Frequently asked questions (FAQ) - Containers, drums and IBCs

Unfortunately not. Our business model and logistics are designed for high-volume distribution. Deliveries are made exclusively by our fleet of 53-foot trailers, which are neither authorized nor physically able to navigate the streets of residential neighborhoods.

However, you're always welcome at our warehouse! For individual orders (a Drum, a few pails, etc.), we invite you to pick up your items directly at our Saint-Hyacinthe counter, where our team will be delighted to serve you.

We deliver mainly to the Montreal, South Shore, North Shore, Greater Quebec City and surrounding areas. Thanks to our fleet of trucks and our strategic logistical location in Saint-Hyacinthe, our delivery times are very short, generally 3 to 4 working days.

We have our own fleet of equipment with dedicated drivers, which enables us to ensure safe, punctual delivery at advantageous fixed rates for the majority of our customers. However, we are very flexible: if your company already has an agreement with a specific carrier, you can arrange for your goods to be picked up from our Saint-Hyacinthe warehouse using your own transport account.

Our payment terms are adapted to the type of customer and purchase:

1 - For retail purchases (individuals or small orders): We accept cash or Interac payments directly at our Saint-Hyacinthe counter.

2 - For companies (B2B) :

• Standard orders (under $2,000): Payment is required before or at the time of pickup or delivery. Accepted methods of payment are: company cheque, cash, bank transfer or Interac transfer.
• Opening a sales account: To open an account, we require a volume of recurring orders (monthly or bimonthly).
• Credit terms: To proceed with a credit inquiry and obtain terms of payment, a recurring order history of at least 6 months (with a minimum of $2,000 per month) is required. An initial assessment of your file may be made after 3 months, depending on how your needs evolve.

The term IBC stands for Intermediate Bulk Container. It is a reusable industrial container designed for the storage and transportation of liquids or solids (powders, grains).

Here's what you need to know about this industry standard:

• Common acronyms: You'll often hear the terms IBC(Intermediate Bulk Container) or "Tote". These are all synonyms for IBC.
• Standard capacity: The most common size is 1000 liters (approx. 264 gallons), which corresponds to the capacity of almost five 55-gallon drums, but on a much more compact footprint.
• Structure: It generally consists of a plastic bottle (HDPE) protected by a tubular galvanized steel cage, all fixed to a pallet (wood, plastic or metal) for easy movement with a forklift truck.
• Use: IBCs are used in almost every industry: chemicals, lubricants, food, agriculture and even rainwater harvesting.

Note: New, reconditioned (washed) or hybrid IBCs are available. The choice will depend on the sensitivity of your product (food vs. industrial).

A hybrid IBC has a brand-new inner cylinder (tank) inserted in a reconditioned metal cage. It offers total safety and absolute peace of mind, making it perfect for sensitive food or pharmaceutical products.

A washed IBC is a used container that has been professionally cleaned. Although we offer this very economical option for certain basic industrial applications, it is impossible to guarantee the total absence of cross-contamination risks due to the container's previous use.

At Distribution Robitaille, we'd like to keep you fully informed of this reality, so that you can make the best choice for your business. To fully understand the limits and risks associated with used containers, we strongly encourage you to read our detailed article : The pitfalls of washed IBCs.

A standard IBC, also known as an IBC or "Tote", is made up of three main components to ensure robustness and easy handling:

• The bottle (tank): Made of blow-molded high-density polyethylene (HDPE/HDPE). It is resistant to chemicals and can be translucent (natural) or opaque (black/white).
• The cage: A protective tubular galvanized steel structure that allows safe stacking (generally up to 3 high when full).
• The base (pallet): The tank rests on an integral wooden, plastic or metal pallet, designed to be lifted by a forklift or pallet truck from all four sides.

IBC models for flammable products (often called Antistatic or EX IBCs ) always have a cage connected to a metal pallet (or a grounding plate on the pallet) to ensure electrical continuity.

The standard wooden or plastic pallet does not allow safe grounding of liquid contents without costly additional devices.

Note: Metal is conductive, allowing static electricity to be dissipated to the ground via a grounding wire connected to the cage. Plastic, being an insulator, traps the static charge, increasing the risk of sparking and explosion when transferring flammable liquids. That's why our metal-based IBCs are the safety standard for the chemical industry.

Important notice: The information provided in this FAQ is for informational and educational purposes only. While we strive to offer advice based on industry standards, Distribution Robitaille declines all responsibility for the use, installation or set-up of grounding or safety systems by the customer. The handling of flammable or hazardous products involves risks; it is the purchaser's responsibility to consult a safety expert (SST) or a qualified engineer to validate the conformity of his installations to current standards.

We offer a wide range of U.N.-certified containers, including several models of plastic and metal drums, specific industrial pails and IBCs (totes). U.N. certification guarantees that the container has passed rigorous safety tests (drop, stack, pressure) to transport hazardous materials in full compliance.

Sealing and flow control depend on two access points:

• The top cap: Generally 6" (standard) or 9" in diameter, it is used for filling and can be fitted with a pressure vent.
• The drain valve: Located at the bottom of the tank, it is often a "ball" or "butterfly" type with a 2-inch thread (NPT or Camlock) to allow connection of hoses or pumps.

No. At Distribution Robitaille, our reconditioned drums are strictly non-U.N., making them an excellent economical option for regular, non-hazardous products. For any transport or storage of hazardous materials requiring U.N. certification, we recommend and offer new drums. This is the only way to guarantee maximum safety and full compliance with packaging and transport standards.

