20 Excavator Grapple Manufacturers for Global Buyers

Epiroc and Indeco offer demolition and sorting options; Kenco and Rockland suit rock-handling shortlists; Rotobec and Dymax cover forestry duties. These excavator grapple manufacturers supply tools with different jaw shapes, mounts and hydraulic demands. An excavator grapple is a gripping attachment for holding and moving material, rather than a digging bucket.

A grapple that checks the boxes for a particular job may still be unsuitable for the machine. A bracket may push the weight over the catalog value, and a rotating tool may need a separate oil circuit. The comparison below shows buying differences for twenty manufacturers with application specific starting points, and one buying limit for each.

For more options for buckets and handling tools, see Liehuang’s excavator attachments.

Quick Picks by Application

Depending on what you need to hold and the movement required to place it, a closed sorting shell, an open stone grapple, and a log grapple are different tools, even if they belong to the same carrier class. These picks identify useful ranges to compare, without assigning a universal winner.

• Mixed demolition sorting: Epiroc MG and Indeco IMG provide application-specific grapple families.
• Rock handling: Kenco Hardrock and Rockland H23 offer open-tine approaches.
• Forestry loading: Rotobec’s excavator range and Dymax’s forestry tools deserve a place on the shortlist.
• Compact carriers: Kinshofer’s D-series and engcon SG03 address smaller excavators.
• Mechanical simplicity: Compare Pemberton EGR and Weixiang’s mechanical range against the machine’s existing linkage.
• Loose-material containment: Cat clamshell grapples and Indeco IMG L use a different jaw approach from a rock grab.

How We Selected These Grapple Manufacturers

We selected manufacturers with documented excavator grapple products, identifiable company information and application details on their official websites. Trading companies, sourcing platforms and directories were excluded. Company information was checked against official websites and public sources in October 2026. This is a curated set of twenty global options, grouped by application rather than market share; known same-group duplicates are counted once.

Kinshofer represents its Lifco group here, so Trevi Benne and Hultdins don’t receive additional entries. NPK’s American operation is counted with its Japanese parent. The Open-S member directory also identifies further attachment manufacturers beyond this selection.

20 Excavator Grapple Manufacturers Compared

The best starting point is a manufacturer with a grapple jaw type appropriate for your application, along with a model for your carrier. Use the table to refine product families. The trade-offs for each product range are described in individual cards. The company dates described don’t reflect the age of the grapple design.

Demolition and Sorting Grapple Manufacturers

Sorting grapples separate and place demolition material; Epiroc also specifies its MG range for dismantling light structures. Wider shells retain smaller pieces; open claws reach around irregular objects. For a contractor handling both timber and masonry, the jaw option can be more decisive than the manufacturer’s overall attachment range.

1. Epiroc: Best for light demolition with separate hydraulic circuits

Headquarters: Nacka, Sweden · Founded: 2018 (independent from Atlas Copco) · Type: Excavator attachment manufacturer

Official website: https://www.epiroc.com/

Main products: MG demolition and sorting grapples

Published capability: MG 800 R: 10–16 t carriers; 925 kg service weight.

Notable work: MG 800 R jaw flow is 70–100 L/min while rotation uses 20–25 L/min.

Epiroc’s MG range gives a demolition contractor a practical starting point when the job combines sorting with dismantling lighter structures. The MG 800 R separates opening and closing from rotation, so the operator can turn a piece into position while choosing the grip direction. A quoted attachment weight needs the same care as its jaw specification: Epiroc publishes both a product weight and a service weight that includes an adapter plate. Limitation: The MG 800 application is light demolition and material handling; heavier structural work calls for a tool rated for that duty.

2. Caterpillar: Best for dealer-supported loose-material loading

Headquarters: Irving, Texas, USA · Founded: 1925 · Type: Excavator attachment manufacturer

Official website: https://www.cat.com/

Main products: Trash and clamshell grapples

Published capability: CTV15-1200: 1,200 L capacity and 1,385 kg operating weight.

