What Are the Types of 55 Gallon Drums?
- By Cory Levins
- 9 jun 2023
Source: RachenStocker/shutterstock.com
If your business is looking for storage containers, then you pretty much can't go wrong with a 55-gallon drum. These versatile storage options can be used to transport all sorts of materials safely. However, there are many different types of drums and barrels currently available on the market. Air Sea Containers has a variety of gallon drums and can inform you of the best ones to purchase for your specific business needs.
Steel Drums
These are probably the types of 55-gallon drums that came to mind when you thought of these storage containers. Usually made of stainless, cold-rolled or carbon steel, these drums are utilized by our clients in a variety of different industries to transport liquids — and sometimes solids as well.
Metal drums are ideal for securely transporting materials in a variety of environments. Stainless steel is ideal for storing sanitary liquids and anything related to the food and beverage industry due to its high corrosion resistance.
Carbon steel is a stronger material than stainless steel but it can corrode more easily when exposed to moisture, making a drum made from it a better candidate to transport hazardous materials and chemicals. Carbon steel drums are also usually stronger and more durable than international standards require.
Finally, cold-rolled steel has been processed more than regular hot-rolled steel, which makes it harder and stronger than regular steel. It's also more highly resistant to deformation or tension, making it ideal if you're trying to transport important or expensive materials safely.
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Plastic Drums
Plastic drums are an alternative way of transporting goods and materials. They're most often used to transport food, beverages and acidic substances. This is because many different types of plastic are almost completely resistant to corrosion. Plastic drums are also lauded for being much cheaper overall than metal drums or barrels. However, they aren't nearly as strong, so it's much more common for us to see our clients use them for industries that solely need to transport liquids.
PVC is one of the cheaper drum materials on the market and one of our top-selling products at Air Sea Containers. It's resistant to corrosion, strong yet flexible and ideal for companies looking for a more cost-effective drum type than metal. PVC drums are resistant to fading from sunlight and relatively resistant to high tension or puncturing. However, if these are major concerns for your business when transporting goods then we'd recommend going with metal drums instead.
HDPE is made from high-density polyethylene. They are stronger and more durable than PVC drums but are a bit pricier. However, they are still much more cost-effective than traditional metal drum options. They're often used by industries in the residential and commercial sectors to transport both non-hazardous and hazardous waste, food products, beverages and sometimes powdery substances. HDPE in particular is also highly-resistant to just about all low/high pH substances, making them ideal for transporting acids and other dangerous chemicals.
Since we've gone over the different types of 55-gallon drums, you're probably trying to decide what type to go with. Just keep in mind that generally speaking, metal is stronger but more expensive. If you're going to be transporting highly acidic materials, you're probably going to want to go with HDPE drums. If price is a major factor and you don't have to worry about hazardous transportation conditions then PVC is probably going to be your best option.
IBC Totes
IBC totes are defined as intermediate bulk carriers or storage devices that house between 110 and 550 gallons of materials. They are often used to store and transport potable and non-potable water, as well as other liquid substances. Depending on your industry these types of devices can be a quality alternative to 55-gallon drums, especially if you're transporting much higher amounts of material.
Source: Siwanan K/shutterstock.com
Our Services
When your business requires storage containers for shipping items, remember there are different types available. Make sure to get the type that best suits your shipping requirement needs. Whether you need to ship liquids or solid materials, Air Sea Containers can help you choose the best shipping drums so you can transport your items safely.
