Used IBC Tanks for Oil and Lubricants UAE: A Comprehensive Guide
Most people out of the lubricant business don’t think about this.
The container that your lubricant comes in is just as important as the lubricant itself.
Lubricant contaminants can damage the lubricant’s effectiveness before it ever gets to the machine it was designed to lubricate, due to contaminated storage, incompatible materials, and inadequate sealing systems.
This is the reality and the decision for the IBC tank (new or used) should not be taken lightly or simply because it is the most affordable or easiest option to obtain.
The beauty of a used IBC tank is that it can be used in the oil and lubricant storage and transport industry in the UAE, more than likely anywhere in the used packaging industry.
The answer is simple.
Petroleum-based oils and lubricants are not corrosive to container materials, they leave behind relatively easy to clean and check residues and the UAE’s oil and lubricants industry has decades of packaging experience with bulk liquid packaging.
Whether you’re considering using IBC tanks for oil and lubricants in the UAE for the first time, or you’ve already used them, this guide covers everything you need to know about IBC tanks and how to get them to work for you, what specifications to look for, what to expect when reconditioning and where to buy them and how to make the most of your bulk purchase.
The United Arab Emirates’ Oil and Lubricants Sector is a Natural Choice for Used IBC Tanks
The UAE is the center of one of the most dynamic areas of petroleum production and distribution in the world.
With about 6 percent of the world’s proven oil reserves, Abu Dhabi has a huge and consistent downstream demand for bulk liquid packaging arising from the large-scale production of oil and petroleum products that the upstream sector has generated.
Dubai and Sharjah have high concentrations of companies involved in blending and trading of lubricants, many of which are based in free zones which help companies to import, blend and re-export to Middle East, African, South Asian and East African markets.
These businesses generate large monthly amounts of base oils, lubricant blends and hydraulic fluids, transformer oils, gear oils and specialty petroleum products as they move these materials through their value chains.
IBC tanks are an integral part of the business for these businesses and not just a packaging choice.
When reconditioned from previous uses compatible with the chemical application, And used IBC tanks perform exactly as these applications demand, and can be bought in bulk at an attractive cost.
Used IBC tanks are the smart choice for most of the oil and lubricants operations in UAE, as it has the best local supply, application characteristics, and cost benefits.
Used IBCs Are Such Good Applications for Oil and Lubricants, Because…
Not all industries can use used IBC tanks.
An example of the pharmaceutical industry would be the use of second hand containers in the production of medicines for sale, where there are very stringent standards for the handling and reconditioning of containers.
At the other end of the spectrum are oil and lubricants — and that’s why.
The petroleum-based lubricants and base oils are chemically stable, non-reactive to the typical IBC materials and not overly aggressive with the inner bottles of HDPE or steel cage items.
They are non-stress cracking for HDPE although they do increase the likelihood of failure under extreme conditions, do not corrode galvanised steel cages under normal conditions, and are not subject to high stresses on the valve or seal materials for safe containment.
The residues from lubricants and oils are well known and are easily removed by the typical industrial cleaning methods – hot water washing, alkaline detergent cleaning, and steam cleaning are all effective.
An oil-flushed and a well-documented cleaning process, followed by a visual inspection to determine it is clean, is sufficient to recondition a used IBC to an appropriate level for continued oil and lubricant service, regardless of whether it previously contained a mineral base oil or a standard industrial lubricant.
More importantly, in the oil and lubricant industry the previous requirement for contents is much easier to handle than in pharmaceutical and food grade IBC applications.
A used IBC containing petroleum-based lubricants and with a documented history of oil maintenance is a candidate for continued oil maintenance.
There is low contamination risk, the cleaning science is well established and compatibility is obvious.
Key Specifications for Used IBC Tanks for Oil and Lubricant Applications
To ensure the quality of the product and efficiency of operation, one should understand the right specification that is appropriate for the application before sourcing used IBC tanks for oil and lubricant use in the UAE.
The standard composite IBC – 1000-litre HDPE bottle with galvanised steel cage on a pallet base will not cause compatibility problems with all mineral oils, synthetic lubricants, hydraulic fluids and base oils.
HDPE is highly resistant to petroleum products at ambient and moderately high temperatures, and is the right material for the majority of oil and lubricant storage and transportation applications in the UAE.
In cases of high temperature lubricant use (some synthetic oils, heat transfer fluids, or fluids kept or dispensed at high temperatures), ensure that the operating temperature remains within the range specified by the HDPE bottle.
The contents in standard HDPE composite IBCs are normally accepted up to 50° to 60° C, depending upon the specific bottle construction.
Where the application is outside this range stainless steel IBC tanks may be needed.
The specification of the valve is important in the efficiency of lubricant dispensing.
For lower viscosity oils or base stocks, the standard 2” butterfly valve can be used.
