SkolnikNews

Another Battery Fire On Board an Aircraft

Howard Skolnik — Wed, 14 Jul 2010 17:12:09 +0000

D & M Custom Injection Molding Corp. of Burlington, Ill gave a five-piece shipment of approximately 2,000 smokeless cigarettes to Federal Express, for transportation by air, from Indianapolis to Minneapolis-St. Paul, Aug. 14, 2009. Each smokeless cigarette contained alcohol — a flammable liquid, and a lithium battery — a hazardous material. The Federal Aviation Administration is proposing a $168,000 civil penalty against the company for alleged violations of DOT Hazardous Materials regulations. Each box contained 400 E-Mysticks, including 7.6 kilograms of lithium batteries, exceeding the five-kilogram limit for shipment aboard passenger aircraft. Because the shipment was not packaged in accordance with regulations, it is forbidden on all aircraft, including all-cargo flights. As the flight approached Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport, the FedEx flight crew received a fire warning on the instrument panel. The crew discharged the fire suppression system during the landing and taxied to the gate. The airport fire department responded and extinguished a fire in an LD3 cargo container. The fire was started by the lithium batteries in the shipment. DOT continues to monitor lithium battery shipments as a high priority dangerous goods concern. In this case, FAA is also indicating their concern with this substantial fine. Shippers — be aware that lithium battery shipments are regulated and must comply with the dangerous goods requirements.

UN Steel Drums Used to Transport Flammable Film

Howard Skolnik — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 19:53:53 +0000

Anyone that has ever watched a movie with me has heard me state that “just about every movie made has a shot of a steel drum somewhere in the film.” It’s surprisingly true! Ask my children! Now, thanks to Rick Rubin of Maxi Container, I recently learned that UN approved steel drums are being used to transport 75 reels of historic and long-lost silent movies to the US for restoration. The films were discovered in a vault in the New Zealand Film Archive and include a drama by legendary director John Ford, a copy of Ford’s Upstream the earliest surviving movie by comic actor and director Mabel Normand and a period drama starring 1920s screen icon Clara Bow. The films were discovered by American preservationist Brian Meacham who claims that many of the films remained in New Zealand because distributors at the time did not think the return shipping costs to the US were worth the expense.

Because these films were printed on unstable and highly flammable nitrate film stock, the transport to the US will require them to be shipped as dangerous goods, probably Flammable Solids N.O.S., Hazard Class 4.1, Packing Group II, which, for an air shipment, authorizes they be shipped in UN approved steel drums. As demonstrated in the film Inglorious Bastards, these nitrate films are highly flammable.

Congratulations to Helen Turley – a Leader in our Winemaking Community

Dean Ricker — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 17:00:15 +0000

We were excited to see Helen Turley of Marcassin Vineyard gracing the cover of this month’s copy of Wine Spectator Magazine. Helen Turley is one of the most influential woman wine makers in the world today and we are proud to say that her Marcassin Vineyard was one of the first wineries to purchase a Skolnik stainless steel wine barrel. Turley’s reputation in the wine world is only preceded by her amazing wines, cabernets, chardonnays, zinfandels and pinot noirs. Known as a perfectionist, we like the fact that Helen is not only involved in the wine making process, but also deeply involved in the vineyard as well, terrior being just as important proper aging. During her 30 plus year career, Turley has worked for several wineries that Skolnik also proudly calls our customers; Bryant Family Vineyard, BR Cohn, Blankiet and Pahlmeyer Winery. It is reported that Turley and her husband John are working on a book, with a working title of Marcassin: The Making of a Winemaker. We look forward to buying our own copy and reading more about this amazing wine maker. In addition, you can click here to see the complete line of stainless steel wine drums produced by SKOLNIK or visit our web site at www.skolnikwine.com.

INTRODUCING our Seamless — Sanitary Drum for Nitric and SuperClean Requirements

Howard Skolnik — Wed, 16 Jun 2010 15:34:14 +0000

While stainless steel drums are currently used for contents needing ultra-clean surface protection, the conventional method of roll-seaming the top and bottom heads to the body results in a small interior crevice which, with reuse, can accumulate unwanted bacteria. With a Seamless Sanitary drum, there is no interior crevice, in fact, the vertical wall of the steel meets the raised sidewall of the bottom head with a welded bead that is smooth. The result is a bottom and top that is fully curved and crevice free (see illustration). These drums can be used for processing of SuperClean contents or for safe transport of the most aggressive chemicals including Nitric acid. Available in Open Head and Closed Head styles, or as a Processing Drum, these drums are constructed of all 1.5mm (16 gauge) 304 stainless steel with a 2B finish with top and bottom foot rings that are exterior welded in place. The optional features include two protective “roll bars” fitted into the side rolling hoops, and tight heads have the option of machined or drop forged 2" and ¾" plugs in the top head.

These drums are also UN certified for dangerous goods in both an Open Head and Closed Head style. This is a very heavyweight and impressive packaging!

Clarifying the Application of UN Markings

Matthew Dick — Wed, 16 Jun 2010 15:32:03 +0000

In accordance with UN recommendations, certified markings indicate the performance rating and test information about a steel drum must be applied in accordance with CFR 178.3(a)(3). For drums over 100 Litres (26 US Gallons) there are a number of ways that the marking can be applied including stamping, embossing, burning and printing. For these sized drums, there must be one complete set of durable marks on the side or non-removable top head, and a second partial mark embossed permanently on the bottom head. The purpose of having the two marks is that once filled, the drum will sit, primarily, on its bottom head, and the UN test information will be readily viewable for the user at the side or top mark. The permanent partial bottom mark must conform to the application options indicated earlier. However, the side or top mark is required to be durable rather than permanent. Therefore, it is common and acceptable for the durable mark to be printed on a self adhesive label which is attached to the side of the drum. The characters on the label and the permanent embossment are subject to the size and sequence requirements as specified in 178.3(4) and 178.503(a)(1) through (a)(6) and (a)(9)(i). For a breakdown of the individual marks, you can link to the following: Open Head Solid Marking, Open Head Liquid Marking, Closed Head Marking, Seamless Marking.

