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30-Liter Paint Can Crusher for Industrial Drum Recycling

Case Study: SVB2-MD-300 Drum Crusher for 30-Liter Paint Cans

A customer needed a compact industrial solution to crush 30-liter metal paint cans before transferring the compressed metal to scrap recycling.

The customer processes approximately 800 kg of metal drums per week. The paint buckets have a diameter of approximately 300 mm.

Based on the drum dimensions, material and processing volume, SINOBALER recommended the standalone drum crusher Model SVB2-MD-300.

The machine's 760 × 760 × 1000 mm compression chamber provides sufficient space to arrange multiple 300 mm-diameter drums for crushing, while the integrated liquid drainage channel and perforating needles on the press platen address important considerations when processing used paint containers.

Customer Requirements

The project had three main requirements:

1. Crush Metal Paint Drums for Scrap Recycling

The customer will process metal drums and transfer the crushed material to scrap recycling after crushing.

The objective is to reduce the volume of the empty containers and make the material more convenient for subsequent handling and transportation.

2. Process 30-Liter Paint Buckets

The customer's paint buckets have an approximate diameter of:

300 mm

The container size was an important factor in determining the suitable crusher chamber dimensions.

3. Process Approximately 800 kg per Week

The expected processing volume is:

Approx. 800 kg/week

This is a relatively moderate processing requirement, making a standalone drum crusher suitable without requiring a large automated drum-processing line.

Customer Application at a Glance

Requirement	Customer Information
Material	Metal paint drums / buckets
Nominal container size	30 liters
Drum diameter	Approx. 300 mm
Processing volume	Approx. 800 kg/week
Downstream use	Scrap recycling
Required process	Crushing / volume reduction
Recommended machine	SVB2-MD-300 standalone drum crusher
Compression chamber	W760 × D760 × H1000 mm

Why the 760 × 760 × 1000 mm Chamber Fits the Application

The customer's paint buckets have a diameter of approximately 300 mm.

The SVB2-MD-300 has a compression chamber measuring:

W760 × D760 × H1000 mm

Based on the approximately 300 mm drum diameter, three drums can be arranged across the chamber area for crushing.

The arrangement can be understood approximately as:

300 mm + 300 mm + 300 mm = 900 mm

Therefore, the three-drum arrangement should be understood as a stacking/placement consideration rather than three drums fitting side-by-side across the 760 mm chamber width. The actual loading arrangement must follow the machine's chamber geometry and operating instructions.

For the customer's application, the important limitation is that the height of each stack should be less than 1000 mm.

This provides a practical loading configuration for processing multiple paint buckets in one crushing cycle.

Key dimensions

Drum diameter: approximately 300 mm

Maximum chamber height: 1000 mm

Chamber: W760 × D760 × H1000 mm

Liquid Drainage for Used Paint Containers

Used paint cans may contain residual liquid or other material.

For this reason, the SVB2-MD-300 is equipped with a liquid drainage channel at the bottom of the machine.

During crushing, residual liquid can flow toward the drainage channel and be collected rather than remaining uncontrolled inside the machine.

A pipe can be connected to the discharge port of the drainage channel.

If required, an additional pump can then transfer the collected residual liquid to an appropriate location or collection system.

Drainage arrangement

Crushed drum → Residual liquid → Bottom drainage channel → Discharge port → Pipe → Suitable collection point

This drainage arrangement is particularly useful for applications involving previously used containers where residual liquid may remain inside.

Perforating Needles Help Release Air During Crushing

Another important feature is installed on the press platen.

The platen is equipped with perforating needles designed to release trapped air during the crushing process.

When hollow metal containers are compressed, air can remain trapped inside the containers.

The perforating needles help release this air as the press platen moves downward.

This supports a more controlled crushing process for hollow metal paint cans and similar containers.

Key feature

Perforating needles on the press platen → Release air from containers during crushing

How the 30-Liter Paint Can Crushing Process Works

The basic operating process for this application is:

Step 1 — Load the Metal Paint Cans

Place the suitable empty metal paint cans into the compression chamber.

The 300 mm-diameter containers should be arranged according to the machine's loading requirements.

Step 2 — Check the Stack Height

The height of each stack should remain below 1000 mm.

Step 3 — Close the Chamber

After loading, close the machine according to the operating procedure.

Step 4 — Start Crushing

The hydraulic pressing system moves the press platen downward and compresses the metal containers.

Step 5 — Release Trapped Air

The perforating needles on the press platen help release air from the hollow containers during compression.

