What equipment is used for drum handling?
Drums and barrels represent a unique manual handling challenge, particularly the 200L (55 gallon) drums that are the go-to liquid storage solution in so many applications around the world. Awkwardly shaped, and weighing as much as two or three humans, they should never be lifted or shifted without the assistance of purpose-built drum lifting equipment.
Thankfully there is a wealth of drum lifting equipment at your disposal, purpose-built to make the task of handling drums more efficient and far safer. A few of the most common types of equipment include:
- Drum trolleys
- Drum cradles
- Forklift drum handling equipment
- Crane drum handling equipment
- Hydraulic drum trucks (converted pallet jacks)
- Drum handling accessories (clamps, grabbers, hooks and tongs)
- Drum rotators
In this article we’ll take a closer look at that last item, drum rotators, to learn what they are, how they work, and how you can convert your forklift or crane into a drum rotating machine.
What is a drum rotator?
Drums are designed to hold liquids. These liquids enter and exit the drum through an opening on the top face of the cylinder. While this makes a drum easy to fill when it’s upright, emptying it can prove a challenge, as the size and weight of a full drum make a manual tip a dangerous activity.
A drum rotator is designed to make it easy to change the orientation of a drum, allowing it to be easily emptied, and stored in whatever orientation is most suitable.
Types of drum rotators
In order to rotate a drum you must first lift it off the ground, which is usually done by one of the following:
- Forklift drum lifter and rotator: A forklift drum handling solution is ideal for any site that needs to complete irregular, ad hoc drum lifts and rotations, as the forklift can move and tip drums anywhere around your factory or warehouse. This solution also allows you to store drums in whatever orientation you choose.
- Crane drum lifter and tilter: If you need to complete more regular, repetitive lifts and rotations, such as down a production line, a permanent crane drum handler is the perfect solution.
There are also different equipment options in terms of the mechanics of the rotation. The most popular drum rotating methods are:
- Hydraulic rotators: Capable of rotating drums with the press of a button, hydraulic rotators require the least effort from users and are the most efficient option. They generally represent a more significant investment.
- Manual rotators: This form of rotator sees the operator either pull a chain or turn a wheel to rotate the drum. This (surprisingly low) amount of force is fed through a gearbox to slowly rotate the drum, which can usually be turned a full 360 degrees.
Helping New Zealand manufacturers safely solve their lifting challenges with the best local and global solutions.
Which type of drum rotator will make your business safer, more efficient and more productive? If you haven’t dealt with drum rotators before this can be a tricky question to answer, but with the right advice and help from experts, it can be a safe and efficient process.
At Stratalign we’ve spent years helping Kiwi businesses identify and secure the drum lifting and rotating equipment they need to work smarter, quicker and safer. We offer an extensive range of drum handling equipment and will use our knowledge and expertise to guide you to the ideal solution. Then we’ll provide all the after-sales support you need to ensure your investment generates a return.
