Published on 26 June

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Are you new to construction and materials movement and struggling to come to terms with some of the jargon? If so, you&#;re not alone. There are seemingly endless types of equipment and accessories for you to choose from to get the job done, making it hard to know what the differences are and where you should be looking.

One of the most efficient and versatile tools is the clamshell bucket. If you&#;ve ever seen a grab loader or been on a construction site, you&#;ll have likely seen a clamshell bucket, but you may not be able to picture one off the bat. If you&#;ve ever wondered &#;what is a clamshell bucket?&#; or whether you could make use one, ponder no more.

In this blog, we&#;ll cover everything you need to know about this handy attachment, so keep reading to find out more about clamshell buckets and how they could work for you.

Everything You Need to Know About a Clamshell Bucket

Let&#;s start with the basics. Clamshell buckets get their name from their shape. They&#;re comprised of two sides that are joined together with a centre hinge, resulting in an attachment that opens and closes just like a clam in the sea. The two shells work in synchronous movement put in motion by hydraulic cylinders. These attachments are most suitable for materials handling and loading of gravel, sand and earth.  

They can be mounted on a wide range of machines, such as truck cranes, backhoe loaders, mini excavators, agricultural machines and material handlers.

In addition to picking things up, clamshell buckets are also used for some digging work if supplied with the correct accessories, teeth or cutting edges , including below ground. Due to their shape and the way the bucket closes, they can hold a good amount of dirt and aggregate when needed.

Adding to their versatility is their ability to place items at height and move items across a construction site. With so many uses, they&#;re commonplace on most building sites for the duration of the work being carried out.

Generally speaking, clamshell buckets are attached to excavation equipment, but can also be attached to cranes and blackhoes. As mentioned, there are light and heavy-duty options, as well as hydraulic and mechanical options.

What Type of Clamshell Bucket Do I Need?

There are a few different types of clamshell buckets you&#;re likely to come across, and the type you need will depend on your project and the machine you&#;re operating. The main types of clamshell buckets are:

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  Hydraulic clamshell buckets &#; there is a wide range of hydraulic clamshell buckets and they are commonly used to carry aggregates such as earth, sand and gravel. They have a centre rotation mechanism which means there are fewer parts.

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  Single rope cable clamshell buckets &#; these are more heavy duty clamshell buckets are are typically used on cranes that share holding and closing lines.

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  Digging clamshell bucket &#; as the name suggests, this is the clamshell bucket of choice for excavation work where heavy loads are to be dug and moved out.

There are other types of clamshell buckets available, including electrohydraulic clamshell buckets and rehandling clamshell buckets, all of which come from a range of suppliers. Ritespec offers one of the best and most reliable ranges of clamshell buckets in the UK, with quality and longevity at the forefront of the design.

If you&#;re unsure what type of clamshell bucket might be best for your needs, or which one could be compatible with your machine, get in touch with the PCM Handling team.

We Are a Leading Supplier of Ritespec Clamshell Buckets

Did you know that for the last 20 years, PCM Transport and Handling has been working with Tizmar SNC in Italy to produce the Ritespec Clamshell bucket? We are the only UK importer of Ritespec products, meaning you&#;ll only ever get the real deal when you shop with us. We don&#;t import cheap alternatives &#; we are proud to stock authentic Ritespec buckets make specifically for the UK market.

We stock a wide range of Ritespec clamshell buckets, ranging from 100l to 500l. Our team is highly knowledgeable and experienced and poised to help you find the best solution. If you don&#;t know which clamshell bucket is the best option for your needs, simply call us on 842 808 and a member of our team will be happy to help you find the best solution for your project.

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Clamshell buckets offer a tried and true solution for dredging or excavating material, debris, and earth during excavation or piling projects. There are a wide variety of clamshell buckets on the market and different types offer different utility.

Clamshell buckets offer a flexible solution that can handle loosely aggregated materials from dredging projects to constructing jetties or other marine features. Some designs are specialized for particular applications, while others offer versatile solutions that can be applied in numerous site-specific activities.

Contact us to discuss your requirements of excavator clam shell bucket. Our experienced sales team can help you identify the options that best suit your needs.

