Rikutec Group, a German maker of very large blow molding machines, has introduced what company officials say is the first all-plastic Twin Drum — a “tank in a tank” — that meets the stringent demands of the Packaging Group 1 regulations specified by the ADR European for safe storage and transport of highly aggressive chemicals.
The drum, which requires no secondary container, also meets United Nations-sanctioned approvals in Europe and regulations from the U.S. Department of Transportation, the company said.
The Twin Drum consists of a two-layer inner drum made of high density polyethylene. The two-layer out drum also is HDPE, stabilized against ultraviolet rays.
The two tanks are inserted together and a hot plate welder joins them together with an HDPE cap. All three drum structures are made on Rikutec’s patented multilayer coextrusion blow molding machine in a cleanroom at the machinery maker’s plant in Westerwald, Germany
“Rikutec has developed the highest rated dual-containment drum in the industry,” said Andreas Amberg, president of Riktec America Inc. in Whitinsville, Mass. This first all-plastic Twin Drum is the next generation of industrial packaging, which sets a new benchmark for high purity with the lowest metal and particle content while meeting the highest safety standards.”
The 200-liter Twin Drum stores and transports highly aggressive chemicals for a range of industrial markets, including the pharmaceutical and semiconductor industries. Rikutec officials said the all-plastic drum delivers advantages over competing metal and plastic-metal hybrid drums such as corrosion resistance, high pressure resistance and 100 recyclability. Another advantage: The Twin Drum can be filled and dispensed by using QC-Dip tubes, which prevents any contamination of the contents.
Rikutec has sold the Twin Drum to customers in Europe and Asia. The product was recently launched in the United States.
Tel. 508-234-7300, www.rikutec.com.