Notable work: CTV15-1200 has distinct excavator and material-handler carrier recommendations.

Caterpillar offers a useful route for buyers who want their attachment and machine support organized through a Cat dealer. The CTV15-1200 clamshell contains loose material between its shells, which suits loading tasks that would lose small pieces through widely spaced tines. Cat also separates excavator recommendations from material-handler recommendations instead of assigning one carrier range to every installation. Limitation: This clamshell configuration addresses bulk-material containment; it’s a different choice from an open rock grapple intended to grip irregular objects.

3. Kinshofer: Best for compact excavators and interchangeable shells

Headquarters: Holzkirchen, Germany · Founded: 1971 · Type: Excavator attachment manufacturer

Official website: https://www.kinshofer.com/us/

Main products: D-series demolition and sorting grabs

Published capability: D04HPX for 2–4 t; D09HPX for 6–9 t excavators.

Notable work: The HPX hydraulic drive uses no conventional hydraulic cylinder; shells can be exchanged from D04HPX upward.

Kinshofer’s compact D series is worth considering where a small carrier has to change between sorting tasks without taking on an oversized attachment. Its HPX innovation replaces a conventional cylinder arrangement with a hydraulic drive, and the interchangeable-shell option changes the contact surfaces that meet the material. Models without a rotator can also serve a machine that already supplies rotation through its tool system. Limitation: A non-rotating version adds no independent rotation, so it belongs in a different mounting arrangement from the rotating grab.

4. Indeco: Best for one hydraulic base with task-specific jaws

Headquarters: Bari, Italy · Founded: 1976 · Type: Excavator attachment manufacturer

Official website: https://indeco.it/en-us/

Main products: IMG multi-grabs with S, D, H, L and T jaws

Published capability: 360-degree rotation with interchangeable jaws for sorting, light demolition, large objects, loading and timber.

Certifications / history: According to Indeco, its management system is certified to UNI EN ISO 9001:2015.

Indeco makes the jaw choice particularly visible through its IMG family: S for sorting, D for light demolition, H for larger objects, L for loading and T for timber. A common hydraulic platform with interchangeable jaws gives the buyer a way to compare several duties within the same product family. The distinction matters when a machine moves from loose earth to timber, since containment and gripping demand different contact shapes. Limitation: The D version is described for light wooden and brick structures, rather than every form of demolition.

5. MB Crusher: Best for demolition sorting with interchangeable claws

Headquarters: Fara Vicentino, Italy · Founded: 2001 · Type: Excavator attachment manufacturer

Official website: https://www.mbcrusher.com/

Main products: MB-G sorting grapples; MB-PT demolition grabs

Published capability: MB-G900 S4: 12–18 t carriers, 0.43 m³ closed capacity, 360-degree rotation.

Notable work: MB-G900 S4 combines interchangeable claws with dedicated jaw and rotation hydraulic specifications.

MB Crusher’s MB-G900 S4 combines interchangeable claws with hydraulic rotation for sorting demolition material and placing awkward shapes. The company introduced its MB-G sorting family in 2014, followed by MB-PT demolition grabs in 2025, so those names identify different product lines. Accessories include clam-shell covers and grip improvements, letting a buyer distinguish the base tool from the equipment needed for a particular material. Limitation: Those accessories, including the electrical kit for two-hose functionality, are separate configuration choices rather than a universal standard package.

6. VTN: Best for Italian-made tools for stone and mixed debris

Headquarters: Cagnano di Pojana Maggiore, Italy · Founded: 1973 · Type: Excavator attachment manufacturer

Official website: https://vtneurope.com/en/

Main products: MD demolition/sorting grabs and PM stone grapples

Published capability: MD sorts brick and wood; PM uses a three-over-two tine arrangement for stone.

Notable work: VTN states that its equipment is entirely produced at its Italian headquarters and lists more than 7,000 spare parts.

