Telescopic Stainless Steel Drum Tilter

Our customer was looking to improve their production process and increase their output without compromising on safety. They required a unit to decant HDPE (high-density polyethylene) drums into vats at height; due to the height operators would not be able to reach any manual rotation controls with the drum raised. Working within the food industry the drum tilter had to be easily cleaned and suitable for use in a GMP production area.

Key requirements:

• stainless steel construction;
• ability to handle HDPE drums;
• tip height of 2400mm (minimum);
• powered drum rotation to allow decanting at height;
• hygiene and food safety factors;
• wet features for cleaning and unit longevity.

Our customer required the ability to lift and tilt drums into a vessel 2400mm high. Telescopic models are ideal if decanting material into tall vessels and vats. We can offer our drum tilters in single- and dual-mast configurations depending on the lift height required. Single mast units offer around 1500mm of lift whereas telescopic masts offer 2700mm. Our telescopic models feature two sets of lifting channels much like a forklift truck design.

When the drum is lifted to height operators are able to tilt the drum by operating a controller on the rear panel. The rotation is powered by a DC motor and worm-wheel gearbox arrangement. Due to the wet nature of the workplace, the gearbox and motor was shrouded and sealed within a stainless steel cover. As well as powered drum rotation we can also offer powered clamping and load-cell weighing systems.

Stainless steel drum tilters are a popular option when it comes to handling drums in a food environment. The 304-grade stainless steel we use is both durable and corrosion-resistant making it ideal for use in harsh and potentially wet/corrosive environments. The smooth blasted finish on our stainless steel allows operators to easily clean the machine; both the hygiene and appearance of the product are therefore maintained.

Plastic drums are widely used within the food and pharmaceutical industry due to their sterile material and ability to be easily cleaned. Due to the nature of HDPE, the drums are very slippery and in turn, can be difficult to lift and tilt. STS has designed and manufactured a variable band that connects to these plastic drums allowing them to be lifted and decanted. Simply adjust the variable band to accommodate drum sizes of between 350mm and 600mm in diameter. The drum is secured using a ratchet and polyester strap.