Safe lifting and rigging for overhead cranes using our bespoke drum cage

The Grab-O-Matic Overhead Drum Cage is ideal for industries where lifting and rigging play a key role. For example, we recently worked with a customer in the Oil & Gas industry to supply a bespoke overhead drum cage for ship to shore drum handling using overhead cranes.  Here’s why our overhead drum cages are a great choice for this purpose:

Lifting and rigging operations

Like construction sites, warehouses and industrial facilities, ship to shore handling in the Oil & Gas industry often requires the lifting and transportation of heavy or difficult objects. ‘Rigging’ refers to the process of setting up and using specialised equipment to lift and move heavy or difficult items. Proper rigging and lifting are crucial to prevent accidents when moving drums, as their shape and weight can make them unstable if not secured correctly.

Lifting drums with overhead cranes

Lifting drums with overhead cranes poses several dangers, which can affect both personnel and equipment if proper precautions are not taken. Key hazards include:

  • Unbalanced or shifting loads caused by shifting centres of gravity during lifting
  • Swinging loads or side pulling if the crane hoist is not properly centred
  • Poor lifting or rigging can cause ropes or chains to slip, endangering people and machinery.
  • Improperly sealed drums containing hazardous materials may leak during lifting.

Overhead drum cages for safe rigging and lifting

Overhead drum cages are designed to allow rigging equipment such as hooks and chains to be safely attached to the drum so that it can be lifted and moved by overhead crane whilst remaining stable. The Grab-O-Matic Overhead Drum Cage offers many benefits:

  1. Enhanced safety in high-risk environments

Oil and rigging sites are hazardous environments where heavy drums containing oil, chemicals, or other materials are frequently handled. The Grab-O-Matic Overhead Drum Cage provides a secure and stable method to lift and transport drums, reducing the risk of spills, injuries or equipment damage.

  1. Suitable for a variety of drum sizes and materials

The Grab-O-Matic cage can be designed to fit the size, weight and shape of your drums, making it a versatile solution.

  1. Efficiency in lifting and transport

Time is critical in the oil and rigging industries, where delays can lead to significant costs. The Grab-O-Matic Overhead Drum Cage integrates seamlessly with overhead cranes or hoists, allowing for quick drum movement and streamlined operations.

  1. Durability in challenging conditions

Oil & Gas, ship to shore operations and rigging environments often expose equipment to harsh conditions, including extreme temperatures, heavy loads and corrosive substances. The Grab-O-Matic range of robust drum handling equipment is expertly built and corrosion-resistant: designed to resist wear and tear from exposure to oil, chemicals and the elements, ensuring long-term reliability.

St Clare Engineering bespoke overhead drum cage

St Clare Engineering manufactures bespoke overhead drum cages to minimise the risk of harm and allow the safe lifting and rigging of drums using overhead cranes.

Our overhead drum cages are equipped with lifting eyes for attaching shackles and chains, enabling secure lifting of all types of drums.

Standard overhead drum cage

For lighter loads, our standard overhead drum cage may be suitable.

Technical specification:

  • SWL: 300kg
  • Crane Slung
  • Weight: 40kg

In this drum cage, the drums are secured in place by a webbing and ratchet clamping system.

Heavy duty overhead drum cage

Our heavy duty Grab-O-Matic drum cage 750kg (SWL) was designed to lift heavy drums on and off oil rigs or ships from the dockside with the use of an overhead crane.

Technical Specification:

  • SWL: 750kg
  • Crane Slung
  • Weight: 100kg

On this model, the drums are secured by robust hinged steel arms and locking pins.

The benefits of a bespoke overhead drum cage

Our bespoke overhead drum cages are custom-engineered enclosures designed to securely transport and handle industrial drums. By choosing a bespoke overhead drum cage from St Clare Engineering, you gain bespoke drum cage made to fit your precise requirements:

  • Built to fit the size, weight and type of your drums
  • Drum secured with an appropriate system, for example a webbing and ratchet system, or hinged arms with locking pins
  • Overhead drum cage can include reinforced barriers, spill containment features and fire-resistant coatings
  • Optional colour tagging available.

Colour tagging for overhead drum cages

We can include colour tagging on bespoke drum cages to serve multiple operational, safety, and compliance purposes:

  1. Inspection and Maintenance

Colour coding to align with industry tagging systems.

  1. Quick identification of contents

Different colours can represent different types of materials, such as hazardous, non-hazardous, flammable, or food-grade substances.

  1. Compliance with Industry Regulations

Many safety standards require clear labelling and segregation of chemicals and materials.

  1. Improved safety measures

Workers can quickly identify and handle high-risk materials appropriately.

  1. Efficient stock management

Colour tagging makes it easier to track inventory levels, expiry dates and batch numbers.

  1. Operational streamlining

Colour-coded drum cages can help different departments or production lines stay organised.

Order your bespoke overhead drum cage from St Clare Engineering

The combination of safety features, durability, efficiency and customisable colour tagging makes the Grab-O-Matic Overhead Drum Cage an essential tool for Oil & Gas ship-to-shore operations and a wide range rigging operations where drums will be moved by overhead cranes.

For more details and advice on how we can help you ensure the safe and efficient handling of drums with overhead cranes, forklift truck drum handling attachments or manual drum handling solutions, please get in touch – we’d love to help.

Andy Bow – St Clare Engineering Ltd

Tel: 02380 643402
Fax: 02380 642189
Email: sales@stclare-engineering.co.uk
Web: www.stclare-engineering.co.uk