The Evolution of the Grapplesaw Crane

Introduced in the U.S. in the mid 2000s, grapplesaw attachments on knuckleboom cranes have been used increasingly by tree service companies. Since their introduction, however, the technology has not changed to any great extent, except for their application on larger cranes with higher capacities.

Four years ago, Fascan International set out to change that with the introduction of the Fassi 600SE TreeMax model. The new design built on a Fassi 600SE crane was developed by tree service owner and operator Sean Haluch, who teamed up with Crane Specialists in Manheim, Pennsylvania, to create a new way to use a knuckleboom crane that boasts several major advantages over traditional styles.

The first and most noticeable thing about the Fassi 600SE TreeMax is that the grapplesaw is not removed from the crane while stowed. Because the straight boom of the 600SE simply folds in half and does not fold up into a figure-4 style, the saw can remain attached, saving time at the beginning and end of a job, or even while relocating the crane on a jobsite.

The second feature of the Fassi 600SE TreeMax is strength, driven by the SE line that was originally developed for the drywall industry. In particular, the structure of the crane includes a significantly larger boom tip compared to a standard knuckleboom. According to Fascan, this allows the crane boom to have less deflection, which also enables more precise and efficient movement. The result is a vertical capacity of 3,660 pounds and a reach of 115 feet.

The third and perhaps most important advantage of the Fassi 600SE TreeMax is time savings on the job, enabled not only by the model’s strength and design but also by its hydraulic system. In use, the operator sets the main boom length and angle for the work area while using the outer boom to telescope in and out of the trees. The outer knuckle is then used to raise and lower the grapplesaw in conjunction with the outer boom.

With a high flow hydraulic system from the crane’s dual pump design, these functions not only operate independently, but can be operated simultaneously as well. Compared to other traditional grapplesaw models, Fascan noted, this makes the action of safely putting wood on the ground faster.

The new Fassi 600SE TreeMax grapplesaw crane is built by Crane Specialists and Titan Machinery in Missouri.