Drums
Rethink Drums – for Performance, Safety, and Circularity.
Drums
Plastic drums are indispensable in industrial packaging: they must be secure, stackable, easy to transport, and increasingly sustainable. For decades, Kautex has provided cutting-edge technology for the economic and efficient production of high-quality drums ranging from 60 to 250 liters. Our machines support both mono- and multilayer processes and ensure maximum process stability.
We distinguish two key drum types:
L-Ring drums (Tight Head): sealed tops, ideal for liquids, hazardous goods, and chemicals.
Open Top drums: removable lids, commonly used for powders, granules, or semi-solid contents.
With our co-extrusion process, multiple functional layers can be produced in one step. The result: drums with decorative outer layers, recycled-content core layers, and functional additives like UV blockers or anti-static agents. Kautex extrusion blow molding technology combines exceptional article quality with process efficiency and flexibility – essential in a world where packaging systems must be both high-performance and circular.
Your Benefits with Kautex
Drum Production that Combines Quality, Process Stability and Circular Design.
Kautex Extrusion Blow Molding systems enable the production of up to 53 drums per hour (e.g. 210L, 8.5kg net), with optimized material usage through multilayer structures.
Produce mono, DeCo, and ReCo drums with up to three layers. Integrate PCR or cost-efficient regrind materials in the core while using high-quality polymers only where needed.
Servo-controlled wall-thickness distribution systems (WTC, PWDS, SFDR) ensure repeatable quality and UN-compliant mechanical performance.
Enable "right-weighting" with intelligent die head design, integrated downstream systems, and fully automatic quality assurance.
All Kautex machines offer seamless connectivity with downstream processes such as deflashing, post-cooling, weighing, and inspection for turnkey drum production cells.
With BC6, operators benefit from intuitive touchscreen interfaces, remote support, and full process traceability – ideal for Industry 4.0 environments.
Technology Focus
Die Heads
Kautex offers both continuous and accumulator extrusion die heads, precisely tailored to the requirements of drum production:
- Continuous Die Heads (WT 350 / WT 450 ReCo3): Ideal for high output rates, quick color changes, and uniform wall thickness. Perfect for ReCo applications with up to 60% recyclate content in the middle layer.
- Accumulator Heads (AKK3.5 / AKK5.0 / AKK8.0): Especially suitable for thick-walled or large-volume drums requiring long parison lengths or processing high-viscosity melts.
Our die heads incorporate advanced simulation technology and offer features such as PWDS (Partial Wall Thickness Distribution System) and SFDR (Static Flexible Deformable Ring) from our partner Feuerherm to achieve optimal wall thickness control and reduced material consumption.
Downstream
Efficient and safe drum production doesn’t end at the mold. Our downstream solutions ensure quality, traceability, and top-level automation:
- Deflashing: Automated removal of flash seams – with scrap being returned to the material cycle.
- Post-Cooling Station: Efficient internal and external cooling for consistent material properties and shorter cycle times.
- Inline Weighing: Integrated checkweighers for real-time process control and statistical weight monitoring.
- Visual Inspection: Camera-based inspection systems for detecting surface defects, verifying label positions, and checking closures.
- Robotic Handling & Palletizing: Fully automated part removal, packaging, and hand-off to logistics – including our flexible Intelligate system.
UN Certification
Our machines are engineered to produce drums that fully meet the stringent requirements for UN certification – particularly for hazardous goods. Consistent wall thickness distribution, repeatable cycle conditions, and strong weld lines ensure the highest safety standards. We also support our customers during certification and article design.
Drum Know-How
Drums with a 210-liter capacity and just 8.5 kg net weight are today’s state of the art – all while maintaining UN certification and mechanical integrity. Our machines enable these “right-weighting” solutions through intelligent wall thickness profiling and advanced process control.
Thanks to modular machine architecture and fully automated downstream equipment (e.g. deflashing, post-cooling, in-line quality control), you get a seamlessly integrated production system – ready for autonomous manufacturing cells.
With rheological simulations, recycling expertise, and in-house prototyping in our technical center, we support you from the initial concept to full-scale production.
Our drum manufacturing know-how covers every stage of development – from design to industrialization.
Whether it’s a 60-liter agrochemical container, a 210-liter UN-certified hazardous goods drum, or a customized shape – Kautex provides the system solution that fits.
Typical Applications:
- Chemicals & solvents
- Food additives
- Lubricants and hydraulic oils
- Textile dyes and pigments
- Water treatment products
- Pharmaceuticals and medical goods (Open Top)
- UN-certified hazardous material containers
Kautex Advantages:
- Design development using rheological simulations (flow behavior, wall thickness, cooling)
- Optimized screw geometries for HDPE & HMWPE
- Shorter cycle times through servo-driven parison transfer
- Fully automated post-processing (deflashing, cooling, weighing, inspection)
- High repeatability, even with recycled materials
Our Machines
for your Production
Tailored to drum production with continuous co-extrusion with up to 50 drums per hour (220 L), 3-layer ReCo3 technology, automatic take-out, post-cooling, and Smart Control BC6 included.
Discontinuous extrusion for smaller drum formats or specialized applications. Suitable for mono-layer production and optionally upgradable for processing specific materials.
Your direct contact
Discuss with our Expert, how to boost your Drum Production. Get in touch with us.
