Grabber Systems

The Grabber is the helicopter pilot's right hand for aerial handling and transport. With the Grabber, external loads can be grasped and transported with the precision and agility of a stork. Grabber equipped operators can tap into new and lucrative job opportunities on land or over water.

Put the Grabber to work anywhere a helicopter can fly. The Grabber can also be operated by ground based personnel while attached to the helicopter, lighter-than-air craft, crane arm or any other overhead transport system. Owner operators will find additional job opportunities with the ability of the Grabber to meet the needs of existing and new customers. Designed to be state of the are, the grabber is precision engineered and fabricated from high-tech alloys of great strength and reduced weight. Pictured here is the 1200 pound (545 kg) Grabber, weighing only 100 lbs (45 kg). Its modular design enables the user to gently and securely grasp virtually any shaped object. Grabber tines are easily changed in the field to suit a variety of mission requirements. Fully self contained, the HELI TECH Grabber is powered by an on-board remote controlled hydraulic system. Critical electronic components are completely watertight. The Grabber will provide operators with years of trouble free operation.

The grabber is available in load size combinations up to 20,000 lbs (9,100 kg.). The power plant mainframe is designed to meet the needs of your customers when equipped with the appropriate articulated tines. Reach out and grab onto an expanding market.

Click on picture for larger photos of Grabber in action.

The "Body Snatcher" Grabber as we have come to call it, was developed to reduce the risks associated with the recovery of perished mountain climbers in Alaska. Mountaineering accidents seldom take place in safely accessible areas. Another concern is sanitation. Body fluids from the deceased are also a concern as recovery personnel might otherwise come in contact with these fluids.

The Body Snatcher is a system that is very light weight at 55 lbs. It will operate at temperatures as low as -15 degrees F and as high as 150 degrees F. Powered from the helicopter, The Body Snatcher requires only 14 amps at 24 volts. Closing time for the jaws, when acquiring a load, is well under 8 seconds. The Body Snatcher has few moving parts and is very low maintenance technology. It is small enough to fit in the helicopter or baggage compartment.

While the system was developed specifically for mountain recovery operations, it was developed and performs equally well at sea level. Since its introduction, we have received many inquiries that lead us to believe that it will only be a short while until someone finds an application beyond mountaineering accidents.

Click on picture for larger photo of "Body Snatcher" Grabber in action.

Aquatic load handling missions, previously considered impractical, are now a possible for helicopters using the HELI TECH Scuba GRABBER. Use the Scuba GRABBER to grip and transport submerged or partially submerged objects or precisely place objects into bodies of water. The Scuba GRABBER will operate at depths limited only by water clarity and the pilot's ability to see the target load.

Suggested uses include river reclamation, clearing debris from dam sites, retrieving contraband at sea, removing material from lake beds and safety applications such as removing hazards to navigation from recreational waterways. Fire fighting equipment accidentally dropped into forest lakes during operations can now be easily and quickly retrieved, as well as tires, trash, sunken boats, etc.

Designed to be state of the art, the Scuba GRABBER is precision engineered and fabricated from high-tech alloys of great strength and reduced weight. Improved stability is provided by a double cable suspension system between the hydraulic power system and the load handling tines. The load bearing tines are allowed to rotate about the mounting point, eliminating unnecessary wear and strain on the cable system. The Scuba GRABBER main frame is powered by an on-board remote controlled hydraulic system. All critical electronic components are completely watertight.

Scuba GRABBER systems are configured from interchangeable components. Its modular design enables the user to gently and securely grasp virtually any shaped object. Scuba GRABBER tines are easily changed in the field to suit a variety of mission requirements. Custom designs can be engineered and manufactured to meet your special job requirements.