Steel or plastic drums are a staple packaging choice across many industries, but as they  can weigh up to 350kg - significantly exceeding the UK maximum manual handling limits - finding a suitable solution to lifting, transporting, and stacking drums safely in the workplace might not be the most exciting task on your to do list, but it is crucial.

This is where Drum Handlers quite literally have your back - specifically designed for the task at hand, they enable productivity and efficiency in the workplace whilst maintaining the health and safety of employees.

 

At Contact, we have a huge range of drum handling solutions to suit your individual needs - whether that’s moving industrial drums around the workplace, loading or unloading from lorries, safely storing them in racking, regular drum rotation, or accurately pouring or decanting drum contents. In this blog, we shine the spotlight on some of our most popular products …

First up is our Forklift Drum Grab – this FDH-1 drum handler is a best seller, offering the perfect entry-level drum handling solution for the common 210 litre (45 gallon) drum. So what makes it so great?

 

It’s incredibly easy to use, being fully automatic in operation - simply position it underneath the rolling hoops on the drum and it will tighten its grip as the lifting process begins. No physical effort or manual handling required, resulting in a safer working environment.

 

On the topic of safety - which is always our top priority at Contact - this drum grab features heavy-duty zinc plated screw clamps which safely and securely attach it to the lift truck forks for a stable and reliable grip. And - as with all our attachments - it’s fully tested, CE marked and certified for Health and Safety Regulations.

 

It’s a highly cost-effective yet incredibly efficient piece of kit, offering exceptional performance and peace of mind for all budgets. Its automatic operation also means fewer moving parts for low maintenance and servicing costs. It’s reliable and affordable - what’s not to love?

And if space is at a premium, next up is our Rim Grip Drum Grab - offering the perfect alternative solution for handling drums that are tightly packed together, such as those stored in containers. The strong ‘parrot beak’ gripping mechanism of the steel gripping head enables you to effortlessly pick up or set down drums without any space between them. By gripping the drum on the lip, rather than the sides, it also minimises the risk of drum damage (and associated costs) caused to thin-walled drums. The rubber-lined drum support crutch also helps minimise the risk of costly spillages too.

 

The Rim Grip Drum Handler is user-friendly and fully automatic, reducing time and labour costs, and is also freestanding with ample sized fork pockets to suit most trucks, for quick and easy fitment using heavy duty zinc plated screw clamps.

 

Boasting a robust mild steel frame and zinc plated head as standard - ensuring durability and longevity, it’s also versatile - accommodating both 210 litre steel drums and ‘L’ and ‘XL’ ring plastic drums.

If your drum handling needs amount to more than simply lifting and moving drums, do check out our Fork Mounted Drum Rotator, which can pick up, rotate and empty contents with ease.  Also designed to accommodate 210 litres steel drums and ‘L’ and ‘XL’ plastic drums for versatility, it offers easy-fit drive-in fork pockets and features a braced girdle assembly, ensuring a perfect fit to avoid drum deformation.

 

This drum rotator comes equipped with a high-quality gearbox and house flange bearing, and the option of a crank handle or loop chain - eliminating manual handling whilst allowing for smooth and controlled rotation of drums without the risk of over-pouring or spillage. And two webbing and ratchet straps provide operational peace of mind for that all important safety factor - along with large ‘T’ screws which ensure the drum rotator remains firmly attached to the lift truck forks. All of which guarantee stability and risk prevention during the drum manipulation process.

Last but not least is our Crane Slung Drum Rotator, which offers all the same fantastic features as the fork mounted option, but with the choice of using it with a forklift truck or an overhead crane, offering better utilisation of your available plant. Also having the option of a manual crank handle (for shoulder height rotation) or a loop chain (for above shoulder height rotation), both connected to the high-quality gearbox, makes light work of the safe pouring or decanting of contents.

 

All of our drum handling products offer highly efficient and safe drum handling operations, maximising productivity whilst minimising the risk of injury, drum damage or spillages. And as they come with a three year warranty, fully tested and certified, and backed by our ‘no quibble guarantee’ - you can rest assured that you can be totally confident in your new addition, whichever product you choose. 

 

If you need any support from our team of experts on choosing the best drum handling option for your needs, please get in touch via our live chat, or email us at [email protected].