SubscribeThe new MG MultiGrapples of Atlas Copco stand the test: The hurricane Kyrill has caused damages running into millions in the woods of the Sauerland district.
Blocked roads and woods to which the access is banned in and around a place called Kirchhundem are now being cleared with motor saws and a new MG 1800 because the timber has to be processed before beetles turn it into wood that is of no use.
Only recently the contractors Behle from Kirchhundem purchased a new grapple. The operator Josef Schmidt is extremely satisfied with the performance: „With the high-speed rotation unit of the MG 1800 we can really clear up this place. The grapple safely chucks the trunks and holds them in any desired position. The optimum speed with which the trunks are clasped is also very important. The material is not jerked off because the trunks are grasped too briskly and we are not losing time because the jaw is not closing fast enough."
Schmidt and his Volvo EC 210 transport the trunks to a storage area where they are sorted and stored until they are retrieved by the saw mills. Schmidt continues: „I can handle five to six trunks with the grapple, that is a weight of three to four tons per charge". And this is absolutely necessary if you want to get control of the huge amount of trees blown over by the storm and get them out of the woods in time.
Atlas Copco's series of MultiGrapples includes six models designed for being attached to carriers with a service weight ranging from 5 to 50 metric tons. Thanks to their robust design they cannot only be used for sorting out and loading material, but also for the demolition of light masonry, wooden structures, etc.
A standard hydraulic 360˚ rotation unit allows the grapple to be quickly and accurately positioned. The high closing forces and the large grapple volume warrant a high machine productivity.
All main components are made of quality steel. Hydraulic cylinders and components are protected against damage. The blades can be reversed and replaced with ease in order to guarantee a high MultiGrapple availability. The grapples have elongated slots e.g. to prevent branches from getting stuck.
Technical data:
| MG MultiGrapple | MG 500 | MG 800 | MG 1000 | |
| Carrier weight class | t | 5-9 | 9-16 | 12-20 |
| Service weight | kg | 460 | 825 | 925 |
| Max. closing force | t | 2,4 | 3,8 | 4,7 |
| Oil flow rate | l/min | 35-50 | 70-100 | 85-120 |
| Operating pressure | bar | 300 | 350 | 350 |
| Swivel range | ˚ | >360 | >360 | >360 |
| Rotary drive | hydr. | hydr. | hydr. | |
| Oil flow rate, rotation | l/min | max. 12 | max. 25 | max. 25 |
| Operating pressure, rotation | bar | 120-150 | 150-210 | 150-210 |
| Capacity | l | 200 | 400 | 500 |
| Jaw opening | mm | 1500 | 1700 | 1950 |
| Grapple width | mm | 700 | 800 | 800 |
| MG MultiGrapple | MG 1500 | MG 1800 | MG 2700 | |
| Carrier weight class | t | 17-28 | 20-28 | 28-50 |
| Service weight | kg | 1480 | 1780 | 2710 |
| Max. closing force | t | 7 | 7 | 9,2 |
| Oil flow rate | l/min | 120-170 | 130-180 | 160-220 |
| Operating pressure | bar | 350 | 350 | 350 |
| Swivel range | ˚ | >360 | >360 | >360 |
| Rotary drive | hydr. | hydr. | hydr. | |
| Oil flow rate, rotation | l/min | max. 30 | max.35 | max. 35 |
| Operating pressure, rotation | bar | 150-210 | 150-210 | 150-210 |
| Capacity | l | 800 | 850 | 1000 |
| Jaw opening | mm | 2100 | 2100 | 2200 |
| Grapple width | mm | 1000 | 1200 | 1200 |
April 2007