23 September 2025 | St Clare Engineering

Discover how hiring or renting drum handling equipment helps you move barrels quickly, reduce risks, and keep operations running smoothly

Handling drums and barrels can be a difficult, time-consuming and potentially hazardous task. A full steel drum can weigh more than 200 kilograms, and even when empty, drums are awkward to move manually. For businesses which only occasionally handle drums, buying permanent equipment may not be practical.

This is where forklift drum handling attachment hire – or short-term rental – provides a safe, efficient and flexible solution.

At St Clare Engineering, we offer a wide range of drum handling equipment available for hire across the UK, helping businesses move, lift and tip drums with confidence.

Why hire drum handling attachments?

Hiring or renting drum handling attachments offers clear benefits when compared to buying. The main reasons include:

Flexibility: perfect for one-off projects, seasonal demand, or short contracts.
Cost efficiency: no need to invest in equipment you may rarely use.
Continuity: ideal if your own equipment is out of service and you need a temporary replacement.
Trial before purchase: hiring allows you to test equipment in real-world conditions before making a buying decision.
Compliance: rented equipment from St Clare Engineering is fully tested and certified, giving peace of mind.

Hiring provides the right balance between operational efficiency and financial sense, especially for businesses that only handle drums occasionally.

Which industries need drum handling equipment hire?

While some businesses need forklift drum handling attachments every day, many industries only require them from time to time. Hiring or renting is therefore the most practical option.

Industries that benefit from one-off or short-term hire include:

Events and festivals: for moving fuel drums for generators, water containers or waste barrels.
Construction: for handling coatings, fuels or chemicals stored in drums during a project.
Agriculture: for fertilisers, animal feed or pesticides delivered in barrels at peak times of year.
Manufacturing: for short production runs or contracts requiring materials in drums.
Waste management and environmental clean-up: for lifting and disposing of hazardous or bulk liquids.
Food and beverage: for ingredients such as oils, syrups or flavourings supplied in drums for a campaign.
Logistics and warehousing: for unloading containers or lorries during seasonal peaks.

By renting equipment only when needed, these industries can carry out safe and efficient drum handling without long-term cost commitments.

What drum handling equipment can you rent?

St Clare Engineering provides a wide choice of forklift drum attachments for rent or hire, suitable for steel, plastic or fibre drums. Options include:

Rim grippers: secure drums by the rim for lifting and moving.
Base grippers: lift drums securely from the bottom edge.
Waist grippers: hold the body of the drum for transport.
Drum rotators and tippers: allow drums to be lifted, tipped and emptied safely.
Pedestrian drum handlers: for use in areas where forklifts are not suitable.

Each attachment is designed to reduce manual handling, prevent accidents and ensure smooth operations.

Hire terms and service from St Clare Engineering

When you hire or rent through St Clare Engineering, you can expect:

Flexible terms: from a week upwards, with extensions available.
Certified equipment: every attachment is fully tested and certified for safety.
Fast delivery: equipment is dispatched quickly across the UK from our base near Southampton.
Easy returns: straightforward collection or return process when your hire period ends.

Our hire service is designed to remove complexity and make drum handling safe and straightforward.

Safety and compliance benefits

Manual drum handling is one of the leading causes of workplace injury in warehouses and factories. Renting a forklift drum attachment helps you:

Reduce the risk of back injuries and accidents.
Prevent spills, leaks and damage to valuable contents.
Comply with HSE guidance on safe manual handling.

By using properly certified equipment, you create a safer working environment and protect both staff and products. For further industry context, see IOSH’s advice on safe handling of drums in warehouses.

Conclusion

Hiring or renting drum handling equipment is the smart choice for businesses that need to manage barrels safely but not every day. Whether for an event, a construction project, or a seasonal manufacturing run, forklift drum handling attachment hire provides a safe, flexible and cost-effective solution.

At St Clare Engineering, we have decades of expertise in drum handling and provide a trusted, responsive service across the UK.

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