Clamshell buckets are well suited to job sites with space restrictions and varied topography, which can create obstacles for material transportation or removal. Numerous capacities of clamshell attachments are available, and then, depending on the composition of the material, you can choose from a clamshell bucket with a ¼ yard capacity to a rock grapple which can handle individual rocks weighing 30 tons.

Two Line Digging Buckets

These buckets are also referred to as two rope dredging clamshell buckets. Digging buckets provide powerful earth-moving for large projects that can range from commercial, civic, or marine applications. They are manufactured in a variety of capacities so they can be used on projects in tighter spaces, from urban construction projects to residential construction.

These can effectively remove materials of any composition and bear large capacity loads to ensure the success of your digging project. These buckets are used with cranes.

Rock Grapples

Ideal for moving aggregates, creating construction driveways, jetties, and other large rock features. These can also be used to remove rocks and debris from soil efficiently or clear land before a piling project begins.

Large-capacity rock grapples can also enable the precise movement and installation of heavier objects. They can also accommodate materials with uneven or asymmetrical shapes making them ideal for land work projects in varied topographic conditions.

Rehandling Buckets

Rehandling clamshell buckets can handle serious loads and are designed for moving numerous types of aggregates in high volumes. One of the main advantages of rehandling buckets is that they can move a great deal of aggregate in a short amount of time, making them one of the most efficient and effective solutions on the market.

Equipped with strong steel bowls and no teeth for picking off of smooth surfaces like a ship deck, rehandling clamshell buckets are some of the most popular aggregate transportation options available.

Single Rope Clamshell Buckets

These are specially designed clamshell buckets for use with cranes that are not equipped with independent holding and closing lines. These can handle bulk materials for removal or transportation and are simple to operate.

Single rope clamshells can be used to unload bulk material for large land work projects or to remove aggregates during dredging operations. Some are operated with remote controls.

Electro-Hydraulic Buckets

Specifically designed for use with cranes that are equipped with control wires and dedicated power supplies. These are commonly used with ship gears or overhead gantry cranes.

One of the primary advantages of these systems is that they can be utilized in marine or terrestrial projects and can handle any type of load.

Hydraulic Clamshell Buckets

One of the most agile solutions for moving soil, gravel, logs, piles, and more hydraulic clamshell buckets can be mounted to an excavator, crane, or material handler. Hydraulic clamshells offer significant power and can rotate independently to deliver precise operation. Hydraulic clamshell buckets and grapples are generally used with an excavator rather than a crane.

These are among the most popular options for jobs that require transporting a variety of aggregates on one site because of their power and flexibility. Hydraulic buckets have fewer moving parts and are less prone to malfunction, wear, and can withstand exposure to any conditions.

Ore Buckets

Standard ore clamshell buckets are self-dumping options that are most commonly used in mining operations. These systems can handle heavy loads and operate in any conditions for transporting large amounts of aggregate. They often have four lines.

These are specifically designed to be used with metals and other heavy materials that can damage equipment.

Clamshell Buckets Advantage

Because of their robust hauling, digging, and transportation abilities, clamshell buckets offer flexible solutions during each phase of a construction project. From land clearing, rock and debris removal, dredging, or loading and unloading aggregates and other bulk materials.

They are well suited for larger civic projects or making applications which require moving significant loads. Because they can be mounted on excavators or cranes, they can be used in various job sites, including urban projects with space restrictions.

These systems make material transportation efficient and increase speed, especially on larger job sites or sites that involve marine construction.

Clamshell buckets are some in a wide range of capacities, and you should consult with a local vendor to determine the requirements of your job to get the proper equipment before you break ground. Ensure that your auxiliary equipment is equipped to power your bucket and capable of handling similar load sizes to avoid malfunction or damage to equipment which will result in costly downtime.

Consult all local, state, and federal guidelines to comply with safety regulations and other restrictions that could cause violations that result in fines or stop-work orders. Clamshell buckets are a rugged solution for common aggregate transportation or moving heavy objects.

If you want to learn more, please visit our website excavator buckets for sale.