VTN supplies several jaw layouts instead of treating every grab as the same attachment with a different size. Its MD range addresses demolition and sorting, while the PM stone grapple uses an open three-over-two arrangement suited to gripping solid objects. Italian production and the company’s stated spare-parts inventory give a purchasing team specific support topics to include alongside the initial machine quote. Limitation: The PM’s open geometry can release loose fines, so a closed or more closely spaced sorting tool is the better starting point for that material.

7. Mantovanibenne: Best for sorting attachments within a demolition tool fleet

Headquarters: Mirandola, Italy · Founded: 1963 · Type: Excavator attachment manufacturer

Official website: https://mantovanibenne.com/

Main products: Sorting grapples and orange-peel grabs

Published capability: Closed or perforated sorting jaws and separate orange-peel configurations for waste.

Notable work: Mantovanibenne is the founding heart of MBI Group, with buckets followed by hydraulic demolition and recycling equipment.

Mantovanibenne combines grapples with a wider demolition and recycling attachment range under MBI Group. Closed and perforated sorting jaws offer different ways to retain material, while the separate orange-peel format reaches around bulkier waste. A fleet already selecting crushers or shears can therefore compare its handling tools within the same manufacturer’s range, while keeping each task’s jaw requirements separate. Limitation: An orange-peel waste grab and a closed sorting grapple retain material differently; one configuration can’t replace the other merely because both appear in the demolition catalogue.

8. Arden Equipment: Best for multi-claw handling of irregular material

Headquarters: France · Founded: 1956 · Type: Excavator attachment manufacturer

Official website: https://www.arden-equipment.com/us/

Main products: G and GA grabs, demolition/sorting and Mini-Blue grabs

Published capability: G0951 for 11–15 t carriers; G/GA range includes three-, four- and five-claw layouts.

Notable work: G and GA configurations use replaceable cast-steel tips.

Arden’s G and GA grabs provide a useful comparison for buyers handling irregular material with several claws. The G0951 is listed for 11–15 t carriers, and the broader family includes three-, four- and five-claw arrangements with replaceable cast-steel tips. That choice directs attention to the size of the spaces between the claws, which affects whether small pieces stay in the grip or fall through. Limitation: Open multi-claw designs have different small-piece retention from a closed sorting shell.

Rock and Forestry Grapple Manufacturers

The load sitting between the jaws is more important when selecting rock and forestry tools. A timber-focused grip works around logs, while an open rock grapple holds uneven solid objects and lets loose soil escape. The mounting choices make a difference when the same excavator alternates between handling and digging work.

9. Rotobec: Best for forestry and repeated material handling

Headquarters: Sainte-Justine, Quebec, Canada · Founded: 1975 · Type: Excavator attachment manufacturer

Official website: https://rotobec.com/

Main products: RPA, sorting, demolition, forestry and multi-purpose grapples

Published capability: Excavator attachments offered for quick-coupler and direct-pin interfaces.

Notable work: Rotobec says it designs and manufactures almost every component in Quebec and New Hampshire.

Rotobec is a useful forestry and material-handling candidate because its excavator offering sits alongside dedicated families for other equipment. The company says it manufactures almost every component at its Quebec and New Hampshire facilities, giving buyers a concrete production footprint rather than only a sales-office address. Its excavator range includes direct-pin and quick-coupler mounting routes, which can serve different fleet-changeover practices. Limitation: A loader grapple and an excavator grapple may share a family description while requiring different mounts and installation packages.

10. Kenco: Best for rocks and large irregular objects

Headquarters: Ligonier, Pennsylvania, USA · Founded: 1984 · Type: Excavator attachment manufacturer

Official website: https://kenco.com/

Main products: Hardrock and Brush grapples

Published capability: Hardrock uses AR400 steel and a standard two-over-three tine arrangement.

Notable work: Hardrock supports direct pin-on, pin-grabber and Wedgebolt mounting options.

