Graco Drum Unloaders are designed for medium- to high-viscosity materials such as peanut butter, tomato paste, creams, lotions, gels, syrups, frosting, nut butters, adhesives, and other products that cannot be pumped reliably with standard transfer pumps.
Graco drum unloader
Graco Drum Unloader
The SaniForce 2.0 Drum Unloader evacuates medium to high viscosity material from 55-gallon drums without diluting or heating ingredients. With up to 99% evacuation rate, the SaniForce 2.0 Drum Unloader improves production efficiency by increasing container change-out speed and provides a superior alternative to manual scooping for improved food and employee safety.
Common applications include the transfer of tomato paste, peanut butter, jams and jellies, icing and frosting, caramels, corn syrups, toothpaste, and more.
Product Overview
Key Features
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- Up to 99% evacuation rate of medium to high viscosity materials without diluting or heating the contents.
- Superior alternative to manual scooping for improved food and employee safety.
- Automated controls remove unnecessary operator interaction and automate the unload process.
- FDA-compliant inflatable ram plate seal securely fits straight-sided and tapered drums with high evacuation rates and faster change-out of containers.
- Sanitary flange clamps allow quick disassembly for easy cleaning and sanitizing and minimal downtime.
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Theory of Operation
The Graco Drum Unloader uses a high-force pneumatic ram and specialized follower plate to quickly evacuate medium- to high-viscosity materials directly from standard drums. As the ram lowers, the follower plate creates an airtight seal on the product surface, reducing air pockets and ensuring consistent pump priming. A sanitary piston or diaphragm pump (depending on configuration) draws the material through the center of the plate and into the process line with minimal shear. The system automatically maintains pressure and follower-plate contact to minimize waste, maximize evacuation efficiency—often 99% or greater—and ensure smooth, continuous flow for applications such as sauces, creams, concentrates, pastes, and other hard-to-pump materials.
See How the Graco Drum Unloader Works
Get a quick look at how the Graco Drum Unloader delivers fast, efficient evacuation of high-viscosity materials with minimal waste. This overview video highlights its plug-and-play design, powerful pneumatic operation, and industry-proven performance.
Key Applications
Food Products:
Unload medium to high viscosity products up to +1,000,000 cps*, from 55- gallon containers without diluting the material.
*Only applies to priming piston drum unloaders.
Common Products:
Tomato Paste
Peanut Butter
Icing & Frosting
Toothpaste
Cosmetics
Jams & Jellies
Caramel
Corn Syrup
Lubes & Greases
Frequently Asked Questions
With proper setup, the system can achieve 99% or greater evacuation, leaving minimal residue on drum walls or the follower plate. This results in major product savings, especially for expensive or high-viscosity materials.
Depending on application needs, the system can be fitted with sanitary piston pumps or double diaphragm pumps. Each offers different flow capabilities, discharge pressures, and shear characteristics to match specific product requirements.
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Get personalized support for equipment selection, sizing, and applications.