If you are using high viscosity gear oils, greases or thick synthetic lubricants, you might require a larger outlet valve or a drum pump adapter for a practical dispersion rate.
Check the compatibility of the valves before ordering large quantities of the product in bulk.
The condition of inner bottle is the most important quality control for oil service IBCs.
Condensation may occur on the inside of the bottle during the product’s lifetime and may result in a thin film of lubricant residue, which during reconditioning may not be completely removed, causing contamination potential with the next product.
Check the inside of the bottle for cleanliness, no odor and no particles or film on the inside of the HDPE.
UN certification for oil and lubricant IBCs will depend on what class your contents fall under.
Several lubricants, base oils and others have UN dangerous goods classification, especially those with flash points below 60 degrees Celsius, or classification as environmentally hazardous substances.
In these products, IBCs with UN certification are mandatory for sea freight (IMDG Code) and road transport (ADR) respectively.
Check your product’s dangerous goods classification on your chemical safety data sheet before determining if your product needs to be used with UN certified units.
The Reconditioning Standard That Matters (RSTTM) Applies to Oil and Lubricant IBCs
The reconditioning process for a used IBC for oil and lubricant service must take into consideration the properties of petroleum-based residues.
Hot water washing alone is not enough for heavier oils & lubricants: these require an alkaline detergent washing stage to wash the oil film from the inside of the bottle and emulsify it.
A reputable reconditioning supplier for oil and lubricant IBCs should include all of the following services:
- Complete washing of the interior of the IBC with hot, alkaline detergent solution
- A clean water rinse following to remove detergent residue from the interior
- Visual inspection of the IBC interior to ensure complete cleanliness
- Disassembly and inspection/replacement of valves
- Inspection and straightening or treatment of steel cage
- Leakproof test to confirm the IBC holds pressure without weeping or seepage at any valve or fitting
Inquire from your supplier about their cleaning procedure and cleaning agents they use.
This will be documented by a professional reconditioning operation and reconditioning records will be provided upon request.
These records are a part of your supplier qualification file, and they show that you are doing your due diligence; especially for businesses that have quality management systems in place that are compatible with ISO 9001 or another system.
Used IBC Tanks for Oil and Lubricants Can Be Sourced in the UAE from Various Suppliers
There are multiple suppliers of Used IBC Tanks for Oil and Lubricants in UAE.
For oil & lubricant used IBC tanks and other services, Dubai’s industrial locations offer the best and direct competitive sourcing.
All three of the above IBC locations are home to many suppliers and reconditioning houses that offer large arrays of units with the previous use history just as they were used in the oil, lubricant and petroleum product industry, that makes them directly suitable for continued use in the same industry after reconditioning.
Another sourcing market to consider is Sharjah Industrial Area, which is very competitive when it comes to price for customers located in the northern emirates or other sourcing operations in Sharjah, Ajman or Ras Al Khaimah.
Abu Dhabi’s industrial districts cater to the downstream segment of the petroleum industry, which is concentrated in Abu Dhabi, and suppliers are well aware of the unique needs of the oil and gas industry’s customers.
Platforms like UAE IBC suppliers provided on the internet platforms like Gulf Business Pages, Tejara, and Alibaba will provide initial benchmarking options across multiple sources.
Limit to shortlisting, initial contact — always reach out to the direct suppliers, to the facility if feasible, and, if possible, to the physical inspection of sample units prior to ordering large quantities.
Industry networks in the lubricants and petroleum distribution industry are always a good source.
Direct experience of the local IBC suppliers has been gained by lubricant blenders, base oil traders and petroleum product distributors in the UAE.
They offer no marketing hype; they’re based on experience.
Used IBC Tanks in Oil and Lubricant Service UAE Pricing
Most UAE suppliers charge AED 150 – AED 280 per 1,000 litre (bulk) reconditioned IBC tank with a quality of AED 350 – AED 600 per 1,000 litre for new composite IBC tanks.
For applications of oil and lubricant where previous use experience has been with petroleum-based products, and reconditioning practices requirements are well established, this cost difference is a true value added to the procurement.
Price changes depending on the price of HDPE resin, price of steel, and supply and demand.
Always get formal quotations from at least three suppliers and consider the total landed cost (including delivery) not just unit price.
The larger the bulk order, the more common the volume discount, and the greater the size of it, the more important it is to negotiate it explicitly when committing to a large volume.
Final Thoughts on Used IBC tanks for oil and lubricants UAE
Used IBC tanks for oil and lubricants in UAE are one of the most definitive value propositions in the overall used industrial packaging market.
The application compatibility is very good, reconditioning science is solid, the local supply is steady and the savings when compared to new units are real and significant.
Businesses that get the most out of this market are those that clearly define their requirements, take great care to check the standards of reconditioning, verify previous use history and establish long-term supply agreements with trusted local suppliers.