Drum Lifter and Drum Rotator for Forklifts - Safe Handling of Liquids

In short: A drum lifter grips the drum with a clamp and lifts it off the forks, while a drum rotator additionally tilts or rotates the drum so the contents can be poured out safely. Both eliminate the risks of manual lifting and incorrect tilting, provided the clamp matches the drum type.

Why shouldn't drums be handled manually?

A full 200-litre drum is heavy, and lifting, rolling or tilting it by hand is risky both for the back and for general safety, especially when the contents are a chemical, oil or food product where spillage is an industrial problem. A drum lifter and rotator perform the same motion with a machine, in a controlled and repeatable way.

What to pay attention to when choosing?

• Drum material and type: the clamp must suit both metal and plastic drums if you use both, check that the unit supports that specific type.
• Drum diameter: the clamp's grip range must match the drum's diameter, too wide or too narrow a grip won't hold the drum securely.
• Rotation function: if you need to pour the contents, a rotator is needed, not just a lifter. A lifter alone simply moves the drum from one place to another.
• Capacity: depending on the contents, a full drum can be significantly heavy, check the capacity of both the unit and the forklift together.

Common mistakes

• Wrong clamp size: the drum doesn't grip securely and can slip out of the clamp while tilting.
• No secondary fastening: a good unit has a mechanical lock in addition to the clamp, friction alone isn't enough.
• Rotating without preparing the pouring location: the drum is rotated before the container or location it's being poured into is in place.

Relation to other attachments

If the material being handled is in a roll rather than a drum, also look at the carpet boom. For bulk and loose cargo, an tipping container is a better fit.

You'll find all forklift attachments in our drum lifter range. Send us the drum type, diameter and weight, and we'll recommend the right model. Ask us via our contact page.