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Schütz / Mauser composite bottle in galvanized cage
Outer steel skeleton with HDPE-coated steel bottle. Used for materials that permeate plain HDPE but don't need full stainless containment. UN 31HA1 markings available.
- 275 / 330 gallon
- 2" cam-lock or S60×6 valve
- Compatible with most aromatic solvents, mineral acids ≤30%
- Hot-fill up to 158 °F
304L or 316L stainless IBC, fully welded
Single-piece stainless bottle in either welded frame or skid. For aggressive chemistry, high-purity beverage and pharmaceutical, or anything where temperature is hard on plastic.
- 275 / 330 / 550 gallon variants
- Sanitary tri-clamp connections (food, pharma)
- Hot-CIP rated up to 250 °F
- Insulated jacket available
Decision matrix.
| Material | Standard HDPE | Composite | Stainless |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water, brine, glycol | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Edible oils, syrups | ✓ (Grade A) | ✓ | ✓ |
| Bleach < 12% | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Mineral acids 30–50% | — | ✓ | — |
| Aromatic solvents | — | ✓ | ✓ |
| Halogenated solvents | — | caution | ✓ |
| Hot fill > 158 °F | — | limited | ✓ |
| Sanitary / pharma | — | — | ✓ (316L) |
Cross-reference with our chemical compatibility guide before committing.
What makes a composite IBC different.
Composite IBCs sit between HDPE and stainless. They look like HDPE from the outside but the bottle is a different beast.
The construction. A composite IBC bottle is a steel inner shell coated on the inside with HDPE. The HDPE handles the chemistry — your fluid never touches metal. The steel handles the structural load and the permeation resistance. The cage is identical to a standard IBC.
What it solves. Plain HDPE allows certain solvent molecules to slowly permeate through the wall. For trace amounts that doesn't matter. For storage of solvents you care about (cost, regulatory, safety), it does. The steel shell stops permeation cold.
What it costs. Composite runs roughly 75-130% premium over HDPE. New composite is $245-$340 vs $325-$480 for new HDPE at the upper end. Used composite is rarer because reconditioning composite is more complex — we have a small pool.
When it's the right call. Halogenated and aromatic solvents at storage volume. Mineral acids 30%+. Aggressive cleaning chemistry. UN-rated hazmat fills that need the composite construction.
When it isn't. Anything HDPE handles well (water, brine, glycol, soap, edible oil, dilute acids and bases). Composite for these is over-engineering — you're paying for a feature you won't use.
If you only read one section.
- 01Composite = steel shell with HDPE coating. Permeation-resistant in a way plain HDPE isn't.
- 02Right answer for aromatic solvents, halogenated solvents, mineral acids 30%+.
- 03Wrong answer for water, brine, glycol, soap — composite is over-spec for these.
- 04UN 31HA1/Y rating is standard on most composite IBCs. Verify the marking before manifesting hazmat.
- 05Stainless is the next step up if composite isn't enough. Decision tree applies.