Mack releases Mag-Grab

At ISRI2018, the annual convention and exhibition hosted by the Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries (ISRI) in Las Vegas in mid-April, conference and exhibition in Las Vegas, Nevada, Mack Manufacturing, Theodore, Alabama, introduced a new mag-grab to its product line for the scrap-handling industry.

The combination four-tine grapple and lifting magnet is offered in 1-, 1.5- and 2-yard models. The 2-yard grab is fitted with a 44-inch lifting magnet, while the smaller models feature 40-inch magnets, the company says.

Mag-grabs typically are used to improve load retention when lifting fine material or to let operators “sweep” the work area clear of ferrous debris during loading operations.     

To develop the new product, Mack says it worked closely with the magnet manufacturer to optimize the attachment. Like all Mack products, the mag-grabs are 100 percent American engineered and manufactured.

According to Matt Davidson of Mack Manufacturing, there was a great deal of interest in this product at the show. “We feel that this combination will prove to be a very valuable addition to many of our customers and effectively increase their productivity in certain operating situations,” he says.

Like other mag-grabs on the market, the new Mack models also allow continuous rotation of the orange-peel tines, providing extra flexibility and control for operators, the company says. The rotator on most grapples is located next to the attachment point. The Mack mag-grabs include a brushless spindle below the attachment knuckle, so the tines can rotate independently of the attachment point. The tines can elevate above the magnet position, allowing the magnet to sweep right to ground level, Mack says. 

The company says the reinforcement ribs forged into each of the orange peel's tines add strength and rigidity to stand up against heavy loads.

The grapple itself is all T1 structural steel with AR400 plate at high wear areas in the tines. Oversized bushings are used at hinge points for longer life and all shafting is heat-treated and stress-relieved 4140 material, according to the manufacturer. Tines are fitted with premium replaceable points.

All hydraulic cylinders in the mag-grab are manufactured in Mack’s own machine shop.