Kenco’s Hardrock design starts with AR400 steel and a standard two-over-three tine arrangement for larger irregular objects. The broad spaces allow a rock to sit between opposing fingers without turning the attachment into a scoop for all the surrounding material. Direct pin-on, pin-grabber and Wedgebolt options also give the buyer distinct attachment-interface routes for a machine or rental fleet. Limitation: Open tines don’t retain loose fines, so the Hardrock layout is a poor substitute for a closed shell when small debris is the load.

11. Rockland: Best for US dealer sourcing across heavy and light material duties

Headquarters: Bedford, Pennsylvania, USA · Founded: 1953 · Type: Excavator attachment manufacturer

Official website: https://rocklandmfg.com/

Main products: H23 and L45 excavator grapples

Published capability: H23 has two-over-three tines; L45 light-material layout has four-over-five.

Notable work: Complete attachments are distributed through dealers, with real-time dealer quoting.

Rockland separates its H23 heavy-duty layouts from the L45 light-material arrangement, helping a buyer choose the gripping pattern before comparing brands. Two-over-three and four-over-five tines put different amounts of steel around the load, so the material’s size matters alongside the carrier’s weight. The manufacturer supplies complete attachments through dealers and distributors, with dealer quoting built into its purchasing route. Limitation: Procurement for a complete Rockland attachment runs through that dealer channel, which determines who supplies the quote and handles the order.

12. Pemberton: Best for large excavators and broad tine choices

Headquarters: Longwood, Florida, USA · Founded: 1978 · Type: Excavator attachment manufacturer

Official website: https://www.pembertonattachments.com/

Main products: EGR wide and narrow excavator grapples

Published capability: Wide versions include two-over-three, three-over-four and four-over-five configurations for machines up to 200,000 lb.

Notable work: Narrow EGR models use a fixed lower jaw and moving upper jaw.

Pemberton’s EGR range is particularly relevant when a buyer wants a wide choice of tine layouts for a large excavator. The wide versions include two-over-three, three-over-four and four-over-five layouts, while narrow models use a fixed lower jaw and moving upper jaw. A fixed lower jaw gives a defined surface against which the upper jaw closes, making the machine’s approach angle part of the handling method. Limitation: That arrangement doesn’t provide the independent load positioning of a hydraulic rotating grapple.

13. Dymax: Best for rotating construction handling and forestry

Company address: Wamego, Kansas, USA (listed company address) · Founded: Not publicly disclosed; acquired by Clark Balderson in 1997 · Type: Excavator attachment manufacturer

Official website: https://dymaxinc.com/

Main products: 360 Construction Grapple and Forestry Grapple

Published capability: Construction range for 8–36 t excavators; forestry configurations for 13, 20 and 25 t carriers.

Notable work: The 360 construction range uses one rotation motor on 8–18 t versions and two on 20–36 t versions.

Dymax offers both rotating construction tools and forestry models, with product choices tied to carrier classes. Its 360 Construction Grapple changes from one rotation motor on smaller versions to two on larger versions, so the family name alone doesn’t describe the whole drive arrangement. The company’s history also separates the Balderson business heritage from Clark Balderson’s purchase of Dymax in 1997. Limitation: Specifications for the smaller single-motor construction grapple shouldn’t be carried over to the larger twin-motor versions.

14. engcon: Best for stone placement with a tiltrotator tool system

Headquarters: Strömsund, Sweden · Founded: 1990 · Type: Excavator attachment manufacturer

Official website: https://engcon.com/

Main products: SG stone and sorting grapples

Published capability: SG03 for 1.5–3 t; SG26 for 18–26 t excavators.

