As simple and common drum handling may be nowadays, choosing the right method that’s safe, cost-effective and productive at the same time isn’t as simple as it might seem. All operation managers need to conduct a comprehensive review of their staff, space, goals, products and long list of potential obstacles. If you’re unaware of all the procedures and how different types of drum handling equipment work, your decisions may be shortsighted, and even though you may end up saving some money in the purchasing process, you’ll definitely come across unforeseen costs in the future.
So in order to determine the right drum handler for your operations, you need to consider a few factors. Doing so will help you purchase the right drum handler at the right time, for ever-changing applications and for all the right reasons. So let’s get to the point – the most important factors to consider when buying drum handling equipment are the following.
Your Goals
Is damaging the drums a problem that you have and want to fix? Padded equipment could be the solution to that. Can you improve inventory and through-put turns? Then equipment that allows you to pick up multiple drums instead of one or two can help. Do you have drums that contain chemicals or other type of special care liquids? Does the weight matter? Do you need to dump the drums? Do you need spark and corrosion resistant units? Answering these questions can help you understand your future goals, thus prevent issues and unnecessary costs in the foreseeable future.
Safe Work Environment
Is your current drum handling equipment in good condition? Do you have a maintenance and service plan in place? Incidents can be very costly, so it’s best that you properly maintain your equipment in order to minimise downtime and reduce the risk of injury. That being said, employees operating the equipment should wear safety goggles, hard hats, and steel-toe boots. Vision, worker capabilities, labeling, training, sight lines and product alerts are all things you need to factor in when you think about the safety of your working environment.
Versatility
Your drum handling equipment should be versatile and you should be able to utilise each and every piece you get optimally. In other words, look for equipment that can be used for multiple purposes. Drum rollers and forklift attachments can be utilised in many different applications. For instance, there are models of drum rollers that can lift, stack and roll the drums at the same time.