Step 6 — Drain Residual Liquid

Any suitable residual liquid released during crushing can flow into the bottom drainage channel.

A connected pipe can direct the liquid to an appropriate collection point, with an additional pump if necessary.

Step 7 — Remove the Crushed Metal

After the crushing cycle, the compressed metal containers can be removed for temporary storage, transportation or transfer to scrap recycling.

From 30-Liter Paint Cans to Scrap Metal

The customer's material flow can be summarized as:

30-Liter Metal Paint Cans

↓

Load into SVB2-MD-300

↓

Hydraulic Crushing

↓

Air Release + Liquid Drainage

↓

Compressed Metal Containers

↓

Transfer to Scrap Recycling

The crushing stage reduces the bulky shape of the original paint buckets, making the material more convenient to handle and transport.

Why a Standalone Drum Crusher Was Suitable

The customer's processing requirement is approximately 800 kg per week.

This is an important factor in machine selection.

The customer did not require a large automated drum-processing line. Instead, the project called for a standalone industrial drum crusher capable of handling the required paint-can volume.

The SVB2-MD-300 therefore provides a relatively straightforward solution:

Standalone machine
Hydraulic crushing
Suitable chamber dimensions
Multiple-container loading arrangement
Liquid drainage channel
Air-release perforating needles
Suitable for scrap-oriented volume reduction

The final machine configuration should always be confirmed against the actual container material, condition and operating requirements.

Paint Can Crusher Application: Key Technical Considerations

When selecting a crusher for paint cans or metal drums, several factors should be evaluated.

Drum Diameter

The customer's drums have a diameter of approximately 300 mm.

Drum diameter determines how many containers can be positioned within the compression chamber.

Drum Height

Container height affects the number of drums that can be stacked and the required chamber height.

For this project, each stack should remain below 1000 mm.

Material

The customer will process metal drums.

Material type and thickness affect the crushing force and machine configuration.

Residual Liquid

Used paint containers may contain residual liquid.

A drainage arrangement should therefore be considered where applicable.

Trapped Air

Hollow containers can contain air during compression.

The SVB2-MD-300 uses perforating needles on the press platen to help release air during crushing.

Processing Volume

The customer's requirement is approximately 800 kg per week.

Processing volume helps determine whether a standalone crusher or a higher-capacity automated system is appropriate.

30-Liter Paint Can Crusher: Frequently Asked Questions

Can the SVB2-MD-300 crush 30-liter paint cans?

Yes. Based on the customer's approximately 300 mm drum diameter, SINOBALER confirmed that the SVB2-MD-300 is well suited to this application.

The actual operation should follow the machine's loading and safety requirements.

How large is the crushing chamber?

The compression chamber measures:

W760 × D760 × H1000 mm

How many 300 mm paint cans can be loaded?

The customer's approximately 300 mm diameter is suitable for arranging multiple containers in the chamber. The exact loading pattern should follow the chamber geometry and machine operating instructions.

The stack height should remain below 1000 mm.

What happens if residual liquid remains in the paint cans?

The machine has a liquid drainage channel at the bottom. A pipe can be connected to the drainage outlet to direct suitable residual liquid to an appropriate collection location, with an additional pump if required.

How does the machine release air from the paint cans?

Perforating needles are installed on the press platen to help release air from hollow containers during crushing.

Can the crushed paint cans be sent to a scrap recycler?

Yes. The customer's intended process is to transfer the crushed metal drums to scrap recycling after crushing.

The suitability of the resulting scrap for a particular recycler should be confirmed with the downstream recycling facility.

Can the machine process other metal drums?

The suitability for other drums depends on their material, dimensions, thickness, contents and condition. Please provide the actual drum specifications before selecting the machine.

Looking for a Paint Can or Metal Drum Crusher?

If you process paint cans, metal buckets, drums or similar hollow metal containers, SINOBALER can evaluate the application based on your actual drum dimensions and processing volume.

Please send us:

Drum material: Steel / Aluminum / Other
Drum capacity: ___ liters
Diameter: ___ mm
Height: ___ mm
Drum thickness: ___ mm
Quantity: ___ kg/day or ___ kg/week
Residual contents: None / Dry residue / Liquid / Other
End use: Scrap recycling / Storage / Transportation / Other

Please also send photos or a short video of your drums if available.

Get a Drum Crusher Recommendation

Email: inquiry@sinobaler.com

Tell us your drum diameter, height, material, quantity and application, and our engineers can evaluate a suitable crushing solution.

[Request a Drum Crusher Quote]

SINOBALER — Baling and recycling equipment solutions for waste reduction and material handling.

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