Certifications / history: The company lists ISO 9001:2015 and ISO 14001:2015 for engcon AB, Nordic, Sweden, Poland and Shared Service Center.

engcon’s SG stone and sorting tools fit a buying approach built around the excavator’s tiltrotator and hydraulic work-tool system. The SG26 includes reversible wear strips, while optional closed side panels change how the attachment contains material. That makes it a useful candidate for landscape work where a machine alternates between placing individual stones and collecting smaller material. Limitation: The open configuration isn’t a fully enclosed grab bucket; the side-panel choice changes that capability.

15. Steelwrist: Best for sorting with a coordinated coupler and tiltrotator system

Headquarters: Rosersberg, Sweden · Founded: 2005 · Type: Excavator attachment manufacturer

Official website: https://steelwrist.com/

Main products: MGX multi-purpose and SGX sorting grapples

Published capability: SGX targets 5–26 t carriers and moderate demolition; MGX extends from compact excavators to 26 t.

Notable work: SGX and MGX provide distinct sorting and multi-purpose work-tool families.

Steelwrist gives buyers a distinction between MGX multi-purpose work tools and the SGX sorting family. The latter is positioned for sorting and moderate demolition on 5–26 t machines, while MGX extends into compact excavator sizes. For a fleet using tiltrotators or automatic couplers, the tool interface is part of this comparison alongside the grapple body. Limitation: Moderate demolition is a narrower duty than unrestricted heavy structural demolition, so the intended job belongs in the tool selection.

Excavator Grapple Manufacturers in Asia

NPK, DAEMO and Hyundai Everdigm provide Japanese or Korean options, while JIANGTU and Weixiang add Chinese manufacturing choices. Their ranges differ in jaw format and model detail, so compare a named grapple against your excavator configuration. A country-of-origin preference alone doesn’t select the mounting bracket or hydraulic arrangement.

16. NPK: Best for model-specific hydraulic sizing for demolition sorting

Headquarters: Osaka, Japan · Founded: 1923 NPK origin; present company formed in 1945 · Type: Excavator attachment manufacturer

Official website: https://www.npk-en.com/

Main products: DG demolition and sorting grapples

Published capability: DG25: 16–26 t carriers, 1,450 kg excluding mounting bracket, 600 L capacity.

Certifications / history: NPK Japan lists ISO 9001:2015 certificate 13222, issued February 25, 2020, including construction-machine attachment development and manufacturing.

NPK’s DG catalogue provides a detailed route into model-specific selection rather than a broad promise that one grab suits many excavators. The DG25 separates jaw and rotation hydraulic requirements, and its weight footnote makes the mounting bracket an additional item in the installation. NPK Construction Equipment is the American subsidiary of the Japanese group, so the regional catalogue and parent-company history describe one organization in this list. Limitation: The published DG25 weight excludes the bracket; that figure isn’t the complete installed attachment mass.

17. DAEMO: Best for multi-claw handling on midsize excavators

Headquarters: Siheung, Gyeonggi, South Korea · Founded: 1989 · Type: Excavator attachment manufacturer

Official website: https://www.daemo.co.kr/eng/

Main products: DMSG multi-grapples

Published capability: DMSG800 for 18–25 t carriers, 1,200 kg including bracket and five claws.

Certifications / history: Company history records ISO 9001 in 2004 and ISO 14001 in 2007.

DAEMO’s DMSG800 gives buyers a defined multi-claw option for a midsize carrier, with five claws and a published closing-force figure. Its specification includes the mounting bracket in the listed weight, which makes the mass definition different from the NPK example. The company’s history records establishment in 1989 and later quality-management milestones, while its current base is in Siheung. Limitation: A bracket-inclusive weight can’t be compared directly with another maker’s bare-tool weight when deciding which installation is lighter. DMSG800 is specified for 18–25 t excavators; machines outside that band require another model.

18. Hyundai Everdigm: Best for Korean EPG grab sourcing

Headquarters: Jincheon, South Korea · Founded: 1994 · Type: Excavator attachment manufacturer

Official website: https://www.hyundaieverdigm.com/

Main products: EPG03, EPG05, EPG08, EPG14, EPG20 and EPG30 grabs

Published capability: Six EPG grab models listed: EPG03, EPG05, EPG08, EPG14, EPG20 and EPG30.

