Moving and lifting drums is always a challenge in a commercial and industrial market. It is going to be, essentially, impossible to move these heavy items without the help of specialist equipment that can take the bulk of the weight for you. One popular option is a forklift drum lifter, which will be able to lift up and manoeuvre drums easily within any kind of space, even if it is confined. You will find that the tasks you must complete in your workshop become much easier and lift much of the pressure off your operations staff.
What is a drum and how does it need to be handled?
Drums are large cylinder-shaped containers, used for shipping and storing cargo in bulk. They may be used to move dangerous and hazardous goods, as a drum is considered to be a very safe means of storage. They can be made of various types of material, including steel, fibre and various kinds of plastic. Due to their size and shape, they are very useful for storage and for stacking neatly, but handling them is inevitably going to pose challenges due to their size and weight. You will also need to be careful with them if they are being used to transport hazardous materials. It’s important that you understand what drums contain before you handle them.
The features of drum handling trucks
So what decisions will you need to make when you are selecting a drum truck? Here are some of the key considerations:
- The mechanism. Some drum trucks will be hydraulic, whereas others may have a construction where they can pick up pallets manually as well. The type you decide on will all depend upon your uses of drums and drum lifting equipment in your space.
- The loading process. Some types of drum truck will be able to load drums individually, whilst others can load drums from the middle of a pallet. Some will use a clamp mechanism on the top, whilst others will have clamps on variously shaped and sized arms. The mechanisms you select will all depend on the size and type of drum.
- Mixing and turning. If you need to do more than just move drums around, you will need to think about a turning mechanism as well. Some drum trucks can certainly offer you this, though they will generally come in at a higher price point. Select the mechanism you want, and your drum truck can help you in loading, storing, manipulating and stacking drums as required.
- Capacity. All drum trucks will have a different loading capacity, and will be able to lift drums up to different heights. Make sure you know what you need – many drum handlers will not be able to hold more than 400kg and you should never overload them, or you risk damaging the equipment, damaging the drum and injuring the operator.
Drum handling equipment comes in many shapes and sizes. Choose the options that are most relevant to you and always buy from a trusted brand.