Drum Handling Equipment

Drum Handling Equipment

By Don Goodwin

The basic categories for drum handling equipment are dollies, cradles, lifters, carriers, and dumpers. For drum storage there are racks, cradle systems, and drum pallets. Drum dollies can be in a style very much like standard dollies, but designed to hold the round shape of drums. The drum sits in the drum dolly in an upright position, and come in single and two drum models. Similar to this style of dolly is a drum cradle. The drum cradle looks somewhat like a wheelbarrow without the bucket. The drum sits horizontal on the cradle then it is lifted and pushed by the handles. The drum cradles are a great option if you want to be able to pour from the drum as well as move it with one piece of equipment.

Drum lifters and drum carriers come in many different designs to fit specific needs of the user. There is drum-handling equipment designed specifically for use with a forklift. These style drum lifters usually lift the drum in one of two fashions. One works like a clamp, when the forklift drives up and places the drum between the lifter clamps they grab the drum to be moved. Another style has a clamp that grabs the top of the drum lid and a support at the bottom to keep the drum upright. Other drum lifters work similar to a pallet truck, except instead of forks it is made with a drum clamp for moving the drums.

Drum Dumpers can be mobile or stationary units. Placing a drum in the “U” shaped chute and clamped in place uses a drum dumper. An operator uses a hand control pendant to have the dumper lift and tilt the drum.

When it comes to drum storage there are drum racks, drum cradle systems, and drum pallets. Drum racks are basic metal frames that are curved to old the shape of a drum turned horizontally. Drum cradle systems are for the user that wants to store drums and be able to get the contents while in storage.

Drum pallets can come in styles that are a simple plastic tray, to models that have spill containment capabilities. The main things to keep in mind when trying to choose any type of drum handling equipment is the types of drum you will be using (size, metal, fiber, plastic) how often you will be using the equipment.