Certifications / history: Company history records ISO 9001 in 2001 and ISO 14001 in 2005.

Hyundai Everdigm lists six EPG grab models alongside its other excavator attachment families. That catalogue makes the company a candidate for buyers seeking a Korean grab source, while the individual model designation remains the starting point for machine selection. The business belongs to Hyundai Department Store Group, a separate corporate identity from HD Hyundai’s construction-equipment operations. Limitation: The shared Hyundai name isn’t a fitment specification; an EPG order needs the actual excavator and attachment configuration. EPG20 weighs 1,494 kg without its adapter, so the installed attachment adds adapter mass to that figure.

19. JIANGTU: Best for Chinese hydraulic grapple sourcing across carrier sizes

Headquarters: Yantai, Shandong, China · Founded: 2011 (factory, according to the company) · Type: Excavator attachment manufacturer

Official website: https://jtexcavator.com/

Main products: Rotating hydraulic grapples

Published capability: Published excavator grapple range covers 3–40 t carriers with 360-degree rotation.

Certifications / history: The company website lists ISO 9001 and CE.

JIANGTU’s hydraulic grapple range gives buyers a Chinese manufacturing option with model coverage from smaller carriers into larger excavators. Its product description specifies NM500 steel and heat-treated pins, connecting the durability discussion to named material and component details. A rotating grapple can then be compared with fixed tools according to whether the operator needs to turn and place the load. Limitation: The advertised carrier range covers multiple models; it isn’t a claim that one grapple fits every machine between its endpoints. The stated warranty covers failures from defective design, materials or workmanship for one year or 2,000 hours; free replacement is limited to the first six months.

20. Weixiang: Best for Chinese sourcing with mechanical and hydraulic options

Headquarters: Yantai, Shandong, China · Founded: 2009 · Type: Excavator attachment manufacturer

Official website: https://www.wxattachments.com/

Main products: Mechanical, hydraulic, log, sorting and orange-peel grapples

Published capability: OEM/ODM production from a stated 5,000 m² facility.

Certifications / history: A company product page lists the historical ISO 9001:2008 edition and CE.

Weixiang offers mechanical and hydraulic grapple families alongside custom attachment production in Yantai. OEM/ODM supply is relevant when an order needs an agreed mounting arrangement or a specific jaw configuration, while the company’s stated one-year warranty gives a concrete starting point for the commercial discussion. Its wider attachment catalogue also includes an auger, but that drilling tool serves a separate job from grasping and moving material. Limitation: A mechanical grapple and a rotating hydraulic grapple require different machine arrangements, even when sourced from the same factory.

Mechanical vs Hydraulic Grapple Attachments

A mechanical grapple closes through the excavator’s bucket linkage; a hydraulic grapple has a powered jaw movement. Rotation is a separate function. Keeping things distinct helps when choosing between simple bulk handling and repeated sorting or placement, without buying a function the machine can’t perform.

Grapple Job-to-Jaw Comparison

Match the job to the jaw first. The comparison below links common material-handling tasks to the product shapes offered by the manufacturers above. It is a selection aid: a grapple’s actual carrier range, permissible duty and hydraulic settings still belong to its individual model.

Mechanical doesn’t mean an excavator works without hydraulics. The bucket cylinder on the excavator drives the linkage, but the grapple can avoid a separate jaw cylinder and attachment hoses. Independent hydraulic jaws give the operator another controlled function; a powered rotator adds the ability to turn a held object without relying only on the machine’s approach angle.

Independent rotation is a good choice if the operator repeatedly aligns pieces with a pile, truck or opening. It also adds a drive and hydraulic connections to the maintenance task. A mechanical device may be a better choice if the work is mainly grabbing and moving large items with little reorientation.

Can you add a thumb to an excavator?

