Lever Lock Ring: How It Works and Why It Protects Your Goods
The lever lock ring is one of the key factors affecting the safety of a kraft drum: it ensures that the lid remains securely fastened during transport and storage, and that the goods arrive at their destination intact. Below, we explain how it works, how to fasten it correctly, and why it is essential for approved drums.
What is a lever lock ring?
The lever lock ring system keeps the lid of the kraft drum securely fastened during transport and storage. It is simple, quick to use and complies with UN regulations for the transport of dangerous goods.
It is a galvanised steel strap clamp that fits around the mouth of the drum. A lever tightens it around the metal ring and presses the lid against the body of the container. When the lever is closed, the fastening is locked; when it is raised, the drum opens in seconds without the need for tools.
At Joaquín Alberto, we are very familiar with this system: in 1967, we were the first Spanish company to manufacture kraft fibre drums with metal hoops and a spring-loaded closure.
How to close it
It takes less than a minute to seal a crossbow canister properly. All you need to do is follow four steps:
- Place the lid over the opening of the drum, ensuring it is centred on the rim.
- The crossbow is adjusted around the perimeter whilst the lever is open.
- The lever is closed: the strap tightens and compresses the lid evenly.
- If required by the product, a seal is attached to the lever to ensure that the packaging has not been opened.
Advantages over other fastenings
Compared with other locking systems, the crossbow offers five clear advantages:
| Advantage | What it offers |
| Fully open | The opening of the container is completely unobstructed, allowing for easy handling of the product. |
| Prevent pollution | The lid fits the container perfectly, preventing the product from becoming contaminated |
| Recerrable | The crossbow can be opened and closed many times without losing tension, which is crucial if the cylinder is used repeatedly. |
| Precintable | The use of the security seal makes it possible to verify at a glance that the goods have not been tampered with. |
| Recyclable | The steel can be easily separated from the cardboard at the end of its useful life. |
Lever Lock Ring and UN type-approval
In the case of drums approved for the transport of dangerous goods, the closure forms part of the tested design. Drop and stacking tests are carried out with the drum closed as supplied, so the lid, collar and spring must correspond to those certified. Replacing the closure with a different one may invalidate the approval.
That is why it is advisable to purchase the cylinder and its components from the same manufacturer: this way, you can be sure that the assembly complies with the specifications indicated by its UN marking.
What sort of lids are they?
The spring-loaded lid fits our open-head drums, ranging from 5 to 200 litres, and our open-head metal-based drums, which feature a metal base for more stable stacking. Both can accommodate an inner liner, handles and customisation via screen printing.
Are you looking for drum containers with a spring-loaded lid for your product? Get in touch, and we’ll advise you on the right model, capacity, and certification.