Stainless Wine Drums are Baboon Proof!

Jason Snow — Wed, 16 Jun 2010 15:30:30 +0000

In any business, there are always going to be issues effecting quality and performance. As a steel drum manufacturer, machines can go down, or inventory can arrive late. However, after speaking to one of our South African winery customers, we’re grateful that we don’t have to deal with their issues which involve Baboon invasions! In fact, Wild Baboons are gobbling up their grapes! Apparently, Baboons have quite an appetite for the grapes that are used for Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Noir. Baboon attacks have always been a small problem in the wine regions of South Africa, and this year, due to wild-fires and loss of their natural habitat, its proving to be the most severe. Farmers have tried all types of fences to keep the Baboons out, but the Baboons swing over the fences via trees or vines, or they dig their way underneath them. Some even use human monitors to blow horns and chase them away. While we don’t have solution to keep the baboons out of the vineyards, we know for certain that our stainless steel wine barrels would amply protect the wine from these crafty creatures!

Photos of the Gulf Oil Rig Disaster

Howard Skolnik — Wed, 12 May 2010 20:42:25 +0000

This article, with some incredible photographs, was forwarded to me by the Council on the Safe Transport of Hazardous Articles (COSTHA). The photos show the Deepwater Horizon drilling rig that recently sank in 5,000 ft of water in the Gulf of Mexico. The extent of the initial explosion and the efforts to combat the resulting fire were astonishing. In addition to the resulting natural disaster, sadly, there are still 11 men missing that are not expected to be found.

The rig represented the cutting edge of drilling technology. It was a floating rig, capable of working in up to 10,000 ft water depth. The rig was not moored; it did not use anchors because it would be too costly and too heavy to suspend the mooring load from the floating structure. Rather, a triply-redundant computer system used satellite based, Dynamic Positioning, to control powerful thrusters that kept the rig and station within a few feet of its intended location at all times. Click here to see the photos.

DOT’s PHMSA Administrator Quarterman Addresses COSTHA

Howard Skolnik — Wed, 12 May 2010 14:54:54 +0000

During the recent COSTHA Annual Conference in St. Petersburg, FL, Ms. Cynthia Quaterman, Administrator of PHMSA (DOT’s Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration) addressed the attendee’s with an update of PHMSA’S activities to reorganize and replace staff as well as prepare for the nearly 20% of staff that are eligible for retirement. Her comments were in an effort to encourage the COSTHA members to work with PHMSA to improve the safe transport of hazardous materials. Referring to the fact that in 2009, PHMSA announced that they had become “too cozy” with industry. As a result, this action halted much of the working relationship that PHMSA had with the dangerous goods community, specifically shippers and packaging manufacturers. It was an unexpected blow to the progress that had been made in terms of improving packaging integrity and the safe transport and disposal of dangerous goods. With DOT re-staffing PHMSA, Skolnik will continue to work with DOT to improve and promote integrity in package manufacturing and safety in dangerous goods transport. To this end we will also work to improve the outcome of the LOGSA/Tobyhanna Validation Testing in an effort to have the Tobyhanna results reflect the high level of in-field safety and performance of US hazardous material packagings and shipments.

Vegetarians and Vegans Can Pair with Wines

Jason Snow — Tue, 11 May 2010 21:25:03 +0000

Wine is, essentially, a vegetarian product. For those who choose not to have a steak with a glass of red, or fish with a glass of white, but prefer a veggie array with a chardonnay, you’ll be glad to know that you won’t be left out of a wine choice with options. Just about any wine that pairs with meat can be paired with vegetables or meat alternatives. In fact, the non-meat eater can potentially have a more sensitive taste palate. Since there will always be some menu limitations to Vegetarians and Vegans, when in doubt, Pinot Noir, Tempranillo, and/or Sparking Wine, can work nicely with a number of roasted root vegetables, pizza, and even French Fries. Adding to the processing clarity, Vegetarians and Vegans should know that many of these wines are now being crafted in stainless steel barrels. Bringing a higher degree of clean to the wine making culture, the stainless steel drums are even making their debut in restaurants where wines are being served “from the tap.” Check out Skolnik’s full line of Stainless Steel Wine Drums at www.skolnikwine.com. There are no meat or fish products used in the making of these drums.

A “1A” What?!?!?!

Howard Skolnik — Wed, 14 Apr 2010 06:01:57 +0000

For those familiar with the nomenclature of United Nations (UN) markings, it is a system that does offer a significant amount of information about a packaging. However, even as a longtime DG packaging manufacturer, I still have a hard time grasping all the meanings of the various marks. To help everyone with this knowledge, we have created a tool to help explain the regulatory requirement and sequence of characters. Interpreting UN Markings is located in the Resources tab of Skolnik.com and was created to identify and explain the unique significance of each UN marking, each character and the required sequence for markings on an Open Head Steel Drum for Liquids, and Open Head Steel Drum for Solids, a Closed Head Steel Drum for Liquids and a Closed Head Nitric (Acid) Stainless Steel Drum. In accordance with CFR178.503(a) plus 178.153(b) for the Nitric Drum, each marking is identified by the specific CFR reference with direct links to the actual CRF regulatory requirement. The illustrations also include the location(s) in which the marking must be applied. It is also important to note that the specific sequence is not alterable. The marking can be broken into several lines but the sequence must be as indicated. Click here to see the 4 marking examples.