3 Key Benefits of Using Plastic Barrels for Storing and Transporting Materials

For decades now, plastic barrels have been the preferred storage and shipping solution of several companies across different industries.

07:32 05 August 2021

For decades now, plastic barrels have been the preferred storage and shipping solution of several companies across different industries. Although several new materials and polymers have come forth, plastic still remains the undisputed choice of businesses when it comes to storage and transportation. Let us go over a few key benefits that your business can get from using these containers.

 

• Plastic barrels are highly versatile and can be used for transportation and storage of materials that are meant for human consumption and materials for industrial consumption. They’re designed for use with a wide range of materials, whether it is food and beverages; strong acids, corrosive materials and hard detergents; industry grade solvents, surfactants, coolants and lubricants; pharmaceutical products and consumer goods and what not. Furthermore, they don’t affect the quality or volume of the goods one bit. For instance, metal containers are not the default choice for transporting goods like industry lubricants and the like which are reactive to oxidation and reduction. Depending on the kind of business you’re into, you can choose the right plastic barrel for your needs. They’re available in both food grade and non-food grade, making it extremely easy for industries selling a variety of products. These barrels come in various sizes and shapes offering plenty of capacity to store your products. Typically, the storage capacity of the smallest of plastic barrels is around 15 gallons and it goes all the way up to 55 gallons. What this means is that you can easily find the right type and right size of plastic barrels for all kinds of products, dry or liquid, big or small. 
  
  
• Plastic barrels are designed to last long, which means you can keep your goods secure and in tip top condition for a really long period of time without them wearing out or breaking down. Are you having to keep items safe and secure in your garage or industrial warehouse for several weeks on end? Plastic barrels made of first grade polyethylene are suitable for long term use. A tough inner and outer shell made of thick plastic designed for durability allows it to hold its own and last for long even when handled roughly.  Don’t bother about strong acids like hydrochloric acid or corrosive materials like sodium hydroxide eating away at these containers. Purpose built for durability, plastic storage containers can handle a wide range of products, which means they’re a great investment for any business to which long-term storage and rapid transit of goods is quite crucial.
  
  
• Plastic barrels give you the flexibility to reuse them for as long as you want, how many ever times you want. It’s an advantage you only get with containers made from first quality polyethylene. Having said that, you need to thoroughly rinse and get the inner surfaces scraped and cleaned completely just to reduce the odds of cross contamination playing spoilsport. That being said, plastic has a tendency to absorb smell so certain foods when stored for a long period of time in these barrels will leave a residual odour that’s usually hard to eliminate. It makes sense to use appropriate lining material inside the barrel if you’re going to use it mainly for storing and transporting flavoured food and beverages.

 

Now that you clearly understand what your business is likely to gain by putting plastic barrels in use for storage and transportation, here are a few key pointers to keep in mind. Make sure you give these points due consideration before you place a bulk order with a company for these barrels. If you’re searching for a good place to buy containers in the UK, head over to ITP Packaging plastic barrels. They offer a wide range of products for all kinds of customers, from individuals to heavy industries requiring a huge number of containers for storage and transportation.

 

First things first, make sure plastic is the right material for the products you’re going to store and transport. Industries that are into shipping oil and other flammable materials usually settle for metal barrels whereas companies selling pharma products, consumer goods, adhesives, glue, and paint go for drums made from fiberboard. As pointed out earlier, plastic barrels would be a right fit for your business only if you’re dealing with liquids and dry goods, both food and non-food grade.

 

The next thing you need to think about is the design of the barrel itself. Typically, there are two kinds of plastic drums namely open head and closed or tight head drums. Open head barrels come with a removable lid and a lever lock ring to seal the lid and are a great fit for storing liquids. Tight head drums are best suited for storing solid stuff and are resistant to spillages and leaks.

 

It’s wise to consider the different sizes these barrels come in and align them with your storage needs. What is it you’re going to use them for? Storing liquids? Don’t go for bigger drums if you really don’t have the need for them. Leaving these bigger drums partially filled before transportation is a grave sin. Remember there’s going to be a lot of sloshing around of the liquid inside the drum during turbulence, resulting in the drum getting displaced or the liquid spilling if the lid is not fully secure. Always fill liquids to brim to avoid unwanted incidents. Use more small size barrels instead of a few large ones for achieving good results with storing or transporting stuff.