Despite their convenience as containers, 55 gallon drums are a fairly unwieldy and heavy item when full, and moving them around can be a tricky proposition without the proper drum lifts and other handling equipment. In order to ensure that all processes that involve moving and handling drums can be carried out as safely and efficiently as possible, it is important for any employer to provide their staff with the proper handling equipment.



There is an extensive range of different products available from most companies to ensure that your staff are able to move equipment properly and without exposing themselves to any excessive risk. One of the most cost effective drum lifts available is the forklift mounted Eagle Beak drum lifter. This ingenious piece of equipment mounts on the forks of a standard lift, and uses a hydraulic system to grab the drum and hold it in place securely.

Two separate versions of the Eagle Beak are available. The lighter version of the device holds a single barrel weighing up to 1000 pounds, while the dual barrel version can lift up to 2,000 pounds of weight with separate clamps to hold two separate 55 gallon drums. The drum lift holds the barrels in place using their top lip, and is only suitable for complete drums, although thanks to the fact that it is mounted on a forklift, the height that drums can be lifted to is only limited by the specification of the forklift.

The clever design of a regular drum lifter is both simple and effective. By using the shape of the drum to hold itself in place by securing the hooks under the rim and then bracing the whole unit against the side of the barrel, these straightforward drum lifters can carry either 30 or 55 gallon drums weighing up to 1,500 pounds. The lifter can either be mounted on the forks of a standard truck, or attached to any crane equipment available. The drum lift can then be controlled using the normal equipment, and the drums stacked into place as needed.

One of the main things to consider when selecting the right drum lift equipment for your needs is to think about how high you need the drums to be stacked. If it is only deemed necessary to lift drums one on top of the other, then the lifting equipment will not need to be able to manage very high lifts, and now ill it need to be too precise in operation because items can be guided into place manually, whereas if you need to place drums very high, then a greater deal of built in control will be needed to ensued that drums are lifted into place with the maximum precision to maintain safety.

A crane hoist system can be used for drum lifting, and is simple to mount on any regular chain lift system. The standard design of this unit has a pair of arms that swing into place under and hold the drum in place with their own weight. They fit under the lip at the top of the drum, giving a firm grip and making it simple to move the drum into its ultimate location without any problems.

Having the right drum lift equipment on hand will make your workplace safer and more efficient, and ensure that your staff are protected, your products are held in the most space conscious manner possible, and also give you the reassurance that your assets are being looked after.