of HDPE, or high density polyethylene. This thermoplastic resin is very durable, chemically non-reactive and may be recycled, but loses some tensile strength when re-formed. Plastic buckets are mostly manufactured by injection molding or blow molding, both processes that heat plastic resin to molten form and shape it using high pressure and a mold. They exhibit a tapered design so they are nestable when empty and are easily separated, thus saving space and time. Some plastic buckets are made with a specific function in mind. Food grade buckets are different from the rest because in order to safely handle food, they must not contain any color dyes, have been made from recycled plastic, or been filled with other non-food grade materials. This is because the plastic is porous and absorbs a tiny amount of the liquid it is housing.