By Janelle De Souza Thursday, November 3 2011 - Trinidad & Tobago Newsday
Over the last few months, pan men have been playing sad songs as they note concerns of a steel drum shortage, especially as the Panorama season approaches.
While the pan men’s umbrella body Pan Trinbago imports airtight drums and tops from other countries, the local drum factory Natstar Manufacturing Company Limited, a subsidiary of National Petroleum, was a popular choice of manufacturers and tuners. Approximately three months ago, the factory stopped producing drums for reasons unknown.
There are other pan sources like Mazzini Gill, who has been importing drums for steel pan manufacturer Gills Pan Shop, since 2007. And with the industry’s urgent demand, he created CG Packaging Systems Ltd, a subsidiary of Gills Pan Shop, to meet the steelband fraternity’s needs.
At least this way, he says, there would be less inconsistent quality which has faced the pan movement over the past 60 years .
As managing director of CG Packaging, Gill has conducted product research in collaboration with several foreign steel pan directors for the past 15 years. The result has been a drum with the specific gauge for the steel pan that produces accurate sound and retains its tuning.
The company is now poised to become the main distributor of 55 gallon drums tailored for manufacturing the steel pan, providing marketability, durability and shelf life.
“You can’t take any and every drum to make a steel pan,” said Gill. “Now the drums being brought in to package various liquids are too thin to make steel pans. The most suitable right now, besides the NP drums, are the poison drums.”
Gill explained the “poison drums” being used are procured from foam factories and, when heated, the drums produce toxic fumes because of the coating and fluid they previously held. His drums however, are not coated to hold fluids but were made specifically to be used in the manufacture of steel pans. The special drums are imported from Europe and manufactured to the specifications derived from years of research to ensure quality. The Bureau of Standards conducts a physical analysis of every shipment to ensure the consistency of the quality of the drums.
Gill and his researchers are still working to perfect the drum but they are still much better than anything on the market right now. In addition, the chemical components of the drums are actually balanced to produce a mirror finish when the steel pans are chromed.
In addition to the specialised drums, CG Packaging imports rigid industrial packaging, fiber and plastic drums, intermediate bulk containers and water bottles and traditional 23-inch barrels.
Gill has been general manager of Gills Pan Shop for the past ten years, allowing him a unique understanding of the workings and needs of the industry.
Replies
Terry Noel JP
Steelband Advisory Service
Leader BT Melodians Steel Orchestra (UK)