Tiltrotators tilt the balance for excavator owners
Published 24/7, 2024 at 13:22A Tiltrotator, (also known as rototilt) is a hydraulic excavator attachment that was invented in Sweden and first introduced onto the market in the early 1980s. Tiltrotators provide 360° continuous rotation and up to 45° tilt to improve the flexibility and precision of the excavator’s operation. Over the years, tiltrotators have gained enough popularity with excavator owners throughout the world to become a staple item in attachment arsenals. In this feature, PDi’s Andrei Bushmarin presents the latest news from the tiltrotator sector.
Holp upgrades proven ‘RotoTop’ modular system
Established in 1957 in Germany, Holp GmbH has gained vast experience in manufacturing tiltrotators. According to the company, a regular rotation option is enough to fulfil 95% of the tasks that excavator operators face on a daily basis. However, some jobs do require the tilting function or a combination of both. In order to meet the needs of its European customers, Holp has upgraded its popular RotoTop modular system. The system is built around the RotoTop unit that is designed for endless rotation. It can be used with or without tilt or in the ‘sandwich configuration’ with a quick change system.
There are two ways to use Holp’s modular system: if a job requires greater height and a bigger working range, then the combination with tilt offering a working angle of 2 x 90° should be chosen. This ensures maximum oil quantity for continuous use of mulchers, moulders and plate compactors without any thermic complications. As an alternative solution, for those who need more power, and therefore a flat design to work with gripper arms or swivel buckets, Holp an option with a working angle of 2 x 75° at the tilt. To obtain the flat design that creates a difference of 10cm for a 9t excavator, Holp has eliminated a distribution block so that oil can be fed directly through the mounting bracket. The biggest setup is the so-called ‘sandwich’ configuration with tilt and a quick changer, which acts as an extension of the excavator’s arm. This configuration can be very helpful in special applications such as canal construction.
Kinshofer launches new tiltrotators for mini excavators
Another German player, the Kinshofer Group, has also updated its ‘NOX’ tiltrotator series with 360° endless rotation and 2 x 50° tilt features which transform the base machine into a multifunctional attachment carrier. New to the range is the TR045NOX model for 2.5t to 4.5t mini excavators. This small tiltrotator also features 360° continuous rotation and a tilt angle of 2 x 45°. Another model in pipeline is the TR025 tiltrotator for 0.5t to 2.5t base machines, featuring 360° rotation and 2 x 26° tilt. As with all NOX tiltrotators, operators can choose between direct mount above, hydraulic or fully hydraulic quick coupler below, or the sandwich style, meaning quick coupling to both sides: up and down.
Being a member of the Open-S Alliance, Kinshofer is also now offering its tiltrotators and attachments with the Open-S system (which recently won the Intermat Innovation Award 2024). The electrical feed through function is optionally available for the use with special safety quick couplers and tool recognition systems. In addition, the NOX tiltrotators are designed to be compatible with 2D/3D excavator control systems. Kinshofer also offers a vast selection of attachments suitable for tiltrotators, both mechanical and hydraulic, for digging, sorting, positioning, loading, demolishing or levelling applications. The ‘NOXProp+’ control system provides safety and precision of the operation. Its main features include individual function settings and intuitive menu. Integrated GPS, LTE, Bluetooth and Wi-Fi link the carrier machine to the digital workplace. Thanks to the ‘NOXGeo’ sensor technology, the manual mapping out of the work area is significantly reduced.
Steelwrist unveils third generation tiltrotators at a two day event in Hamburg
On March 13-14, 2024, Sweden based tiltrotator specialist Steelwrist hosted a launch event at its new facility in Hamburg to unveil its third generation of tiltrotators, along with a range of new compactors and grapples. The event’s main attraction was the XTR20 - the first model of the third generation of Steelwrist tiltrotators. Designed for 16t-20t excavators, the XTR20 features steel cast elements, including the upper coupler, gearbox and the quick coupler below the tiltrotator. Despite its compact build and reduced overall height, the XTR20 maintains a 45° tilting angle. Designed with off-centre tilt cylinder brackets, the tilt cylinders have been designed to be shorter for optimised tilt geometry. The two new features introduced on the XTR20 are lubrication free, triple sealed bearings on all main joints and ‘OptiLube ‘– an onboard lubrication system. The idea behind OptiLube is to make sure that the tiltrotator is greased the right amount at the right time to increase the unit’s lifespan. OptiLube is integrated into the tiltrotator’s control system, allowing for continuous monitoring of the lubrication process.
Operational safety is further enhanced with the patented ‘LockSense’ technology - a sensor system for secure locking of a work tool. The operator receives in real time visual and audio confirmations that every work tool change is secure and reliable. The new tiltrotators are available with interfaces following the symmetrical standard (‘S’ standard), which is the fastest growing standard internationally. Thanks to the modular design, it is possible to upgrade the tiltrotator from S-type to ‘SQ’ type. On the new XTR20, the upgrade from S to SQ is possible on both the upper coupler and the tiltrotator quick coupler without having to change the structural parts. All Steelwrist SQ products follow the global Open-S industry standard for automatic quick couplers. The XTR20 can be optionally equipped with a redesigned angled three finger gripper, extending the reach of the excavator.
“The XTR20 represents a leap forward in performance and reliability. With features like LockSense, OptiLube, more tilt and rotation torque we show our continued commitment to improving excavator efficiency. I am extremely proud of what our team has accomplished and I look forward to seeing the new Steelwrist XTR20 tiltrotator improving job sites around the world,” says Stefan Stockhaus, Steelwrist’s CEO.
Rototilt expands ‘RC’ range of energy saving tiltrotators
Rototilt, another market leader from Sweden, has been expanding its ‘Rototilt Control’ range of tiltrotators since 2022 when the concept was first debuted at the bauma trade show in Munich. Currently the manufacturer has tiltrotators of every size fitting 1.5t to 43t carrier machines. For excavators with an operating weight of 10t upwards, the Swedish company offers the RC tiltrotators with pressure compensated hydraulics for improved energy consumption. Sven-Roger Ekström, product manager at Rototilt, says about the new range: “We have taken measurements, comparing our previous series with the new models featuring pressure compensated hydraulics. The results are impressive, to say the least. We have managed to improve the efficiency of our product, enabling it to execute the same task with reduced energy consumption. Our lab tests indicate a reduction in fuel consumption of between one to two litres per hour for a 20t base machine, compared to our previous tiltrotator series. Out in the field, the savings are affected by a number of factors such as the machine type and the job in question. In terms of diesel consumption per year, this could mean savings amounting to thousands of euros.”
