Almost any type of industry has a need for a way to store and/or ship the products or the raw materials used in the manufacture of those products. Fortunately, there are industrial and shipping containers, barrels and drums to suit almost any purpose. These supplies can be constructed of various materials, including wood, metal, HDPE (high density polyethylene), foam or plastic. The type of container used depends on the type of material being shipped or stored.

Shipping containers are a specific type of container most often used for shipping dry goods or heavy equipment. These containers resemble train cars; constructed out of steel, they are rectangular in shape and can range from 40’ to 60’ long. One reason that these containers have remained the primary shipping method of most industries is that the rectangular shape makes the containers very easy to work with; many can be stacked on top of each other, which makes it possible for more products to be shipped at once.

Like industrial and shipping containers, drums and barrels are a staple in most types of industry. Similar in design, but different in function, both are hollow cylinders, but drums are most often used to hold liquid materials (i.e. oil) while barrels are usually used for solid matter. The standard drum holds about 55 gallons US (210L), is about 3 feet tall and has a diameter of about 24 inches. Drums can be constructed of plastic or metal and can either have an open top or a closed top; the most recognisable drum is the one used to hold oil, which has a welded top.