Yes, an excavator can use a compatible thumb to grip material against its bucket. A thumb is a separate attachment from a complete grapple: the bucket forms one side of the grip, while a grapple supplies its own opposing jaws. The appropriate connector and movement must match the equipment and bucket.

A thumb is useful when digging is a major part of the work and infrequent gripping avoids changing the bucket. A dedicated grapple becomes more relevant when sorting, loading or positioning material is the main task. Bucket tooth spacing and thumb tines also affect how the parts close together; the excavator thumb range covers that alternative. A rake or ripper addresses ground preparation rather than replacing either gripping arrangement.

How to Choose an Excavator Grapple

Choose the jaw for the material, then match the complete attachment to the carrier, mounting interface and available hydraulics. For a 20-ton excavator, NPK’s published DG25 carrier band provides a relevant model to examine. Its individual weight and oil-circuit details are more useful than treating “20-ton grapple” as a complete specification.

1. Define the material and the permitted work

Start with the load: Is it solid rock, short or long logs? Is it a mixed load of scrap, or demolition debris? Open fingers reach around larger objects, while closer shells retain smaller pieces. The working description also affects the choice. A tool sold for sorting and light demolition work has a narrower duty than a tool for heavy demolition.

Statements like “rugged” and “heavy duty” don’t give closing forces and carrier specs. A durable installation combines the right jaw geometry with replaceable wear components and the manufacturer’s permitted task. Mining and quarry buyers should describe the material being handled, not assume that an attachment classification defines its service.

2. Compare complete weight and the machine’s lift chart

Epiroc lists the MG 800 R at 802 kg product weight and 925 kg service weight, with a medium adapter plate included in the latter. NPK lists the DG25 at 1,450 kg excluding its mounting bracket. Those figures describe different equipment packages, so they can’t be used directly to rank which installation is lighter.

For useful “lift capacity” at its intended reach and position, follow the carrier’s load chart and attachment instructions. Include mounting hardware and any tiltrotator in equipment configuration. For a grapple, closing force is its gripping spec, not an allowance to lift that same mass with any excavator.

Liehuang’s used excavator buying guide covers the carrier inspection that should accompany an attachment purchase.

Verification of the starting configuration on a used machine should include checking for worn pins and a changed coupler as part of the inspection.

3. Match pin geometry and the quick coupler

JMA’s mechanical model SKU 7987597 gives a concrete fitment example: 50 mm pin diameter, 200 mm ear spacing and 310 mm pin centers. A pin diameter alone leaves two of those dimensions unresolved. A different hitch or adapter plate can also change the distance between the machine and the load.

For a coupler compatible installation, the specific coupler and attachment interface should be matched, not just the excavator brand. The quick coupler options explain the machine-side choice; the attachment compatibility checker helps organize the corresponding fitment inputs. Neither a familiar brand badge nor a broad carrier band replaces the dimensions.

4. Separate jaw flow from rotation flow

NPK publishes 60–100 L/min jaw flow and 30–50 L/min rotation flow for the DG25. Epiroc’s MG 800 R has different figures: 70–100 L/min for the jaws and 20–25 L/min for rotation. These are model specifications, not interchangeable settings for every hydraulic grapple.

A machine can have an auxiliary line without having the complete control arrangement needed by the selected rotating attachment. The installation specification should detail each function, the flow and pressure requirements, and how the operator controls it. Tractor-style 3rd function valve kits are a different equipment category; an excavator installation needs its own specified circuit arrangement.

5. Check the automatic interface as a system

In addition to the mechanical mount, automatic coupling adds another compatibility layer. The Open-S Alliance’s explanation of interchangeability covers compliant quick couplers, tiltrotators and work tools working together across manufacturers. The relevant check is the actual combination of components, not simply whether the brands appear in an association’s member list.

