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A Tool Farmers are Grappling For
After years of innovation, farm equipment designers have created a multipurpose grapple that efficiently accomplishes user’s trying tasks. The hydraulic grapple rake, mounted on a dirt bucket by either a bolt-on method or welding, allows tractors the ability to pick up both heavy-sized loads and small debris with the same tool. A versatile tool Dusty L. Weiss, of Construction Associates of Spokane Inc., ordered the grapple for the company’s tractor in June 2009, and said it’s a great innovative tool for the company’s everyday needs. “I recently had to move debris from the company’s driveway,” Weiss said. “Though we could have moved it ourselves, it would have taken an unnecessary amount of time; the bucket grapple took care of that.” Whether it’s agriculture or demolition work, Weiss recommends the bucket grapple as an efficient solution for those needing to save time and money. Yet, Weiss had a few suggestions for improvement of the bucket grapple design. His 36-inch across attachment weighs approximately 200 lbs. – a characteristic which reduces the amount of weight carried per load. “As a tractor user, you are often looking to take on more than you can handle,” Weiss said. “A lighter grapple would improve productivity; you could pick up heavier loads if the grapple itself were lighter.” New and improved Colville, WA.-based ANBO Manufacturing has recently created a hybrid of the bucket grapple that allows a user to carry the weight that is required – with poise and ease. Duane S. Kaler of Chattaroy, WA, purchased his ANBO bucket grapple in April 2009, and said he is impressed by its usefulness. “We recently purchased a 41-acre spread and needed an attachment that could effectively clean up brush, hay and other small materials,” Kaler said. For these tasks, Kaler uses his grapple as an attachment on his tractor’s 72-inch bucket – bolted in place. “Though I find the bolt-on method convenient for removal purposes, I don’t think I could ever take it off,” Kaler added. “It’s just so handy.” The ANBO Bucket Grapple, which can be custom-sized to most buckets, has a proprietary design with forward-raking tines that allow raking to be done in a backward and forward motion. “No more short-hand shoveling for me – for small tasks such as these, and many more, the ANBO Bucket Grapple works great!” Built stronger to hold longer One unique aspects of the ANBO Bucket Grapple is that it’s made of AR400, a steel that has almost two times the Brinnell rating as that of T1, thus giving the grapple lighter weight, yet superior strength. The tensile strength of the metal is also 50 percent greater than T1, enabling the grapple to handle heavier payloads without bending the tines. Jim Gurnea, owner of a 160-acre plot in Ione, WA., believes this steel is a critical part of what makes the ANBO Bucket Grapple so useful and unique. “Anytime you can reduce weight and maintain strength it’s a good thing,” Gurnea said. “Fortunately, the steel the ANBO Bucket Grapple is designed with allows for both.” Gurnea, who previously worked for a steel company, believes the ANBO Bucket Grapple design is just what a farmer is looking for. “While AR400 is ‘tougher steel’ for the manufacturer to work with, it helps create a tool that is both light weight and can hold,” Gurnea said. “There’s less mass to move with a hydraulic cylinder – what a great idea!” Furthermore, Gurnea said he has no need for a strapping or chain system with this grapple. It holds whatever I may be picking up in there nice and snug. “Essentially, whether it’s the middle of March or November, the ANBO Bucket Grapple is a useful tool to have around,” Gurnea said. Please Contact Chelsea N. at Personify PR to use any article found here, or have one written specifically for your magazine, newspaper or website.
ANBO Manufacturing, Inc.
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