When working with potentially dangerous chemicals and substances, it's important that products are used to make them as stable as possible. Some of those tools include drum heaters, warming wraps, and spill-control dollies. Using these tools among many others in the industry can help prevent spills, keep products from going bad due to temperature discrepancies, and make chemicals and other substances easier to move. 

What Is a Drum Heater?

A drum heater can come in a number of shapes and sizes, and it's designed to keep a barrel (or drum) at the ideal temperature. Drug-heater bands, for example, wrap around the drum below the point where the liquid inside reaches. The band warms the drum, and through convection, it is able to warm the materials inside. This works with steel, fiber, or plastic drums, so these drums are tools that can be used and reused for various purposes. 

Why might someone need to use them? Some storage facilities are outside, and if there is something such as a frost or snowstorm coming, these bands can keep the drums up to temperature and prevent freezing. 

What Are Warming Wraps?

Similar to drum heaters are warming wraps. These wraps fit around the drum entirely, leaving just the tops exposed to the environment. The warming wraps are a good tool because they reach their appropriate temperature and then automatically regulate warmth. Think about these as blankets for drums, essentially. They typically come with a space for cord storage, and they are normally made with nylon or other waterproof materials. These wraps comes in multiple sizes, some being small enough for things like paint cans while others fit entire barrels. Although the name suggests they are only round or wrap-shaped, there are square models as well for tank heating. 

What Are Spill-Control Dollies?

Once the drums and barrels are warmed and ready to use, they need to be moved so they can be transported. Spill-control dollies are used to make sure workers don't have the now-temperature-regulated materials dump out on them or around the barrel, wasting product. Drum dollies tend to have at least four evenly spaced wheels and a ridge that supports and secures the drum, so it's unable to slip or slide once it's loaded. Some models have six or more wheels; the more casters there are, the less likely it is that the dolly itself will tilt or shift at an awkward angle. 

These are just a few of the tools used in the industry today to help prepare and transport barrels of oil, gas, and other products. 

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