For any of you who have ever attempted to find industrial drum sources in UAE without doing your due diligence, you know how confusing it can become. Steel or plastic? Open Top or Tight Head? UN-certified or not? That doesn’t include comparison shopping. So, don’t fret, this guide will guide you through so you can make an informed and confident decision.
Why is the 220L drum the industry standard? Why the 220L drum is the industry standard?
The 220 litre drum is not a random drum size. It is the world’s standard for industrial cargo because it’s big enough to carry bulk loads, but small enough to be moved with a forklift or drum lifter without having to worry about things going sideways (or sometimes sideways down).
Standard 220L drums are also recognised internationally for their dimensions, allowing them to fit neatly in shipping containers, on pallets and in warehouses, thus not wasting space. This efficiency can make a significant impact in a place like the UAE where logistics is an important issue and in places such as Mussafah, where warehouse rentals are not cheap.
These drums are used every day in various industries in the gulf, including chemicals, lubricants, food grade liquids, pharmaceuticals and paints. For various reasons, if your business has any interaction with these departments, you’ll need to get it right the first time.
So, which drum is the one you really need – 220L Steel or 220L Plastic?
When people are looking for products for sale, this is often the first question they will ask, and the answer will vary widely on the type of material being stored and how it is being moved.
Old reliable are steel drums. The certified steel drums for sea and road transport of hazardous chemicals are either close-top or open-top and are available in steel thickness from 0.70mm to 1.50mm. They are stable and withstand pressure and are suitable for flammable or reactive materials. The downside? In the harsh climate of UAE, if the steel is not coated appropriately, it can corrode particularly in the outdoors environment.
The reverse is true for plastic (HDPE) drums and their ability to withstand the climate. HDPE has a natural resistance to an enormous spectrum of solvents ranging from acids to alkalis and will not rust or rot under desert conditions. HDPE drums are also stackable, making it possible to efficiently make use of vertical space in areas with limited room, such as Mussafah or ICAD warehouses.
However, one thing to remember, as with all plastic packages, is that UN approval for plastic drums will end after 5 years and the date of manufacture should be verified. This is not to say that plastic should be avoided but rather it is good practice to buy it.
Learn how UN Certification works and its importance
This is where buyers sometimes skimp, and regret. For drums that contain hazardous materials, UN certification is not an option, but a legal requirement under the rules of international transport.
The UN-certified steel drums meet all the requirements for transport of dangerous goods by all modes of transport: road (ADR), railway (RID) or sea. The code you see stamped on the drum gives you all the answers: the material type, the packing group it is approved for, and open top/tight head. SERPAC
The open-top plastic drums, 220L, are only approved for medium danger goods PG II (Y) and are not for high-risk goods. For these, steel – or a multi-layer drum from an approved supplier – is required.
Be sure to request UN marking documentation from your supplier. If they don’t want to say it, you will know your answer.
220L Cargo Drums UAE are supplied by the following key suppliers:
UAE industrial packaging is a well-established industry with particularly vibrant presence in Dubai, Sharjah, Abu Dhabi and the UAE Free Zones. Listed below are some of the most popular names that are known.
Dana Steel Processing Industry LLC (Dubai)
Dana Steel manufactures drums to international standards such as ISO 15750:2002, BS 814-1:1987, EN 209:2000 and ANSI MH2-1997, as well as being certified to transport dangerous and non-dangerous goods under UN standards. They have seven approved drum types and provide delivery services throughout the UAE – Dubai, Sharjah, Abu Dhabi, Al Ain and Fujairah – with their own fleet. Their drums are made with a patented triple seamed design to provide added durability. Dana is among the most cited suppliers in the market for bulk buyers who are looking for consistency and compliance.
Universal Drums Manufacturing LLC (Abu Dhabi)
UDM specializes in 210 litre quality sealed and open top steel drums, is ISO 9001 and UN certified and has a range of applications in the lubricants, oil & gas, paint & chemical, pharmaceutical and food & beverage industries. They have more than 20 years in the business, have a state of the art automated production facility and are worth a call in for large and/or repeat orders.
Balmer Lawrie UAE (Dubai)
Balmer Lawrie’s range of UN approved Tight-head or Open-head one piece blow-moulded drums is suitable for chemicals, lubricants, sanitizers and detergents, and comes in a variety of sizes from 200 litres to 250 litres. They also have multi-layered drums with an inner resin layer made from post-consumer recycled resin, which can be beneficial if sustainability is a key consideration for your company when making purchases.
Multibox UAE
Multibox is one of the UAE’s top manufacturers and suppliers of plastic drums, providing solutions for industrial and hazardous material storage. Their 220L open top drums have a metal locking band for extra security. They are also suitable for bulk orders and custom specifications, making them a flexible choice for businesses with unique needs.
Emirates Plastics
Emirates Plastics is a company that has been in operation since 1992 aiming to provide drums of high quality and no compromise, open head and tight head narrow mouth drums from 160 to 250 litres suitable for lubricants, chemicals, cosmetics, adhesives, edible oils in monolayer and multilayer. They have quite a lengthy history and are a trusted home choice.
Al Ishara Group
Al Ishara is a wholesale dealer serving customers in UAE and GCC with drums of HDPE, plastic barrels, reconditioned plastic drums and IBCs. They’re suitable if your project requires reconditioned or budget-friendly choices.
The Open Top vs. Tight Head situation: a quick breakdown
It sounds like a really simple thing until it isn’t, and you can’t get it right.
Open-top drums are drums with a complete removable lid with a locking band. These are great for solids, powders, or liquids that are more like paste and anything you need to fill or hand clean. Even if the drum tips over or is jostled around during a hectic shift at the warehouse, the metal locking band will keep its contents secure. Multibox
The drum bodies of tight-head drums are completely closed by screw-top bungs. They’re the best option for liquids, such as solvents, oils or chemicals, when a leak-free seal is needed from beginning to end.
Tight-head if it pours! If it scoops, open top is OK.
The items to inspect prior to ordering
You don’t have to guess when purchasing drums in bulk. Use this to help you with a handy checklist:
Always check UN approval of hazardous materials. Request the stamped code and paperwork.
Chemical compatibility — Some materials do not work with all of the other materials. In some instances, steel drums must be used to store solvents (e.g. diethyl ether, chloroform), since they are incompatible with plastic. C.L. Smith
Manufacture date — See above for plastic drums, particularly. Four-year-old drums in a warehouse might not have as long a useful life as you assume.
Stackability and storage — When storing drums in the UAE’s heat, ensure that they are rated for stacking. Most quality HDPE drums have the same characteristic of being stackable and easily stored and are certified as UN drums. SERPAC
Custom options — Colour coding, screen printing and internal linings are available from a number of UAE suppliers. Colour coded drums minimise errors and make it quick to identify when using more than one substance.
Final Thoughts
The industrial packaging market is well developed, regulated and there are many local suppliers with experience available in the UAE. You can find Cargo drums 220L suppliers in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah, as well as HDPE drums, also used for hazardous chemicals and food-grade liquids.
The golden rule? Don’t cut corners on certification. Even the poorest performing drum will slow down a delivery, not pass a safety test or — worst of all — lead to a serious incident. Certified suppliers are in place just for this reason that you don’t have to gamble.
When it comes to drum applications, there’s a type for every application, after you have your application, you’ll need to know which type of drum to use, check out the drum suppliers and you’ll be fine. The UAE has all the infrastructure and the expertise — it is just a matter of finding where.