20QT Portable 5 Gallon Hard Cooler Jug Bucket with Tap 19L Insulated Drink Dispenser CJG020A028

Similar to the hard cooler, the cooler jug is also used for insulation, but there’re some differences:

• In terms of shape, a hard cooler is mostly in a rectangular shape and is used to store solid items such as food (meat, fish), beverage cans or bottles, medicines, etc., and it is mostly used for keeping things cold rather than warm. Most cooler jugs are cylindrical in shape, and a few are rectangular.
• In terms of usage, these cooler jugs are generally not used to hold solid foods, but are instead used to hold liquid beverages (pure water, soda, soft drinks, beer, hot cocoa) directly. They can be directly poured into a cup through the built-in faucet.
• In terms of application scenarios, cooler jugs are more commonly used in light social activities such as parties and picnics. Users can mix drinks and pour them into the cooler jug. While preserve the temperature, it makes it convenient for guests to easily pour the drink at any time, providing immediate beverage supply. And unlike a hard cooler, it is also often used to hold hot beverages in winter, such as providing people with hot coffee, cocoa, chocolate milk, etc. in outdoor activities.

• Superior ice preservation: The inner and outer walls are made of food-grade PP or PE/LLDPE, and the intermediate insulation layer is filled with high-density PU. The cold preservation time can reach 1-5 days (test results from the laboratory, actual effects may vary depending on the external environment and usage methods).
• Waterproof materials: Both the inner and outer walls are sturdy and waterproof, making them easy to clean.
• Humanized details: These include leak-proof drainage valves, reinforced handles, built-in bottle openers, and anti-slip bottom designs, etc.
• UV protection: UV-protective shell, reflecting UV rays, maintaining excellent ice preservation effect even in direct sunlight conditions. The outer wall does not fade or become brittle under long-term outdoor sunlight exposure.
• Different shapes available for selection: cylinder, rectangular prism or you can customize special shapes according your sketches or ideas.

Our different models of coolers may adopt different production techniques. All these three are included. If you want to know which manufacturing technique is adopted of a certain product model, please refer to the specifications table or detailed description on the specific product page. Rotational molding, injection molding and blow molding each have their own advantages and disadvantages. When customizing, you can consider your desired brand positioning and product performance requirements comprehensively to make a choice, or discuss with our engineers for recommendations.

1. Rotational molding (rotomolding)

Rotational molding is the top industry-standard manufacturing technique for durability and ruggedness. Many high-end brands such as YETI use this technology for their hard coolers.

During the rotomolding process, a hollow mold is filled with plastic powder (usually low-density polyethylene) and then heated and rotated. The plastic melts at a certain temperature and evenly covers the inside of the mold (especially the corners) under the effect of centrifugal force. This process can directly produce the inner and outer double-layer walls of the cooler, which are formed as a single piece and seamlessly connected; while other technologies usually form the inner and outer walls separately and then assemble them together, thus there are weak points at the seams, making them more prone to damage and potentially affecting the insulation performance during collisions.

Main features: rugged construction, prolonged ice retention, low upfront mold costs; heavy in weight, high manufacturing costs

2. Injection molding

Melted plastic at a high temperature is injected under high pressure into a metal mold that has been precisely machined. This enables the jug to have greater design flexibility, such as complex shapes, internal partitioned walls, surface treatment methods (such as in-mold labeling or decoration), etc. Injection-molded cooler jugs are usually lighter than roto-molded coolers, but more durable than blow-molded ones, with manufacturing costs in between.

Advantages: Lightweight, high dimensional accuracy, excellent surface finish & thermal insulation performance; supports complex designs; moderate cost.

Disadvantages: High initial mold cost (increasing production can reduce the unit cost per product); slightly thin wall thickness

3. Blow molding

Blow molding, as the name suggests, is the process of injecting molten plastic into a mold and forcing it to expand by air pressuring. Molten plastic is pushed into the mold and inflated. The high air pressure squeezes the plastic to change its shape until it matches the mold. This method results in thinner cooler walls but lighter in weight and lower manufacturing costs, mainly suitable for entry-level outdoor activities for the mass market.

Features: The most lightweight and portable, with the lowest production cost; Relatively thin wall thickness, and relatively short ice preservation time(usually 1-2 days).

We strictly use 100% food-grade BPA-Free and corrosion-resistant PP/HDPE/LLDPE materials for inner and outer walls, PU for insulation layers and food contact safe silicones for sealing rings. All materials comply with FDA and LFGB food safety standards and can come into direct contact with water and beverages, and ice cubes. Even when holding slightly acidic or alkaline liquids, the inner wall will not corrode, change color or release any harmful elements.

We offer both simple customization and deep customization.

• Simple customization: You can modify the color of any of our existing model (any Pantone color code), add logos (screen printing, heat transfer printing, embossed plates…), text and specific patterns, as well as unique surface treatments (mirror polishing, unique textures…), etc.
• Deep customization (new mold required): This is a complete OEM/ODM process. During this process, we will create new molds to build specific capacities, unique shapes, or exclusive features that are specific to your brand. However, due to the high initial cost, you may need a larger quantity or a higher pricing to achieve certain profit margin.

