ERG – Electric Reel Gripper:
A Safe, Flexible, and Ergonomic Solution for Easy Spool and Reel Handling

Photo of two large reels with metal flanges and copper wire.

It might be tempting to manually roll a reel from A to B or tip it over onto its side, but that can be risky. Not only can such reel handling cause injuries, but it can also damage the reel’s flanges (especially if they are made of wood or plastic).

And then you not only face a transport job, but also a time-consuming hassle of dealing with a damaged reel – meaning you’ll have to roll all the aluminum or copper wire or cable onto a new spool. Using the right ergonomic lifting equipment makes the whole process safer and way more efficient.

Our electric reel gripper (ERG) makes sure your reel or cable spool is transported safely and efficiently – without the risk of damage. With a firm grip and controlled handling, the ERG takes away the dangers of manual rolling or tipping, keeping both your equipment and your workers safe.

The ERG is fully electric and grips the reel at three points around the edge of one flange using brackets driven by an electric actuator and sliding unit. Another electric actuator allows the ERG to tilt the reel into either a vertical or horizontal position.

Depending on your needs, we offer two versions of the electric reel gripper: a standard version for handling reels of the same size and a more flexible version with sliders, allowing the latches to adjust to different reel diameters. The flexible version is perfect for handling reels with substantially different reel diameters. Both versions are easy to operate with a remote control.

Illustration of our two ergonomic reel handling tools: one designed for reels of similar sizes, and the other equipped with adjustable sliders for handling reels of significantly different diameters.

The Electric Reel Gripper Goes Beyond Mere Reels
– A Versatile Solution for Heavy, Flanged Objects!

So far, we’ve been talking about reels and cable spools, but the electric reel gripper isn’t limited to handling just those items. Anything large, round, and with an edge for the latches to grip onto can be a good match as well – for instance, small to medium-sized flanged pipes, metal discs and blanks, gears and flywheels, large lids or covers, and industrial brake discs, just to name a few.

This makes the ERG a versatile solution for a wide range of industries, from manufacturing and construction to energy and transportation – anywhere where precise and secure handling of round, flanged objects is needed.

Flipping Flanged Objects: The Electric Reel Gripper’s Key Feature

Aside from safely transporting heavy reels or other flanged objects – from storage areas or loading docks to machine rooms, production lines, or assembly stations – the electric reel gripper’s main feature is its ability to flip reels between horizontal and vertical positions. And the great thing is, all of this can be done safely from a distance using the remote control.

Image series demonstrating the operation of the electric reel gripper. The tool is lifting a large metal disc and smoothly tipping it from a horizontal to a vertical position, with a person operating the gripper via the remote control.

How Exactly Does the Electric Reel Gripper Work?

Detailed component overview of our standard electric reel gripper, showing the different technical parts and describing how they operate.

Component overview of our flexible electric reel gripper, ideal for handling different flange sizes.

Image of the Electric Reel Gripper (ERG) from behind, holding a wooden flange on a reel with copper wire.

The ERG is designed to lift and tip flanged objects such as reels. Gripping the reel is achieved with a latch placed on an electrically powered sliding unit, allowing the latch to grip the edge of the reel spool.

Two additional fixed brackets, positioned opposite the latch on the sliding unit, ensure that the reel is firmly held in place. Once the reel is gripped, it can be tipped to either a horizontal or vertical position.

In our adjustable version, the position of the latches that grip the spool can be adjusted to accommodate different spool diameters.

Both gripping and tipping are powered by electrical actuators, which are battery-operated and controlled via a remote.

Tipping Capacity

The tipping capacity of the ERG depends on the properties of the reel (length and mass) and the type of electrical actuators the ERG is equipped with. There can be either one or two tipping actuators, each with one of three different gear ratios.

The manual provides specific guidelines to help you determine the exact tipping capacity of your particular ERG.

Swinging Capacity

To make it easier to position the reels, the ERG is mounted on a built-in swing unit. This allows the gripper unit to swing freely in the horizontal plane once the lock pin is released.

The swing unit enables the ERG to swing horizontally within a specified range. This range is controlled by two screws, which determine the maximum sideward angle. The longer the screw, the smaller the maximum angle. To reduce the angle, simply replace the screw with a longer one to achieve the desired setting.

Features

Can be adapted to fit multiple reel sizes.
Fully electrically powered.
Easily customizable: dimensions can be modified to customer specifications.
Rugged construction for industrial use. With its all-stainless steel construction, the ERG is built to last and for use in demanding industrial environments.
Available in hygienic design for use in cleanrooms and the food/beverage industry.