A Complete Guide to Refurbished Plastic Drums (220L) Suppliers in UAE.There is a silent hero in the warehouses all throughout Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah. It looks nothing like a glamorous look. It isn’t accompanied with a logo or flashy product launch. It does contain chemicals, waterproofs liquids, withstands the harsh UAE weather and saves businesses a lot of money. I’m talking about the reconditioned plastic drum, the 220-liter drum.
Whether your company comes from a bulk liquids or industrial chemicals, agriculture or water storage, this guide will give you the answers you need about refurbished plastic drums and why they are suitable for the UAE market and where to get reliable suppliers.
What is Refurbished Plastic Drum?
A refitted plastic container isn’t just a plastic container that was used and then rinsed out and placed on a shelf. Reconditioned plastic drums are containers that have been thoroughly restored and prepared for use in the industry to the same safety and quality standards. These drums are subjected to rigorous cleaning, inspection and testing procedures before being used again.
Unlike most people think, the reconditioning process is far more complex as it is. Drum reconditioning involves a series of steps that involves stripping away of all previous residue or markings from a used drum and repairing any structural damage so that drums can be put back into use by other industries.
Each drum is subject to a detailed reconditioning process that involves checking for structural integrity, cleaning the drum, removing all material from inside and subjecting the drum to pressure testing to verify performance.
Put simply, the container you receive at your facility is not a dirty second hand one. A drum that has been professionally restored and is suitable for use in industry.
The 220-Liter size is prominent in the UAE for several reasons.There are certain reasons for the popularity of the 220-Liter size in the UAE.
The 220-liter drum is the backbone of the industrial storage industry. It is of a manageable size, sufficient to contain an adequate amount of material but not so large that standard handling equipment cannot be used.
Reconditioned plastic drum with an open top of 220 liters has a diameter of about 594mm and a height of about 978mm and a weight of about 9.6 kg including the open top lid. It is equipped with a lid, lid gasket and side lever arm fastener that form an airtight, watertight seal between the body and lid.
This size fits the UAE market in manufacturing plants, construction sites, farms, distribution warehouses, and so on. It fits standard pallets, is easily forklifted and stacked to conserve floor space, which is expensive in Dubai industrial zones.
Refused plastic drums can be used in a variety of industries within UAE, such as:
Many people are not aware of the variety of industries that use 220-liter refurbished drums.
The drums can be used in many different applications within the chemical storage industry, for non-hazardous chemicals, hazardous chemicals, agricultural applications such as fertilizers, pesticides, irrigation solutions, manufacturing applications for raw materials, solvents and production fluids, and car washing for cleaning solutions and water treatment chemicals as well as rainwater collection for temporary storage of liquids before processing for large-scale water harvesting systems.
In the UAE, this kind of drum is demanded significantly in terms of its strength and consistency in agriculture industry in Al Ain region, chemical and petrochemical industry along Jebel Ali corridor, and increasing cleaning products manufacturing industry in Sharjah.
The UAE’s industrial environments are extremely demanding. Not only are containers built for the heat, but the chemical waste is also extremely aggressive and containers must be constructed to withstand it for years in the yard without becoming brittle. This specification will be included on a quality refurbished drum obtained from a reputable drum supplier in UAE.
Here are some common 220L Refurbished Plastic Drums that you need to know:
It is important to know the two main configurations prior to ordering.
Open top drums have a complete drum lid that is removable and held in place by a metal locking ring or lever arm. They are very easy to fill and clean by hand, and are recommended for solids, powders and paste-like liquids. They occur in the food processing, agricultural and paint storage sectors.
Closed-top (tight-head) drums are drums which require bung openings for filling and dispensing purposes, but the drum top is fixed. Closed-head plastic drums are used for securely containing liquids and flowable materials that do not leak. These are the preferred type of chemicals, lubricants and liquid detergents.
Both types can be refurbished from trusted vendors in UAE and are used for genuine industrial applications. This choice will depend on what you’re storing, and how frequently you’ll need to access it.
The key technical specifications to be taken into account are:Main Technical Specifications to check:
Even among the refurbished drums there are different drums. Below are some tips for comparing suppliers.
Material matters first. Chemical resistance and durability are retained after refurbishing 220l drums that are constructed of a high-density polyethylene (HDPE) plastic. HDPE is the ideal material for most industrial liquids.
