18 March 2026 | St Clare Engineering

Will your drum handling attachment fit your forklift?

Many warehouses rely on drum handling forklift attachments to move steel or plastic drums safely. However, forklifts can vary in fork length, fork width, fork thickness and fork spacing, which means a standard attachment may not always fit correctly.

If a drum handling attachment does not sit securely on the forks it can affect stability, safety and efficiency when lifting heavy drums.At St Clare Engineering, drum handling forklift attachments are manufactured by hand in the UK. This allows attachments to be adapted during production so they match the forklift and the application.Examples of adaptations can include:

Longer or wider fork pockets to suit different fork sizes
Adjusting the spacing of fork pockets to match fixed forks
Reinforcing the frame for heavier drum loads
Selecting the most appropriate fixing system for the forklift

Providing a few details about your forklift helps ensure the correct attachment is supplied. Useful information includes fork length, fork width, fork thickness, fork spacing and lifting capacity, along with the type and weight of drums being handled.

You can read a full explanation of how drum handling attachments can be adapted to suit different forklifts here.

If you would like advice on drum handling forklift attachments for your forklift or application, our team will be happy to help.

Other Press Releases from St Clare Engineering

11/3/2026 - The safest way to handle steel drums in your warehouse Steel drums are among the most commonly mishandled loads in warehouses. A full 200-litre steel drum can weigh over 250kg. Rolling, tilting or steadying them manually increases the risk of strain injuries, crush hazards and loss of control — particularly where drums are moved regularly or stored in racking.

29/1/2026 - Why safe drum handling matters in industrial environments Handling 200-litre drums safely remains a common challenge across manufacturing, logistics, chemical processing and energy sectors.

12/12/2025 - Choosing the right forklift attachment for safe whisky cask handling A practical guide to choosing safe and reliable forklift attachments for moving whisky casks throughout production, storage and bottling

03/12/2025 - Improve safety and control when moving whisky casks Whisky casks are heavy, valuable and difficult to handle safely with standard equipment. Their rounded shape, liquid movement and weight make lifting unpredictable, especially in fast-moving production areas. When you need to keep operations running smoothly, the right forklift attachment is essential for safe, consistent and controlled movement.

29/10/2025 - Reducing downtime through smarter drum handling When a single piece of drum handling equipment fails, the whole operation feels it. Production slows, storage becomes congested, and schedules start to slip. The true cost of downtime includes not just hours lost, but also the ripple effect across safety, productivity and customer confidence.