The reason why our insulated cooler jugs can retain ice or warmth for several days is mainly due to their multi-layer structure and the high-performance polyurethane(PU) foam filled in the middle. The outer and inner layers are made of sturdy PP/HDPE/LLDPE, which can resist external heat radiation and physical impacts. The insulation layer is filled with PU, which is different from the EPS (ordinary white foam/polystyrene) used in cheap alternatives.

We adopt the top-notch pressure filling technology:

• Full sealing injection: After the inner and outer walls are ready, the liquid polyurethane raw material is injected into the cavity through a special equipment.
• In-situ foaming: The liquid undergoes a chemical reaction and expands within seconds, filling every tiny gap.
• High-density curing: The cured PU foam has an extremely fine closed-cell structure.

Due to the extremely low thermal conductivity of air and the fact that this sealed structure almost cuts off the air convection, an excellent thermal barrier is formed.

Yes. The majority of the hard-sided coolers we produce are made of food-grade PP/HDPE/LLDPE, and all the different materials of our models do not contain bisphenol A. Our products comply with the food contact standards of FDA and LFGB, ensuring their ability to come into direct contact with dairy products, fish, meat and other perishable items, and guaranteeing their safety. In addition, our production facilities have also obtained ISO 9001 certification to ensure the consistency of quality control. In your order, we will include relevant certificates or third-party test reports according to your needs.

Yes. For our standard model, samples can be dispatched within 3 to 5 working days. For simple customization requests (such as color customization, logo printing, etc.), the delivery period for samples is approximately 7 to 10 days; for complex customization requests requiring a new mold, the sample delivery period is longer, ranging from several weeks to several months. The sample cost is usually deducted in your first large-scale production order.

We adopt the tiered pricing, where the larger the production volume, the lower the unit cost. This is because for bulk orders, the fixed costs (machine calibration, color matching, and labor costs) can be spread over more products. For large importers, this significantly increases their retail profit margin. Of course, we also offer assistance to small or start-up businesses, providing lower minimum order quantities(MOQ) or trial orders, but the unit cost will be slightly higher.

We understand that brand-building takes time. We maintain a “Ready-to-Ship” inventory of neutral colors that allow for Low MOQ (Minimum Order Quantity) logo customization, enabling you to test the market without heavy upfront capital investment in thousands of units.

Compared to the cooler box, the cooler jug is more often used for direct contact with beverages, so it requires more careful cleaning, especially the spigot/dispenser/faucet area. If not cleaned properly, it is very likely to breed bacteria or get clogged.

1. Clean immediately after use

• Empty immediately: After use, please drain the remaining water immediately. Do not leave sugary drinks or residual water in the bucket overnight to prevent odors or mold spots.
• Warm water rinse: Wash the inner with warm water and mild detergent. Avoid using rough steel wool to prevent scratching the inner wall surface and causing bacterial residue.
• Thorough drying: After cleaning, invert the bucket and open the lid, and let it dry completely in a ventilated place. Storing with the lid closed before the water is completely dry is the main cause of odors.

2. Deep cleaning of the faucet

The faucet is the most complex and delicate part of the cooler bucket, but many users only clean the bucket body and ignore the faucet, which makes it prone to retaining beverages and thus breeding bacteria.

• Pressure rinse: When cleaning the bucket body, let the cleaning solution flow through the faucet and open and close several times to ensure the valve is flushed.
• Detail cleaning: Use a long, soft-bristled brush (similar to a straw brush) to reach deep inside the faucet pipe to remove the buildup left by storing juice or mineral-rich water.
• Check the gasket: Check if the silicone gasket is displaced or aged. If there is water leakage, usually just re-tightening or replacing the gasket is sufficient, and there’s no need to replace the entire jug.
• Regular disassembly(optional): If the cooler jug you purchased has a detachable structure, it is recommended to unscrew it regularly and disassemble it into the gasket, valve core, and body for separate cleaning.

3. Daily maintenance and storage recommendations

• Eliminate odor: If there is an unpleasant smell in the bucket, you can soak it in a mixture of baking soda and warm water for 2-3 hours, or use diluted white vinegar for disinfection. Then, thoroughly rinse it.
• Avoid overly-high temperature: Although the product is durable, do not wash it in the dishwasher or pour boiling water into it, as extremely high temperatures may damage the PU foaming insulation layer; if it is to be used for hot drinks, preheat it with warm water first and then cool the beverage slightly to around 70-80 degrees Celsius before pouring it in.
• Storage: When not in use for a long time, please store it in a cool and dry place, avoiding direct sunlight. When storing, keep the lid slightly open to maintain air circulation.
• Lubricating the sealing ring: Apply a thin layer of food-grade silicone grease gently to the sealing ring of the cover every year to maintain its elasticity and delay aging.