About Industrial Drums and Industrial Drum Manufacturers
Including: 55
Gallon Drums, Fibre
Drums, Plastic
Barrels, Plastic
Drums & Steel
Barrels.
Industrial drums are large, industrial containers that
serve as storage and shipping containers for a variety of hazardous and
non-hazardous substances, including beverages, chemicals, petroleum and
paint. Generally, these cylindrical industrial containers are used for
the storage of liquids. Industrial storage drums are available in a variety
of different materials, but the most common types are steel
drums, plastic
drums and fibre
drums. These materials are particularly advantageous
because they can be reconditioned for future use. The selection of a
material depends upon the industrial application for which the drum will
be used, as well as specific customer requirements.
Steel drums are most often used for situations in which flammable chemicals
and other hazardous substances need to be handled. Plastic
drums are
used to transport powders and many other substances that can be handled
by steel industrial drums. Plastic drums are becoming increasingly standard because
of their ability to be recycled for future use. Plastic drums also are
preferable because they do not rust when they are exposed to
the elements. Fiber drums are made from dense paper or fiber board. They are usually only used for a short time. Compared to other industrial
drums, such as plastic drums and steel
drums, fiber
drums are more easily
recycled. Fiber drums are commonly used in the food industry to transport
large volumes of frozen or refrigerated goods, such as ice cream and
cheese.
Industrial drum manufacturers make their products in a variety of sizes. The standard industry
size is 55 gallons
drums, but steel drum, plastic drum, fiber drum sizes can range from five gallons to 110
gallons drums. For larger volumes of substances, intermediate
bulk containers are used. In addition to stock sizes, industrial drum manufacturers create custom
sizes to fulfill specific customer requests. Special linings and surface
coatings are available for both the interior and exterior of the steel drums,
plastic drums, and fiber drums.
For steel drums, the interior and exterior are often painted to prevent
erosion and rust. Plastic drums may
have a thin plastic film bonded to the interior to prevent leakage and
ensure freshness of food products. The larger units require special handling
and transportation equipment, such as trolleys, hoists and belts to prevent
them from tipping and spilling their contents.
Common industries in which steel drums, plastic drums, and fiber drums
are found include the oil and gas, food and beverage processing, agricultural,
automotive and pharmaceutical industries. Because many industries store
and ship chemicals, pesticides and other hazardous materials, industrial
drum manufacturers must adhere to the strict production and shipment
standards of organizations like the Occupational Safety and Health Administration
(OSHA), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Department
of Transportation (DOT).
Drums and barrels are for all practical purposes the same
thing. Industrial manufacturers use the two terms synonymously, and there is
no distinctive structural difference between "drums" and "barrels";
both can be made of plastic, fiberglass or metal, both are used to transport
goods, and both have standard sizes, such as the 55 gallon drum. There are
only two cases in which a slight distinction is made between drums and barrels.
The first is in the oil industry; oil is transported in standard, metal, 42
gallon containers referred to as "oil barrels", not as "drums";
the distinction made between oil "barrels" and drums which transport
other material helps clarify volume, which in a standard drum is 55 gallons.
The other industry in which a small distinction between drums and barrels is
made is in the alcoholic beverage industry, which also refers to its containers
as "barrels" and not usually as "drums". Alcoholic
beverage industries have traditionally used wooden barrels, and although wooden
barrels have largely gone out of use in modern manufacturing, the sanitary-grade
stainless steel containers used to ferment and transport beer, wine and liquor
are referred to as wine or beer barrels. A distinction is made with beer and
wine "barrels" partially out of a linguistic nostalgia for the
industry and partially as a way of verbally clarifying a beer or wine barrel's
contents as such. Outside of these two industry-specific slight distinctions,
the terms "drums" and "barrels" refer to the same item.
Types of Industrial Drums
- are the standard-sized drums used for storage and shipping.
-
are used for the mixing and combining of substances, such as paint and
concrete. They have an opening in the cover for the entrance of the
blades of an agitator, which mixes the substance, and are made most
often with metal alloys, such as steel or aluminum.
- ,
also called "tight head drums," have a permanent lid with
a small opening to allow for the pouring out of the material enclosed.
- are shipping and storage containers made of heavy paperboard materials.
-
often use removable heads, as opposed to closed head drums.
- are used to transport and store liquids.
- are rust-proof alternatives to steel drums.
-
are plastic or steel vessels that have been reconditioned to ensure
optimum repeat use. Most often, the lid of the drum is what is replaced
or reconditioned.
-
are specifically designed for the safe and economic transport and storage
of damaged drums. In the unusual event that a steel drum leaks, possibly
due to extreme mechanical loading or impact, temporary solutions, such
as salvage drums, may be required.
-
have a smooth, creaseless interior that prevents the unintended trapping
of the material being stored. Seamless drums are similar to process
drums, which have a welded top curl to prevent entrapment, as well.
- are closed-top drums used to ship and store liquids.
Common Terms Related to Industrial Drums
- A
unit of volume generally ranging from 31 to 42 gallons, depending upon
the standard of the industry in which the barrel is used. For example,
in the oil and gas industry, one barrel equals 42 gallons; a barrel of
beer, however, equals 31 gallons.
- Large storage containers,
particularly those with capacities greater than 2,000 gallons.
- The amount of space
provided inside a container such as a steel drum or plastic drum, for a specific amount of product.
- A mechanism on the
opening of a container such as a steel drum or plastic drum, used to protect container contents and prevent
leakage.
- The incorrect application
of a closure of a container a such as a steel drum or plastic drum, which may result in content leakage.
- A closure of a container a
such as a steel drum or plastic drum, that has a
rounded top surface.
- A protective seal made
of a thin, soft substance, such as cork, that provides extra protection
against container spillage.
- A substance
designated by the EPA or OSHA as posing a health threat due to toxic,
radioactive, or corrosive properties. The storage, transportation and
distribution of such substances is strictly regulated to ensure safety.
- A material
unsuitable for recycling and reuse. Because these substances pose health
threats, strict guidelines exist for proper disposal.
- The susceptibility
of plastics to break due to shock.
- A protective coating
applied to steel drums and plastic drums interiors. Possible coatings include polyethylene (PE),
polyester and silicone.
- An extra closure,
commonly made of foil or aluminum, that tamper-proofs the primary
closure on steel drums and plastic drums.
- Processing
steel drums and plastic drums for future reuse. Reconditioning may include cleaning and rinsing
of the steel drums or plastic drums interiors and exteriors, abrasive cleaning and painting.
- The torque
force required to unscrew a closure from a container, measured in pounds
per inch.
- A device designed
to cover the spout from which the pouring of the elements takes place
on the lid or cover of steel drums or plastic drums.
- The joining point of
two edges of a material to create a whole.
- Steel drums
or Plastic drums
configuration in which the steel drums or plastic drums lids remains attached to the body of the
steel drums or plastic drums and cannot be removed.