Mecalac released a hydraulic thumb option for both skid excavator and wheeled excavator models.
The thumb, composed of four teeth, permanently mounts to the bucket linkage and is powered by the boom’s hydraulic cylinder, the company says. The option is available on Mecalac’s 6MCR and 7MWR models, and it is compatible with Mecalac’s Connect hydraulic quick coupler.
The hydraulic thumb option is applicable to a range of applications, including material handling, moving large objects, truck loading or pipe laying and a range of industries – including construction, road maintenance, utilities and more.
Mecalac says the thumb option allows for faster movement, a higher penetration force and a wider working angle due to the stick cylinder being positioned above the boom rather than underneath.
“Mecalac believes a machine that doesn’t make an operator’s life easier has no place on the jobsite,” says Peter Bigwood, general manager for Mecalac North America. “The hydraulic thumb not only increases productivity, it keeps workers safer and makes their lives easier.”