Use Your Excavator Like a Hand: Types of Hydraulic Grapples
20 November 2025
Excavators are not just for digging soil; they are also used to place heavy loads precisely. Hydraulic Grapples give your machine a "hand" capability.
Digging isn't always enough; sometimes you need to grab, lift, and place. Here are the grapple types best suited for your work.
1. Which Grapple is Right for You?
- Stone Grapple: Used in sea wall projects, river rehabilitation, or retaining wall construction to place large rocks precisely so they interlock.
- Scrap & Orange Peel Grapple: Multi-tine grapples are preferred in recycling facilities to load paper, plastic, or metal scrap into trucks.
- Log Grapple: specifically designed with interlocking curved jaws for forestry operations to carry and stack tree trunks efficiently.
2. Grapple Selection Table
| Grapple Type | Jaw Structure | Ideal Project |
| Stone Grapple | 2+1 or 3+2 tines | Stone Walls, Sea Walls |
| Scrap (Orange Peel) | 4 or 5 tines (Closed) | Scrap Loading, Waste |
| Log Grapple | Wide, curved jaws | Sawmills, Forestry |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q: Does the grapple rotate 360 degrees?
A: Yes, all HKM hydraulic grapples feature 360-degree infinite rotation. This allows you to place the stone or load in any position you want.
Q: Does it fit excavator bucket pins?
A: Grapples come with a bracket structure custom-made for your machine. They mount directly to the pins or are compatible with a Quick Coupler.
Add Hand Capability to Your Excavator
Tell us what load you will handle, and we will recommend the most suitable grapple type.
Email: info@hkm.com.tr