Selector Grabs are widely used across demolition, recycling and construction projects, but one performance factor is often overlooked when choosing the right model: jaw opening range. While jaw strength and rotation accuracy are important, the opening range of a Selector Grab plays a major role in how efficiently material is handled on site.
This article explains how jaw opening range affects productivity, material handling speed and overall site workflow, and why choosing the right range for your application can make a measurable difference to daily output.
Jaw opening range refers to the maximum distance between the grab jaws when fully open. This determines the size and type of material a grab can handle in a single movement.
A well matched jaw opening allows operators to:
When the jaw opening is too small or unnecessarily large, productivity can suffer.
On active demolition and recycling sites, efficiency depends on how quickly material can be picked, moved and placed.
An appropriate jaw opening range helps:
Small inefficiencies repeated across a working day quickly add up.
Most sites deal with mixed material, not uniform loads. Concrete chunks, steel sections, timber and rubble often appear together.
A suitable jaw opening range allows:
If the jaw opening is too narrow, operators are forced to reposition or split loads. If it is too wide, smaller materials may be harder to control accurately.
Re-grabbing material is one of the biggest productivity drains on site.
Correct jaw opening range helps by:
Fewer re-grabs mean smoother operation and less wear on both the grab and the excavator.
Cycle time refers to the time taken to complete one full handling movement.
Jaw opening range influences cycle time by:
Even small reductions in cycle time can significantly increase daily output over long shifts.
An incorrectly matched jaw opening can affect machine balance.
Key considerations include:
Choosing a jaw opening suited to the excavator’s weight class ensures stable and predictable operation.
Urban and restricted sites demand precise control.
A well suited jaw opening range allows operators to:
Oversized grabs with excessive opening can be difficult to manage in confined environments.
Different applications benefit from different jaw opening characteristics.
Typical examples:
Understanding the primary use case helps contractors choose a grab that performs consistently across tasks.
Jaw opening range also affects long term maintenance.
Correct sizing helps:
A grab working within its intended range lasts longer and performs more reliably.
When selecting a Selector Grab, jaw opening range should be considered alongside other specifications.
Important factors include:
A balanced setup delivers better productivity and longer equipment life.
Contractors working across varied site conditions benefit from Selector Grabs that are matched correctly to both the excavator and the task. By choosing the right jaw opening range, operators can achieve better control, faster handling and consistent performance on demanding UK job sites, which is the approach TocDem takes when supplying Selector Grabs for real-world applications.
Jaw opening range is a key factor in Selector Grab productivity. When matched correctly, it improves material handling speed, reduces re-grabs and supports smoother site workflow. Contractors who consider jaw opening range alongside strength and rotation accuracy gain better control, higher output and reduced wear on equipment.
Choosing the right Selector Grab configuration ensures the attachment works with the excavator, not against it, delivering reliable performance day after day.