A fleet changing frequently between a grapple and a bucket has a different interface priority from a machine that keeps one attachment fitted. Forks on the front-end of a loader also belong to a different mounting system. Similarity in the handling task doesn’t make its attachment fit an excavator.

6. Price the wear parts and support route

Replaceable tips, wear strips, pins and bushes turn a general durability claim into identifiable maintenance items. Kenco specifies AR400 for Hardrock; engcon identifies reversible wear strips on SG26. Manufacturers may harden pins or use wear-resistant plate, but the actual material and replacement part belong to the chosen model.

The supplier’s parts route affects downtime when an attachment needs repair. A contractor considering direct import vs. local dealer should include the delivery of wear items in his purchasing consideration. For a short-term requirement, it may make sense to rent rather than own an attachment that otherwise would be idle.

What is the best style, brand and size of log grapple with a rotator?

A timber-focused jaw with a rotator suited to the carrier is the right starting style; Rotobec and Dymax are useful brands to compare. Size should follow the timber being handled and the complete machine configuration. Dymax lists forestry versions for 13, 20 and 25 t carriers, giving a model-based starting point.

Long logs and short mixed timber do not sit in the same way between the jaws. The gripping shape needs to hold the intended bundle while the rotator gives the required placement movement. A stone grapple may grip a log, but a forestry product family gives the buyer a more focused set of jaw choices. Precision placement calls for controlled rotation, while simple pile loading may also place more weight on opening and gripping geometry.

7. Put the acceptance details into one inquiry

Send the same machine and job information to each source shortlisted for the job. That lets an engineer compare configurations without guessing whether a quote includes the bracket or only the grapple body. Keep certificates tied to the named company and product documentation. A historical management-system milestone isn’t the same as the papers supplied with the tool.

1. Identify the carrier — provide make, model, current coupler and photographs of the mounting arrangement.
2. Describe the load — identify material, typical shape and whether the work includes demolition or only handling.
3. Confirm the configuration — obtain the model’s full installed weight, dimensions, hydraulic requirements and control arrangement.
4. Itemize the offer — separate the attachment, bracket, hoses, controls, fitting, transport and spare parts.
5. Agree the handover — record supplied documentation, warranty scope and the checks made on the actual machine.

Excavator Grapple Prices and Installed Cost

JMA advertised a 24-inch mechanical grapple, SKU 7987597, at US$4,997 on October 27, 2026. The ad states it’s offered with pins and specifies a 7-10 US short-ton carrier category. This is a named attachment price; a usable machine installation can also require mounting hardware, hydraulic equipment, controls, fitting and transport.

There are differences in comparing a mechanical tool to a rotating hydraulic tool. The cheaper attachment body may not include functions for sorting and placing. Conversely, buying rotation for a machine that mainly moves large objects can add equipment that the job rarely uses.

Use these lines to compare the same scope delivered. A local dealer may bundle several items in a package, while a direct factory offer may separate them. Purchasing decisions are easier to make when the quote shows exactly what’s included alongside the exact excavator model.

For specialty work, the pertinent comparison is the configuration that performs the job. A closed-shell tool with loose debris offers different benefits from the versatility with interchangeable jaws. Reliability also has a support component, and a part number, supply route and warranty contact are a lot more tangible than a guarantee of a long working life.

Frequently Asked Questions

Build a Grapple Shortlist Around Your Excavator

Pick the type of jaw, and then identify manufacturers with an appropriate model and support route. Liehuang sells used excavators and attachments to customers bundling an equipment package. Send the carrier model, current coupler, intended material and delivery destination to request a carrier-specific attachment quote.

Write down the full model designation whether it’s a Komatsu, Kubota, Deere or Bobcat. A compact excavator and a skid steer from the same company use different attachment arrangements. Accurate machine identification gives the supplier a usable starting point for the mounting and hydraulic discussion.

About this guide: Published by LH Used Excavator. Company profiles and product figures are attributed to manufacturer publications checked in October 2026. Application picks are editorial comparisons of those product descriptions.