
Editor's Note: This story was updated June 7, 2023 with new products.
Though more prevalent in Europe, tiltrotators have been gaining in popularity in the U.S. That increased popularity was definitely on display at ConExpo 2023, with many manufacturers demonstrating tiltrotators on their excavators.
The attachments rotate 360 degrees and tilt side to side anywhere from 40 to 50 degrees, depending on the manufacturer.
Benefits of tiltrotators include less need to move the excavator to dig or perform other tasks because of the flexible movement of the attachment. They also speed up production. Some manufacturers estimate a 1,500-hour return on investment because of the increased efficiency. The additional attachment movement enables more precision, as well.
All of the tiltrotators offer hydraulic coupler options and quick attach systems that enable the operator to stay in the cab to change tools. They can also be attached manually, directly to the excavator.
Tiltrotators can operate such tools as buckets, grapples, compactors, forks, rippers, sweepers – just about any attachment a contractor would want to use.
Another benefit is that most of the tiltrotator manufacturers provide modular quick attach systems that enable the operator to switch easily between attachments, including hydraulic hookups. That often means requiring fewer machines and personnel on a jobsite. The excavator essentially becomes a toolcarrier.
Another development in the tiltrotator world concerns setting a universal international standard for couplers. Some manufacturers are adopting an Open-S industry standard for their fully automatic couplers that will work on any manufacturer's attachments that follow the standard.
Here’s a look at what’s currently on the tiltrotator market:
Engcon
An Engcon tiltrotator on a Hyundai excavatorEquipment World
EC-Oil for tiltrotators is available for excavators in the 4- to 33-metric-ton weight classes. Engcon also produces tiltrotators for excavators weighing as little as 1.5 metric tons, and those have an integrated hydraulic quick coupler. In all, the company has eight models of tiltrotators in its EC line.
The EC-Oil coupler fits above and below the tiltrotator and on the tool itself and can be used with hydraulic as well as mechanical attachments. The company says operators can use it to quickly detach the tilltrotator and connect it directly to the bucket for extra breakout force and less weight. It has no visible hoses or electrical cables that move around when connecting.
The tiltrotator system has a new high-flow swivel for hydraulic flows up to 53 gallons per minute.
The company also recently launched a new quick coupler for 12- to 19-metric-ton excavators. The S60 is stronger and can be more easily retrofitted to the EC-Oil system.
Engon’s tiltroators also come with standard tilt and rotation sensors for connecting with the excavator’s machine control system.
Steelwrist
Steelwrist SQ50 tiltrotator being hooked to quick couplerSteelwrist
Steelwrist continues to expand its line of SQ quick couplers for its tiltrotator systems. Its new SQ50 range targets mid-size excavators ranging from 7 to 13 metric tons, and its new SQ90 focuses on larger excavators up to 70 metric tons.
The SQ system provides fully automatic oil and high-flow connections on the top and bottom of the tiltrotator for rapid changes between the tiltrotator and other work tools. The new system adds 20% more hydraulic-oil flow capacity, the company says.
The X12 and X14 tiltrotators are redesigned with a new top and attachment coupler in order to make it possible to upgrade from S50 to SQ50 at a later time.
All Steelwrist SQ products follow the global Open-S industry standard for fully automatic couplers for excavators. The standard is designed to give operators and contractors the ability to combine quick couplers, tiltrotators and work tools regardless of the attachments’ manufacturer.
Last year, Steelwrist launched its X02 tiltrotator for excavators ranging from 1.6 to 2.7 metric tons. It is compatible with a range of S30 work tools for grading, digging, trenching, asphalt cutting, ripping, and most recently, a multi-grapple was added.
Steelwrist offers a range of tiltrotators for excavators and backhoes between 1.6 and 33 metric tons. Its X series consists of 10 models.
Rototilt
Rototilt tiltrotator with compactorRototilt
Rototilt has been busy rolling out new tiltrotators, along with new joysticks to operate them, a new control system and an app.
The latest in the expanding RC tiltrotator line are the RC4, RC6 and RC8. The new tiltrotator series – for excavators ranging from 10 to 43 metric tons – features “pressure-compensated hydraulics” for greater energy efficiency, control and easier use than the company’s R Series. The system uses Rototilt’s optional QuickChange for fully automatic tool switches from the cab.
The company has also launched new ergonomic RC Joysticks that it says are designed for “a wide range of hand sizes without compromising fit.” They deliver greater precision for the RC tiltrotators. The company’s new RC System 4.3-inch touch display is larger than its predecessor and enables easier operation, including of its SecureLock attachment system for increased safety. It has launched a mobile RC Connect app for remote assistance. The company’s RPS works with the excavator’s 3D machine control system to display the tiltrotator's exact position in real time.
Rototilt is also making its RC tiltrotators and systems compactible with the new Open-S industry standard for couplers.
To accompany its new tiltrotators and control systems, Rotilt has unveiled its new generation of multi- and sorting grapples designed to be more powerful and durable than their predecessors.
Combined with its R and new RC series, Rotilt now offers 12 models of tiltrotators for excavators ranging from 1.5 to 43 metric tons.
Kinshofer
Kinshofer TR19NOX tiltrotatorKinshofer
Kinshofer’s Nox Tiltrotator lineup consists of six models for excavators ranging from 2 to 25 metric tons. Along with 360-degree rotation, they have a tilt angle of 50 degrees. The tiltrotators can be mounted directly on the excavator arm (direct mount) or as sandwich-design by attaching it to the excavator arm with a quick coupler. You can choose between mechanical, hydraulic or fully hydraulic quick change systems. The compact design with the fully integrated tilt and rotation unit protects against damage. There are no protruding cylinders or piston rods that can be damaged, and low construction ensures a higher breakout force. An optional integrated gripper provides an additional attachment for handling poles, tubes and curb stones. The gripper is integrated at the lower quick coupler and does not affect the height or the attachment cross-movement. The tiltrotators come GPS-ready and use the NoxProp+ or NoxProp Control System for using the most common 3D machine control systems. The company announced this year that it has joined the Open-S Alliance, which includes Steelwrist and Rototilt, in developing a universal standard for combining quick couplers, tiltrotators and work tools from different manufacturers through the Open-S standard.
Caterpillar
Cat 306 Mini Excavator with a TRS6 tiltrotatorCaterpillar
OilQuick Americas
OilQuick Americas
AMI Attachments
AXXIS tiltrotatorAMI Attachments
AMI Attachments offers the AXXIS TR Tiltrotator – powered by Nox. Offering a tilt range of 50 degrees in either direction and a compact design, the AXXIS TR is available for excavators ranging from 3 to 27.5 tons. It is also compatible with backhoes in 30, 50 and 70 classes. It features a fully enclosed helical actuator instead of cylinders for increased and constant holding torque and allows digging of narrower trenches. The AXXIS TR is GPS compatible and available with various ergonomic SVAB joystick configurations. It also comes in three coupler configurations: pin grab coupler, S-lock coupler and wedge coupler. Other features include an oversized worm gear, cast-iron housing and proportional valves.
Werk-Brau
Werk-Brau
Mazio
Mazio Attachments
GRYB
GRYB's GTR15 tiltrotator can dig around obstaclesGRYB