If you are outside the UK and considering a purchase from St Clare Engineering, this guide covers what makes Grab-O-Matic the choice for international buyers, and everything you need to know about the purchasing process.

By Andy Bow, Managing Director, St Clare Engineering

St Clare Engineering manufactures the Grab-O-Matic range of mechanical forklift drum handling attachments at our facility in Eastleigh, Hampshire. We are the sole worldwide manufacturer of the Grab-O-Matic range, and we have been supplying international customers for decades – shipping to buyers in over 35 countries across the Middle East, Southeast Asia, Europe, the Americas and beyond.

For many buyers, purchasing industrial equipment from a UK manufacturer for the first time raises practical questions. What documentation will you receive? Who handles customs? What are your responsibilities as the importer? This guide answers those questions directly.

Why international buyers specify Grab-O-Matic

The most straightforward reason is that there is no alternative. St Clare Engineering is the sole worldwide manufacturer of the Grab-O-Matic range – no equivalent product is made anywhere else. For buyers who need this specific attachment, the source is Hampshire.

Beyond that, the design characteristics of the Grab-O-Matic range travel well. Several features matter more to international buyers than they might to a UK warehouse operation:

Performance in demanding environments. The Grab-O-Matic range is entirely mechanical – no electrical connections, no hydraulic lines. This is a significant advantage in the environments where much of our international demand originates. Oil and gas operations across the Gulf region handle drums of petroleum products and chemicals in high-temperature conditions. Logistics facilities in Southeast Asia run continuous operations across multiple shifts. Chemical and pharmaceutical manufacturers worldwide need equipment that performs consistently without hydraulic fluid management or electrical system maintenance. In all of these environments, a mechanical attachment with minimal servicing requirements is a practical choice.

ATEX certification for hazardous atmospheres. Where flammable or explosive materials are handled – petroleum products, solvents, bulk alcohol in spirit production – the operating area must be classified under local DSEAR or equivalent regulations, and equipment used in those areas must be appropriate for the zone. St Clare Engineering’s ATEX-rated stainless steel range is certified for Zone 1 and Zone 2 use. Because the attachments are entirely mechanical, they present no ignition source. This makes them the standard choice for oil and gas operations, chemical plants and spirit distilleries operating in classified areas worldwide.

Built to last with minimal maintenance. For a buyer operating thousands of miles from the manufacturer, equipment longevity matters more than it might in a market where replacements are easy to source. Grab-O-Matic attachments are hand-built at our Hampshire facility and proof-load tested before dispatch. The mechanical design means upkeep is limited to annual servicing and occasional lubrication – there are no hydraulic seals to replace, no fluid to manage and no electrical components to fail. Units that have been in service for decades are common.

Internationally recognised certification. ISO 9001:2015, CE certification and proof-load test certificates issued with every unit meet the compliance requirements of buyers in the oil and gas, chemical, pharmaceutical, logistics and manufacturing sectors worldwide. For a full overview of our testing and certification process, see our certification guide.

What documentation comes with your order

Every international order from St Clare Engineering is supplied with a full documentation package. You will receive:

  • Commercial invoice
  • Packing list
  • CE and UKCA certificates
  • Declaration of Conformity
  • Certificate of Origin (where required for your destination)
  • ISO 9001:2015 quality certification
  • Proof-load test certificate
  • Safe Working Load (SWL) marking on every unit

These documents are required for customs clearance in most destinations and are provided as standard – you do not need to request them separately. For ATEX-rated units, additional certification documentation is supplied confirming Zone 1 or Zone 2 classification.

What you need to have in place before your order ships

Requirements vary by country, but for most international orders you will need:

  • A valid business registration or VAT number in your country
  • An EORI (Economic Operators Registration and Identification) number if you are based in the EU or handling UK customs
  • A commercial address capable of receiving palleted or crated goods
  • Import permits or licences if your country’s regulations require them for industrial lifting equipment

If you are unsure about the import requirements for your destination, our team can advise based on our experience shipping to your region. The UK government’s export guidance also provides a useful overview for buyers who want to understand the UK side of the process.

How goods are packaged and shipped

Grab-O-Matic attachments are packaged for international transit using robust wooden pallets or crates with protective materials to guard against shock and moisture. Packaging is specified for the mode of transport – sea freight container, air shipment or road freight.

We work with our own experienced freight forwarder for international shipments, or we can work with your preferred freight provider if you have an established relationship. We have shipped successfully to ports including Dubai, Singapore, Rotterdam and many others.

Estimated transit times:

  • Sea freight to the Middle East: typically two to four weeks from dispatch
  • Sea freight to Southeast Asia: typically two to four weeks from dispatch
  • Air freight: available for urgent orders – contact our team for rates and lead times

Production lead times for standard units are typically short. Bespoke or non-standard items require additional manufacturing time, which will be confirmed when your order is placed.

Working with a local distributor

To support our international customer base, we work with a network of named distributors in key territories, including Australia, Finland, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Pakistan, Portugal, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand and the UAE.

Where a distributor exists in your country, they can provide local advice, technical support, faster delivery and in some cases local stock. If you are in one of these territories, we can put you in direct contact with your nearest distributor.

Where no distributor exists, we supply directly from our Hampshire facility and manage the full export process. There is no minimum order quantity for standard units – we regularly ship single attachments to international customers.

Bespoke and non-standard requirements

Standard drum handling attachments do not always suit every operation. Non-standard drum dimensions, custom grip types, ATEX configurations and combined handling requirements are all within our capability. Bespoke items are designed, built and proof-load tested at our Hampshire facility to the same standards as the standard range.

We can also design and manufacture bespoke drum cages for operations requiring overhead lifting.

If your requirement falls outside the standard product catalogue, contact our team before placing an order. We will confirm whether a standard product can be adapted or whether a bespoke solution is needed, and provide a clear lead time.

Spare parts and ongoing support

Spare parts and replacement components for the Grab-O-Matic range can be supplied internationally. Contact us with your unit details and the components required.

FAQs

Can I order a single unit for export? Yes. There is no minimum order quantity for standard units. We regularly ship individual drum handling attachments to international customers.

Do I need an import agent in my country? Not always. Many international customers handle customs clearance directly using the documentation we provide. If you are unsure, our freight forwarder can advise on requirements for your destination.

Will CE and UKCA certification be accepted in my country? CE certification is recognised across the EU and in many countries worldwide. UKCA certification applies to the UK market. For buyers outside the EU and UK, both certificates are generally accepted as evidence of conformity to the relevant safety standards. If your country has specific local approval requirements, contact our team to discuss.

How long does international shipping take? Lead times vary by destination and shipping method. Sea freight to the Middle East or Southeast Asia typically takes two to four weeks from dispatch. Air freight is available for urgent orders. Our team will confirm estimated transit times when your order is confirmed.

Can you supply spare parts internationally? Yes. Spare parts and replacement components for the Grab-O-Matic range can be supplied internationally. Contact us with your unit details and the parts required.

Do you have distributors in my country? We have named distributors in Australia, Finland, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Pakistan, Portugal, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand and the UAE. For all other countries, we supply directly. See our international distributor page

About the author

Andy Bow

Managing Director, St Clare Engineering

Andy Bow is Managing Director of St Clare Engineering, the sole worldwide manufacturer of the Grab-O-Matic range of drum handling forklift attachments. St Clare Engineering has been designing and building drum handling equipment at its Hampshire facility since 1959.