HULTDINS multipurpose grapple RailGrip 16

HULTDINS is the world’s largest manufacturer of grapples for professional use on forestry machines. In addition to timber grapples, HULTDINS also produces high quality grapples for demanding applications in the construction industry. The MultiGrip series from HULTDINS includes multi-purpose and sorting grapples for fixed attachment to excavators. In northern Europe the MultiGrip grapples are very popular in the construction industry and together with Rototilt they are versatile tools for pipeline, paving, landscaping and demolition.

The claws of the Multigrip grapples engage in each other as with the timber grapple and can therefor firmly grip and precisely position kerbstones, pipes and beams. Even the sorting of demolition material is quick and precise with a HULTDINS MultiGrip grapple.

Track construction companies have so far used the robust SuperGrip I-S and the MultiGrip grapples to handle steel plates and tracks.

The foundation for the development of Railgrip 16 was laid when a large Canadian track construction company, which maintains tracks for the Canadian Pacific Railway, approached HULTDINS for a special grapple for track construction. The application areas were to be the repair and maintenance work typical in track construction and maintenance. HULTDINS accepted the challenge to develop the ultimate grapple for this purpose.

The specifications of the Canadian track construction company included the development of a grapple with the following characteristics:

• Pick up sleepers made of wood, steel and concrete individually and from a stack
• Grab and hold tracks, beams, sleepers and kerbstones with the tips
• Can be combined with a HULTDINS grapple-saw to clear the road of trees after storms
• Safe, low-maintenance and reliable – At least 6000 h service life is expected
• Not too heavy to be used on a recycling crane on the truck and mobile excavator

Those components have been further developed for the RG 16:

• The top part of the grapple is the same as the latest version of the SuperGrip I 360-S.
• The hole pattern 6×17-173 and 6×21-203 mm are available, so that stronger rotators and the especially stable mounting kits for grapple-saws for excavators can be mounted.
• The top part can easily be adapted for fixed mounting.
• For excavators up to 11.5 t operating weight, the RG 16 can be combined with the INDEXATOR rotator XR300.
• The two tie rods are made of cast steel.
• The cylinder is equipped with a load holding valve and accumulator. To avoid shock loads on the cylinder, the claws have mechanical stops.
• The 3 claws are made as box section – this makes them very robust but relatively light; the scraper bars are made of Hardox.
• The tips of the claws pass each other at the same height so that objects can be gripped with the tip and held securely.
• The claw opening has the shape of a rectangle, so that sleepers and beams can be kept straight.
• The geometry of the claws is chosen so that you can reach along the wall into a container. This is also advantageous if you want to remove logs from a steaming pit.
• Extra large tubes made of OVAKO micro alloy steel are used to redirect the force of the cylinder. Even robust handling and hard ground can hardly harm the grapple.

The RailGrip 16 is the optimal grapple for handling sleepers made of wood, steel and concrete. The design of the RG16 ensures that the grapple is very reliable, economical and cost effective.

In application it soon became apparent that the HULTDINS multi-purpose grapple RailGrip 16 is also very suitable for other tasks. The box section tines are stable and strong enough so that heavy loads in the transverse direction, such as those encountered when setting natural stones or when handling rootstocks and scrap, do not represent a problem at all.

The first use of a HULTDINS RG16 in Germany is currently on an excavator with a HULTDINS SuperSaw 550 as a felling grapple.