Most vessels are now required to handle materials that ordinary grabs struggle with: bundled scrap, broken steel plates, heavy castings, and dense ores. These materials do not flow like grain. They interlock, wedge, and resist being scooped. A standard grab often bounces off or only takes a partial load.
Clients come to GBM. They needed to unload barges and feed their processing line with 12 cubic meters of heavy material per cycle—but their existing grabs lacked the closing power to dig into compacted scrap. After evaluating the market, they chose GBM’s electric-hydraulic grab. We have now manufactured, tested, and shipped the unit. This is not a generalpurpose grab. It is built for the toughest closing force in its class.
Simple Control from the Crane Cab: No Extra Crew Needed
Many heavy grabs require a dedicated operator on the ground with a radio remote, or complex two person communication. The shipyard wanted a cleaner setup: the crane driver alone should control everything from the cab. GBM delivered exactly that.
Direct electric-hydraulic integration
The grab connects to the crane’s hoist wires and also receives power and control signals through a dedicated cable or slip ring. Inside the grab, a compact hydraulic power unit—motor, pump, valve block, and tank—converts electrical energy into hydraulic force. The crane driver uses simple up/down and open/close levers. No additional radio, no second person with a joystick.
Why this matters?
Shipyards are noisy, crowded, and often hazardous. Having one person control both the crane motion and the grab closure reduces miscommunication and speeds up cycles. The driver sees exactly what the grab is doing. If a load is jammed, they can feel it through the controls and adjust instantly. For the shipyard customer, this meant a safer operation and a faster learning curve for new drivers.
Dealingthe Toughest Materials
The standout feature of this 12m³ electric-hydraulic grab is its closing force. Compared to ropeoperated or singleline grabs, and even compared to many other hydraulic grabs, the GBM design generates higher torque at the shell closure point.
How GBM achieve it?
The hydraulic cylinders are oversized and mounted for maximum leverage. The pump delivers high pressure without sacrificing cycle speed. The shell geometry is optimised so that the bite concentrates force at the tips. When the grab closes on a pile of tangled scrap or compacted demolition waste, it does not stall. It cuts in, pulls the material together, and holds it securely.
Beyond Delivery: Installation, Commissioning, and Support
A powerful grab still needs correct installation and setup. The shipyard had their own crane, but the electrical interface, the hoist arrangement, and the hydraulic settings had to match. GBM provided full aftersales support as part of the package.
On site installation guidance
Our technical team supplied detailed electrical and hydraulic schematics, along with stepbystep mechanical installation drawings. We also offered remote video support during the initial rigging. The customer’s electricians traced the cables, connected the power supply, and checked the control signals with our guidance. No guesswork, no blown fuses.
Commissioning and tuning
Once the grab was hung, we walked the customer through the first opening and closing cycles. We adjusted the pressure relief valves to match their typical material density. We also showed them how to set the closing timer for different loads—faster for light material, slower and more powerful for heavy scrap. The whole commissioning took less than a day.
Long-term service mindset
We provided a list of recommended spare parts (cylinder seals, hose kit, motor contactors) and a simple maintenance schedule. The shipyard now knows exactly what to check weekly, monthly, and yearly. Our support line remains open for any question that comes up after months of operation.
High Quality Equipment and Full Cycle Service
The shipment of this 12 cubic meter electric-hydraulic grab to a shipyard is another example of GBM delivering what the customer truly needs—not a catalog product, but a solution. We understand that bulk handling is not one size fits all. A grab for grain is different from a grab for scrap. A grab for a port crane is different from a grab for a shipyard unloader.
Our electric-hydraulic grabs combine simple cab control, the strongest closing force in their class, and a support package that covers installation, commissioning, and beyond.
Whether you handle scrap, ore, aggregates, or industrial waste, GBM can size and configure a grab that works for your crane and your material.
Please contact us for the solution!
