The disposable cylinder market can be a niche market to get into as part of the Specialty and Calibration Gas cylinder business. Not all applications require a large cylinder or volume of the gas or mixture. In many cases, the end-user requires the cylinder to be portable. For instance, having a small portable cylinder makes it a lot easier to calibrate an instrument in the field. In other instances, the usage of the gas can be low or sporadic. It could be for a temporary test or research project. Thus, the disposable cylinder can be a cost effective solution since it is portable, lightweight, and convenient. A disposable cylinder also avoids the cost of rental charges to the customer.
The disposable cylinders are typically filled from larger specialty gas cylinders of the same gas or mixture. Even if you don’t currently fill specialty gas cylinders, you can still enter this market by purchasing these cylinders from a producer. Another advantage of this market is the ability to be able to ship these small cylinders cost effectively to just about anywhere. You are not limited to just being in a regional market. This can open the door to many customers in this niche market.
Disposable cylinders are manufactured in a number of sizes and service pressures. In the US, the cylinders fall under the DOT specification of 39NRC. Sizes can range from 1L to 600L in volumes from less than 1.0 CF to 21 CF. The pressures typically vary from 240 to 2000 psig. The cylinders are either made from steel or aluminum. Aluminum cylinders are the preferred choice for reactive gas mixtures. The cylinder valves vary based upon the gas or mixture. The most common valves are either CGA 600 or C-10 valves. These valves are what we typically refer to as a spring loaded stem valve. Somewhat similar to like the stem on a bicycle tire.
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