How to use Drumclips

Six steps to safe, certified loads – how to use the Drumclip for different drum types

Drumclips are a simple, efficient and effective solution for securing drums to pallets and trailers. They are usable with different types and volumes of drums (steel and plastic) and alongside other packaging products (pallet wrap film and strapping).

Drumclips are easy to use and ensure safety of palletised loads of drums during transit. They are first affixed to the outside rims of the drums. Polyester strapping is then tightened horizontally around the drums, then vertically under the pallet and over the Drumclips, using the strap guides.

This innovative product is certified to a number of global safety standards, demonstrating the security of loads during transit. However, they are only certified if applied correctly and used in conjunction with the right strapping or application process.

This handy step-by-step guide explains how to ensure Drumclips are being applied correctly and compliantly, no matter what drum types or other packaging products are being used.

Please note: Drumclips can be used in conjunction with polyester strapping or pallet wrapping film. However, Drumclips are most commonly used with strapping – only this method will achieve compliance with all three of its global certifications (TUV Rheinland, ISTA, and EUMOS 40509).

How to use Drumclips on steel drums

This method applies to all steel drums and requires two clips per four drums. Openhead steel drums require green Drumclips while tighthead steel drums require red. ISO steel drums require orange Drumclips.

Step 1 – Place four drums on a pallet. Load four drums onto a wooden pallet.

Step 2 – Affix Drumclips. Place two Drumclips on the outside of the drums and opposite one another, with the wide side of each Drumclip facing outwards.

Step 3 – Apply horizontal strap. Wrap and tighten a polyester strap horizontally around the middle of the four drums.

Step 4 – Apply vertical strap. Feed and tighten a polyester strap vertically, under the pallet and over the two Drumclips, using the strap guide on each Drumclip.

At this stage, the drums are secured to the pallet and certified to ISTA 3E Pallet Stability and EUMOS 40509.

Step 5 – Place pallet load in the trailer. Using a fork lift truck, lift and place the palletised drums onto your trailer bed with the Drumclips facing the outside of the trailer. Pallets should be placed on non-slip mats with a minimum resistance of 0.6µm.

Step 6 – Apply tension strap to secure the load to trailer. Place a tension strap over and across the drums, again between the strap guides of the Drumclips. The strap should not be twisted and must be placed on both sides of the vehicle and under the horizontal strap secured around the middle of the drums. Attach the tension strap hooks to the anchor points and secure the pallets to the vehicle using an ergo ratchet. The tension strap should have a minimum StF value of 350 DaN for a double row of drums.

Once these steps have been correctly completed for four drums on a pallet, the load is certified to ISTA, EUMOS 40509, and TUV Rheinland standards.

How to use Drumclips on plastic drums

This method applies to all plastic drums, using the green Drumclip only, and requires four clips per four drums.

Step 1 – Place four drums on a pallet. Load four drums onto a wooden pallet.

Step 2 – Affix Drumclips. Place the four Drumclips on the rims of each drum, to sit between and holding two drums each, with the wide side of the Drumclips facing outwards.

Step 3 – Apply horizontal strap. Wrap and tighten a polyester strap horizontally around the middle of the four drums.

Step 4 – Apply vertical strap. Feed and tighten two polyester straps vertically, under the pallet and over two Drumclips which face one another.

Please note: The buckle on each polyester strap should not end up on the outside of the trailer nor on top of the drums.

At this stage, the drums are secured to the pallet and certified to ISTA 3E Pallet Stability and EUMOS 40509.

To secure your palletised drums in a trailer, follow Steps 5 & 6 as above.

Once these steps have been correctly completed for four drums on a pallet, the load is certified to ISTA, EUMOS 40509, and TUV Rheinland standards.

How to use Drumclips with pallet wrap film

This method applies to tighthead steel drums only, using the red Drumclip, and requires two clips per eight drums.

Step 1 – Place four drums on a pallet. Load four drums onto a wooden pallet.

Step 2 – Wrap with stretch film. Use a pallet wrapper to apply stretch film to the load, around the drums and the pallet, delivering at least 8 wraps of film of at least 28µm thickness and 500m width.

Step 3 – Place pallet load in the trailer. Using a fork lift truck, lift and place the palletised drums onto your trailer bed in double rows. Pallets should be placed on non-slip mats with a minimum resistance of 0.6µm.

Step 4 – Affix Drumclips. Place a Drumclip over the flanged edges of two drums, doing this twice over, on the side-by-side drums on each outside side of the trailer, with the with the wide side of the Drumclips facing outwards.

Step 5 – Apply vertical strap to secure the load to trailer. Place a tension strap vertically across the double row of drums, to sit between the strap guides of the Drumclips. The strap should not be twisted. The tension strap should have a minimum StF value of 350 DaN for a double row of drums.

Step 6 – Tension and secure the strap. Attach the tension strap hooks to the anchor points and secure the pallets to the vehicle using an ergo ratchet – using hand-tension with a force of SHF daN (50kg). Each strap should be at a 90 angle to the vehicle’s direction of travel and attached to the vehicle in line with the Drumclips.

Repeat Steps 3, 4, 5 & 6 for each row of palletised drums.

This solution certifies palletised drum loads to TUV Rheinland standards, according to DIN EN 12195-1.

Factors to consider when using Drumclips:

Storage – Drumclips must be kept in dry, moderately heated conditions away from sunlight and protected from the potential of mechanical damage. Drumclips can only be used in temperatures between -10 and +50 degrees Celsius.

Maintenance – Drumclips should be checked for any damage before they are used and reused, and cannot be used for more than two years after their production date.

Looking to use Drumclips? Contact MorsaPack

For guidance and advice on how Drumclips could benefit your operations, chat to our team today.