Drum Heaters & Barrel Insulated Heating Jackets
We are are the UK’s leading supplier of drum heaters, drum heater jackets and barrel heating jackets, offering worldwide export and expert technical support. Our range includes Winkler, EasyHeat & Eltherm manufactured insulated drum heating jackets, drum base heaters, silicone side heaters and ATEX/IECEx certified drum heaters for Zone 1 and Zone 2 hazardous areas.
A drum heater (also known as a barrel heater jacket) provides safe, uniform heating to steel or plastic drums, preventing crystallisation, frost damage, maintaining viscosity, and ensuring reliable temperature control. Whether for freeze protection, temperature maintenance, or melting solids, our heating jackets for drums deliver efficient and consistent performance.
Thorne & Derrick International are a trusted UK stockist, supplier and distributor of insulated drum heater and drum heating products worldwide. Contact our heating and process experts for engineered solutions, technical advice, quotations, and fast delivery for both UK & export orders.
Drum Heaters Top Sellers
Our range of drum heaters and insulated heating jackets covers side drum heaters, base drum heaters, and ATEX-certified solutions for industrial, chemical, and hazardous area applications. Available for steel and plastic drums, all products deliver reliable temperature maintenance, frost protection, and viscosity control.
Winkler ATEX Drum Heater & Drum Heating Jackets WEXHD
Winkler ATEX Heating Jackets & Mats WEXH
Winkler ATEX Gas Bottle Heater WEXHB
Heatfast HISD Side Drum Heating Jacket
Heatfast Silicone Side Drum Heater
Heatfast Base Drum Heater
Thorne & Derrick DO NOT sell heating jackets via e-commerce. This is so we can ensure our technical sales team can provide fit for purpose heating solutions.
What are Drum Heaters?
Drum heaters are electric heating solutions designed to safely warm the contents of steel or plastic drums, preventing frost, reducing viscosity, and maintaining flow. Available as side jackets, base heaters, and silicone wraps, they provide uniform temperature control up to 220°C for chemicals, foodstuffs, oils, and industrial materials in safe or hazardous areas.
Thorne & Derrick supply drum heaters, IBC heaters & ATEX certified IBC heating for rapid or gradual heating of liquids, powders, and semi-solids — reducing residue waste, improving dispensing efficiency, and ensuring reliable process performance across industries.
ATEX Certified & Hazardous Area Drum Heating
ATEX certified drum heaters provide safe, controlled heating for drums and IBCs located in Zone 1 & Zone 2 hazardous areas, ensuring process compliance and operator safety. Designed for industries such as oil & gas, petrochemical, offshore and pharmaceutical, these heaters maintain product temperatures, reduce viscosity, and protect against frost in potentially explosive atmospheres.
Hazardous area drum heating is required across industries such as oil & gas, chemical & petrochemical, pharmaceutical, and offshore facilities, where strict compliance with ATEX and IECEx safety standards is mandatory. These environments demand equipment that ensures operational safety while reducing downtime, product loss, and viscosity-related handling issues.
Thorne & Derrick supply a complete range of ATEX drum heater jackets and insulated IBC heating jackets, providing uniform surface heating and energy-efficient thermal insulation. Bespoke designs are available for specialised processes or non-standard drum and container sizes.
Our hazardous area heating solutions can be supplied with frost protection of pipework and process heating systems, creating integrated solutions for safe temperature management in explosive atmospheres.
Custom & Bespoke Drum Heating Jackets
Thorne & Derrick design and supply customised drum heating jackets, quilts and blankets for both indoor and outdoor applications. These bespoke solutions maintain product temperatures, provide winterisation and frost protection throughout cold months, and ensure reliable heating for sensitive materials.
Our bespoke heating jacket solutions can be engineered with internal heating elements, straps, thermostats and plug connections to suit your site’s electrical supply. Jackets are specified according to drum size, heat loss calculations and process requirements to deliver safe and
consistent heating performance.
Where safety is critical, we supply ATEX certified drum heaters for Zone 1 and Zone 2 hazardous areas. These are suitable for most temperature classes (T-rating), supporting compliance in industries such as oil & gas, chemicals, food processing and pharmaceuticals.
Need a custom design for your project/operations? Give us a call – we’ll help you get it right first time.
Industrial & Hazardous Area Drums and Containers
Thorne & Derrick supply drum heaters for industrial and hazardous area containers, providing safe, even heating for plastic or steel drums containing liquids, powders or solids. Options include electric heating jackets and ATEX certified heaters for Zone 1 & Zone 2 use.
Mauser are the leading supplier of plastic drums in North America.
Features & Compliance:
- Fits 70L–220L open-top drums (DIN EN ISO 20848-1 / DIN EN 12714)
- Available as standard or customised jackets
- Solutions for EU, USA & UN certified transport
- ATEX compliant options for hazardous areas
Typical Applications:
- Viscosity control of oils, chemicals and industrial fluids
- Heating paints, inks, dyes and coatings
- Temperature stability for foodstuffs, beverages and cosmetics
- Frost protection in unheated storage areas
Always disconnect heaters from the power source when drums are empty, being filled, installed or removed.
205 Litre Drum Heaters
Thorne & Derrick supply heaters for 205L drums (45 gallons), including new, recycled and reconditioned containers made from steel or plastic. These drum heaters are ideal for petrochemicals, resins, paints, dyes and construction materials, ensuring viscosity control and frost protection.
Key Features:
- Compatible with standard 205 litre drums (plastic or steel)
- Quick-fit side heater with release buckles for easy installation
- Adjustable thermostat for stable process temperatures or storage frost protection
- Power supply options: 110V or 230V
- Available with 0–40°C or 0–90°C thermostat ranges
Heating Open Top Drums vs Closed Top Drums
Thorne & Derrick supply drum heaters designed for both open-head and closed-head drums, ensuring safe and efficient heating for liquids, solids and semi-viscous materials.
Open-Head Drums:
- Removable lid for easy access and frequent filling/emptying
- Best suited to solids, powders, glues, syrups, oils and thicker liquids
- Ideal for process heating and applications needing direct handling
Closed-Head Drums:
- Permanently secured lid for secure long-term storage
- Typically used with low-viscosity liquids such as fuels, chemicals and foodstuffs
- Improved protection against contamination and spillage
Whether using open or closed top drums, our heating solutions ensure controlled temperatures, viscosity management and frost protection across diverse industries.
Drum Heaters FAQs
Q: Do drum heaters work?
A: Drum heaters provide controlled surface heating to maintain or raise the temperature of drum contents. They are widely used to prevent freezing, reduce viscosity, and maintain flow for liquids, powders, or semi-solids — though effectiveness depends on drum type and contents.
Q: Can drum heaters be used with plastic or steel drums?
A: Yes, drum heaters are compatible with both plastic and steel drums. The choice of heater and insulation method depends on drum material, capacity, and application — including whether it’s a hazardous area or standard industrial environment.
Q: What drum sizes are drum heater jackets compatible with?
A: Drum heater jackets are available for a wide range of sizes, typically from 25L up to 220L or more. Compatibility depends on drum diameter and height, as well as whether you need open-head, tight-head, or IBC container heating solutions.
Ready to place an order? Whether you’ve selected a suitable drum heater or insulated drum heating jacket for your operations, or are looking for a custom design – our experts can provide specialist knowledge and bespoke quotations.