Next, UN certification is the important factor. A lot of used plastic drums are UN rated in order to satisfy specific performance requirements for carrying and storage of hazardous materials. When your operation is handling regulated or hazardous materials, you cannot afford not to have this certification.
Search for UN-approved drums in both tight-head and open-head types, and in monolayer or multilayer for particular applications.
Trusted Refurbished Plastic Drum Suppliers in the UAE
There are a number of long established suppliers with proven histories of supplying new and refurbished drums throughout the UAE.
Qasim Tanks and Barrels Trading L.L.C is a supplier of HDPE drums, plastic drums, plastic barrels, reconditioned plastic drums and reconditioned HDPE barrels in UAE. They also provide a Relaundering service on plastic drums, picking up, cleaning and replying to the customer, all over the United Arab Emirates.
Multibox is a UAE top manufacturer and supplier of plastic drums, with a 220 liters drum being one of its most prominent drum sizes, followed by its focus on quality, durability and customer satisfaction. They have 220 litre drums and each drum is fitted with a metal locking band which helps the lid to remain locked during transport.
The one-piece blow-moulded drums produced by Balmer Lawrie (UAE) are of the highest quality and are designed to satisfy the most rigorous requirements of the industry with regard to safe handling of sensitive materials. They are stackable and re-useable, approved to UN-standard and available in multi-layer designs that feature post-consumer resin for environmentally low impact solutions with their HM HDPE drums. They have a re-conditioning plant at their Al Quoz plant in Dubai.
Tekin Plast’s plastic drums come in various sizes such as 50L, 120L, 220L and are available in both closed top and open top versions, featuring secure locking lids or injection moulded black lids as well as stackability for efficient space utilisation. Tekin Plast
New vs. Refurbished: Which is Best for Your Business?
This is a question that everyone will ask at some point and the simple answer is, it depends on what you are storing.
Reconditioned drums are typically less expensive than new ones, providing a cost-effective solution for businesses. Reconditioning drums also allows for a longer useful life, minimising waste and the need for new resources. The drum processing is done in accordance with the standards set by the industry, adhering to environmental and safety regulations. They are also readily available and can be easily sourced in comparison to ordering new drums.
There is one thing that is an obvious exception, however. The food and pharmaceutical industry do not accept reconditioned plastic drums. These drums are used drums and as such are suitable for non-food industrial applications only after having been washed and reconditioned. New drums which are marked and approved for food grade storage should be considered for food grade storage.
Thus the rule is simple. Refurbished drums are suitable for a wide range of uses from chemicals, agricultural chemicals, water treatment, lubricants and industrial fluids – it saves money and works well. Go new: Food, pharma, potable water.
Environmental and Cost Advantages
In the UAE, sustainability has never been more important, particularly as the UAE strives for a Net Zero 2050. Refurbished drums will neatly fit into that direction.
Using re-used drums is a way for businesses to help minimize industrial waste and conserve natural resources. By reconditioning each drum, we are all taking steps towards a greener future and providing excellent value for money; the savings from reconditioned drums compared to buying new drums are significant.
By reconditioning, the need for new plastic production is reduced and this process results in drums that are environmentally friendly. Reconditioned plastic drums can be reconditioned several times and thus help you save money in the long term and, in addition, protect the environment.
This is a feel-good story for procurement managers under budget constraints. It is a real cost saving, and a side benefit to help with your company’s ESG commitments.
Before purchasing, ask your supplier the following questions:
We will help you find a good UAE refurbished plastic drum supplier with a few questions to ask.
Inquire if all drums have been pressure-tested and if so, how. If the supplier is serious they will have a clear documented reconditioning process. If using all or any regulated drums, inquire if they are UN certified. Check if the drum is open top or tight head and verify the drum closure is in good condition and working. Lastly, inquire about the delivery schedules and quantities as bulk pricing and coverage of delivery across the UAE is significantly different from one supplier to another.
Final Thoughts
The UAE market for plastic drums suppliers for refitting is active, well-supplied and also enhancing in quality annually. Refurbished 220-litre plastic drums are practical, cost effective and sustainable solution for chemical plant in Jebel Ali, irrigation in an Al Ain farm, chemical cleaning products business in Sharjah, and more.
The secret is to buy from a trusted supplier that is adhering to correct reconditioning procedures, has UN verified parts when necessary and has a documented quality control system in place. If you do, you will have containers that are reliable — at an affordable cost.