While adhesives and sealants manufacturers continue to compete to formulate products with the lowest volatile organic compound (VOC) content possible, metal packaging manufacturers are vying for the highest UN-rated steel pails within the metal packaging industry. This is possible thanks to newer manufacturing technologies that allow manufacturers to make steel pails with triple-seam bottoms (seven overlap layers) and double-curled tops, along with better side seam welds. Traditional methods involved double-seam (five overlap layers) bottoms and single-curled tops of the conical steel pails.

Figure 1 shows a schematic drawing of the triple-seam (seven layers) bottom and double-curled top of a typical 5-gal conical steel pail. Triple-seam bottoms and double-curled tops provide the required strength while keeping the steel gauge low to survive an internal hydrostatic pressure test of 100 kpa and a drop test of as high as 2.5 m. This allows adhesives and sealants manufacturers to package materials as high as 2.5 specific gravity on Y-rated (medium hazard) materials and 1.7 specific gravity on X-rated (high hazard) materials.

UN-rated steel pails are available in many sizes, both in open-head configurations (conical shape) with removable covers, as well as tight heads with non-removable tops. Steel pails are also 100% recyclable and contain 25% post-consumer content. 

 For more information, visit www.alliedcans.com.