Absolutely. At Distribution Robitaille, the safety of your products is our top priority, especially for our customers in the food and pharmaceutical industries, who are subject to very strict standards.

We have rigorous batch number traceability controls, applied mainly to our drums (such as our popular 55-gallon plastic drums) and IBCs (Totes).

To meet the industry's most stringent safety requirements, our food containers offer several guarantees:

• Recognized certifications: Compliance with FSSC 22000(Food Safety System Certification) and international food law standards.
• Safe design: Our food drums are manufactured with an inner layer of virgin, undyed HDPE plastic, eliminating any risk of chemical transfer.
• Trusted partnerships: We work exclusively with the best manufacturers to provide you with the safest, most reliable containers on the market.

By working with us, you can be assured of a transparent supply chain to protect the health of your consumers.

Yes, absolutely. Buying reconditioned containers is an excellent economic and ecological solution. However, to make the right choice, you need to consider your product:

• To avoid contamination (Food/Sensitive): The best solution is the hybrid IBC (Tote). This model combines a reconditioned metal cage with a 100% new plastic bottle. You benefit from a reduced price with peace of mind.
• For standard industrial applications: We offer cleaned drums and washed IBCs, ideal when a new container is not required.
• For hazardous materials (U.N. standards) : Please note that our reconditioned drums are not U.N. certified. If you need to transport products requiring certification, we always recommend purchasing our new drums to guarantee total safety and compliance.

Understanding this distinction is crucial to the safety of your products:

• IBC Washed: The container has undergone a thorough industrial cleaning process (often using high pressure and degreasing agents) to remove residues from its previous contents. Although clean, a risk of cross-contamination remains for sensitive products.
• IBC Rinsed: This term often designates a container that has simply been rinsed with water or steam. It may still contain traces or odors of the original product. At Distribution Robitaille, we prioritize quality and do not recommend the use of simply rinsed containers for professional applications.

Distribution Robitaille, located in Saint-Hyacinthe, is a supplier of choice in Quebec for food-grade plastic pails. We serve companies in the agri-food, foodservice and consumer sectors, with options to buy by the unit, pallet or full truckload.

Distribution Robitaille is based in Saint-Hyacinthe and easily serves the South Shore of Montreal, the Montérégie region and the rest of Quebec. We stock a wide range of drums (new or reconditioned) to meet all your industrial, commercial or personal needs:

• Capacities: 55 gallons (208 liters) and 30 gallons (113.6 liters).

• Materials & colors: Plastic (classic blue or natural to see liquid level), as well as used metal drums.

• Closure types: Models with removable lid (open top, ideal for solids) or closed top with plugs (closed top, ideal for liquids).

Yes, we do! Although we're renowned for our large industrial formats, we keep a full range of small containers in stock, perfect for restaurants, caterers, the food industry and the general public:

• DELI food containers: These small, clear, food-grade plastic containers are ideal for sauces, soups, salads and takeaway meals. They are practical, stackable and very economical for large volumes.

• Small buckets (under 3.5 gallons): Ideal for marinades, syrups, powders or small-scale production. These mini-pails offer the same sturdiness and watertightness as our larger pails, but in a practical, easy-to-handle format.

Whether you need a few crates for your business or a full pallet, we've got these small formats ready for pick-up or delivery!

Yes, we offer a targeted selection of the most practical and sought-after formats, perfect for industry or for access to drinking water (camping, hunting, fishing). Here's what you'll find in our section Plastic cans and Jerrycans :

• Sizes and colors: We stock 10-liter (2.64 gal) and 20-liter (5.28 gal) sizes. They are available in white or natural plastic (translucent, ideal for checking liquid levels at a glance).
• Complete accessories: We have everything you need to equip your Jerrycans: valves (pouring taps), spare caps, seals and opening keys.
• Kits on special: watch out for our special offers! We often offer complete, ready-to-use "Jerrycan Kits" (including the 10L or 20L Jerrycan, an orange valve for easy pouring, and sealing caps) at unbeatable prices for your outdoor activities.

Yes, the 3-gallon metal pail is one of our most popular formats! We stock a complete range of metal pailsfrom 1 gallon to 7 gallons.

Our metal buckets are specially designed to meet the exacting standards of the chemical, paint and construction industries. Here's what sets them apart:

• Safety and durability: Many of our models are U.N. certified (Y1.8), ideal for the safe transport of toxic liquids, epoxy glues, varnishes or solvents.
• Inner linings: Depending on your requirements, we offer buckets with an inner tin lining or inner varnish for enhanced resistance to corrosive (non-aqueous) products.
• Top-of-the-range lids and closures: We offer several types of secure closures, including lids with ringlocks, as well as lids equipped with spouts, seals and a curved anti-cut contour to protect your employees.
• Choice of colors: Available in white, gray or black.

Whether you need single pails at retail or a complete pallet for your production, we have the reliable solution you need.

Yes, the 5-gallon pail is our best seller! Among our vast inventory of plastic pailswe offer a very popular option called "end of line" (or off-color).

An end-of-line pail is a brand-new, sturdy, industrial-grade container with only minor cosmetic defects (such as a color mix-up during a production changeover at the factory, a faded color or a misplaced label).

Why choose an end of line?

• Massive savings: Because they are less aesthetically appealing, they cost less less expensive than a regular bucket!
• An ecological choice: instead of wasting energy melting down these buckets to make black plastic, we offer them to you as they are.

Important to know: Since these are transitional batches, the color is chosen at random from our inventory (color selection is not available). What's more, as with most of our pails, different lid models are available and sold separately. It's the ideal solution for your worksites or production when aesthetics don't matter!