OÜ GK CAPITAL designs and manufactures steel drums with removable lids and clamping rings for the management (transport and interim storage) of low-level waste (LLW) and low-level radioactive waste (LLRW) generated during the decommissioning of radioactive waste repositories. These drums are also used in the liquid radioactive waste processing (cementation) processes conducted at nuclear power plants, where liquid radioactive waste is mixed with cement and bentonite clay (according to a specified formulation) and poured into the drums.

The tight connection between the removable lid and the drum body is ensured by an elastic EPDM gasket and a clamping ring with a tension bolt. These structural elements do not hinder the stacking or transport of the drums.

The sealing integrity of drum assemblies designed, tested and produced by OÜ GK CAPITAL ensures that no liquid radioactive substances are released into the environment, provided the client complies with the usage instructions and observes the declared storage conditions over the specified period.

The drums are used as radioactive waste packages and may be transported over short distances in special containers within the client’s premises from the filling station to the storage facility.

Drum bodies are welded with seam joints, W-shaped stiffening ribs and additional corrugation. The drum bottom is connected to the cylindrical body using a triple-seam fusion welding technique.

The cylindrical side and bottom are joined using heat fusion, involving surface heating, pressing, and triple fold sealing (triple seam). This advanced technique ensures long-term structural stability and tightness of the bottom-to-body connection, which conventional welding methods do not always guarantee.

Each drum is subject to 100% leak testing during production. Drums are certified to be hermetically sealed, meaning that when closed, they are impermeable to water and effectively isolate their contents from environmental interaction.

The production and final inspection processes for steel drums are documented in the manufacturer’s Quality Assurance Plan (QAPlan).

Prior to painting, the surfaces of the drums and lids are treated using abrasive blasting—one of the most effective methods of metal surface preparation. Abrasive blasting involves projecting high-pressure abrasive materials onto the metal surface using compressed air. The combination of pressure and abrasive material removes contaminants in a controlled manner and roughens the surface, thereby improving the adhesion of protective coatings. This process effectively prepares the surface for coating application and protects it against adverse environmental effects, thereby extending the service life of the coating layer.

After surface treatment, the degree of cleanliness of the drum body, bottom, and lid meets at least Sa 2½ according to LST EN ISO 8501-1:2007.

All drum surfaces are coated using electrostatic powder coating. During coating, powder is sprayed via a special gun, electrostatically charged to adhere to the grounded product without runoff. The coated drums and lids are then cured in an oven at approximately 180°C for 10 minutes. Upon heating the metal drum and lid, the powder melts and forms a uniform surface layer. As the coated surface cools, the powder solidifies, forming a high-quality coating that meets all specified requirements.

The quality of the external surface coating of the drum is continuously verified in an accredited corrosion testing laboratory that complies with the requirements of the LST EN ISO/IEC 17025:2018 standard.