If you have been searching for a cost-effective way to store industrial goods for your business, you may have come across blue plastic drums. First invented in the 1960s, blue plastic drums and barrels have become one of the most popular solutions for storing and transporting goods in many industries worldwide.
At Kingfisher Direct, we've been supplying plastic drums and barrels for several years and we’ve seen our customers using the drums for a variety of different uses - some more surprising than others. Read on to discover what blue plastic drums are, what they are used for and how they could be beneficial for your business.
What are blue plastic barrels made of?
What are blue plastic barrels used for?
What can you store in blue plastic barrels?
How our customers are using blue plastic barrels
Can blue plastic barrels be reused?
Browse our range of plastic drums, handling equipment and accessories
What is a plastic drum?
Plastic drums, also known as plastic barrels or poly drums, are cylindrical barrels that are used to store and transport an array of liquids, solids and powders. They are available in a variety of sizes, typically ranging from 30 litres up to 220 litres.
There are two common types of blue plastic drums including tight-headed plastic drums and open-headed plastic drums.
At Kingfisher Direct, we stock a range of tight-headed plastic drums and open-headed plastic drums in sizes ranging from 30 litres to 220 litres.
What are blue plastic barrels made of?
Blue plastic barrels are made from High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE). HDPE is incredibly lightweight and its durable properties make it resistant to most chemical solvents. HDPE is also UV-resistant, non-leaching and can be BPA-free making it food safe and suitable for storing liquids and foodstuffs.
What are blue plastic barrels used for?
As we have discussed, blue plastic barrels are primarily used for storing and transporting substances and materials. They are made from a lightweight, stiff material, which makes them easy to transport either by hand or using industrial vehicles. Because of their shape and rigidity, they can be stacked, making them a great space-saving alternative to other containers on the market.
What can you store in blue plastic barrels?
Blue plastic barrels are incredibly versatile and can be used to store a range of industrial goods. However, it is important to note that you should avoid using the same barrel to store multiple substances to avoid cross-contamination.
Chemicals, solvents and corrosive materials
Because HDPE is resistant to many corrosive chemicals, plastic barrels can be used to store and transport many acids, lubricants, reagents, bases, detergents, oils and greases. This makes them popular in the chemical industry oil industry and textile industry.
In the textile industry, blue plastic barrels are commonly used to store liquids such as sodium hypochlorite, bleach and softeners. Their lidded design also makes them useful for storing cleaning solutions in hospitals, schools and offices.
Food and grains
The food-grade version of these drums are BPA-free making them a popular solution for those in the food, manufacturing and agricultural industries. They are commonly used to store and transport large quantities of liquids, semi-solid and powered foodstuffs as they provide an airtight and spill-proof container that keeps contents fresh and prevents contamination.
Lubricants and oils
Blue plastic barrels are great for storing and transporting large quantities of industrial liquids too, including lubricants and oils. Tight-headed drums are usually more suitable for these kinds of substances. Whilst the contents can still be transferred and dispensed using specialised pumps and funnels, tight-headed drums provide a more secure way of storing compared to open-headed drums.
Pharmaceuticals
Much like corrosive chemicals and solvents, tight-headed drums are suitable for storing pharmaceuticals and other sensitive products due to their robust airtight design helping to reduce the risk of accidents or spillages.
How our customers are using blue plastic barrels
As well as the conventional uses of blue plastic barrels, we have also been made aware of the more unusual and inventive ways people are using blue plastic barrels through feedback from our customers.
Pet food dispenser
Feedback from one of our customers suggested that our blue plastic barrels helped them to create a cost-effective food dispenser for their chickens. They drilled holes in the bottom of the drum, allowing chickens to access the feed.
One of our customers showed us how he adapted a blue plastic barrel into a feeder for their chickens
Workshop equipment
One of our customers used a tight-headed plastic barrel as a dust collector in his workshop, as part of a dust extraction system. Because the lid is sealed to the barrel, this product was a good choice for this purpose. The customer mentioned how easy it was to alter the lid, by drilling a hole to fit the cyclone, thus creating an airtight seal.
Our tight-headed plastic barrels have a robust airtight design and are available with optional pumps to transfer and decant liquids
Storing equipment
Another customer fed back that they were using the 60-litre blue plastic drums during open canoe expeditions in the UK and Europe whilst working with young people on personal development. The removable, tight lids were able to provide a better alternative to material containers that could easily get wet during the expeditions.
Both the 30-litre and the 60-litre drums have handles so they can be easily moved and passed around on the canoe, but also between the vehicles used on the expeditions as they fit into Land Rovers and minibuses.
Our smaller plastic open-head drum barrels feature handles for easy manoeuvring
Can blue plastic barrels be reused?
One of the main advantages of blue plastic barrels is that they can be reused, provided you have regularly cleaned and maintained the barrel. Between each use, you should ensure that it has been cleaned thoroughly and inspect it for any signs of damage. If you do spot any signs of excessive wear and tear, the barrel will need to be replaced.
You should also be careful about reusing blue plastic barrels for different kinds of substances. For example, if it has been previously used to store corrosive chemicals and solvents, it should not be used for potable drinking water, food or ingredients.
Browse our range of plastic drums, handling equipment and accessories
At Kingfisher, we stock a wide range of plastic drums and barrels suitable for both industrial products and consumables. Our range includes tight-headed drums and open-headed drums as well as a vast selection of handling equipment and accessories.
For further information on our range of plastic drums and barrels, please contact our sales team on 01777 858009 or email sales@kingfisherdirect.co.uk.
Frequently asked questions
Why are blue plastic drums blue?
The blue pigment found in blue polyethene drums has a higher resistance to UV light compared to barrels in other colours. This helps to protect the integrity of the drum and the contents inside.
Blue plastic drums have become synonymous with the food industry as they are typically food-grade making them safe for storing animal and human consumables.
Can I store fuel in plastic drums?
Whilst plastic drums can be used to store chemicals, solvents and oils, they are not safe to store fuel. The chemical composition of fuel can react with the bonds of the polymers, affecting both the integrity of the drum and the chemical composition of the fuel. An alternative storage solution for fuel would be a bunded oil tank.
Are blue plastic barrels recyclable?
Yes, blue plastic barrels are recyclable. Providing they have been thoroughly cleaned and decontaminated, they can also be reused and repurposed, meaning the same barrel can be used for several years before needing to be replaced.
What is the lifespan of a blue plastic barrel?
The lifespan of blue plastic barrels is dependent on several factors including what substance has been stored in them and how they have been cleaned and maintained. Providing that the correct steps have been taken to clean and maintain blue plastic barrels, they have a very long lifespan and they can be reused for several years.
Are all blue plastic barrels BPA-free?
Food-grade blue plastic barrels are BPA-free. However, this might not be the case for all blue plastic barrels and you should always refer to the manufacturer's specification document for this information.