Kenco Superlift Systems

What Kenco Superlift Systems Do

A Kenco Superlift is a mechanical grab that lets a carrier machine pick up, carry and set awkward loads — pipe, logs, brush, demolition debris and concrete barrier — instead of slinging each piece by hand. The system is built in two parts. The Superlift body carries the frame, the closing mechanism and the interface to the machine; the tines are the interchangeable jaws that actually contact the load. That split is why this collection lists tines separately from the Kenco Superlift Body (SL12000): one body covers several jobs as long as you stock the right tines for each load type.

The practical case for a grab over slings is repetition. When a crew is setting joint after joint, the rigging and de-rigging time dominates the cycle, and every cycle puts someone next to a suspended load. A grab shortens the cycle and keeps hands away from the pinch points. On one-off picks with mixed load shapes, conventional rigging may still be the faster answer.

SL6000 vs SL12000: Picking the Right Series

Everything in this collection belongs to one of two Kenco series, and the two do not interchange. Our product data lists each tine's mounting interface as either SL6000 compatible or SL12000 compatible, so a tine bought against the wrong series will not mount. If you already own a Superlift body, order to match it. If you are building from scratch, choose the series first and the tine set second, because the series decision locks in every tine you buy afterward.

Treat the series numbers as Kenco model designations, not as a rated capacity you can plan a lift around. Most listings in this collection do not publish a working load limit for the tine set, so take the rated capacity from the load chart and manufacturer documentation for your specific body, tine and carrier combination. OSHA 29 CFR 1926.1417 is explicit that equipment must not be operated above its rated capacity, and the rating that governs is the one for the assembled configuration — carrier, attachment and tine together — not the largest number in the product family.

Matching the Tine to the Load

Pipe tines

Pipe tines are shaped to cradle round stock and close on it through a controlled arc, which is what keeps a pipe from rolling out as the boom swings. They are sized by grip range, and this collection stocks small, medium and large in both series. Size by the actual outside diameter you handle, including any coating, wrap or bell end — the bell is usually the widest point on a run of pipe and is what determines whether a given tine set will close on it.

Log and debris tines

Log/debris tines are for irregular, mixed loads where nothing has a consistent diameter: logs, brush, storm cleanup, demolition rubble. Our data describes the SL6000 large set (model LG-LL_DL) as suited to large logs, brush and heavy debris, built from high-strength steel. The collection also carries a medium SL6000 log/debris set and an SL12000 set (LL_DL). If your material is loose and stacked rather than single and cylindrical, this is the tine profile to look at.

Barrier tines

Barrier tines handle concrete barrier and similar cast shapes. Our listings describe them as heavy-duty steel for barrier clearing and debris handling, in an SL6000 version (model KL6T9) and an SL12000 version (KL9T12). Highway and work-zone crews that reposition barrier repeatedly are the usual buyers here.

Sizing Pipe Tines by Grip Range

Grip range is the number that matters. One range is published outright in our data: the SL6000 Pipe Tines (Large), model SL6K-PL36T50, is listed at a grip range of 36 to 50 inches. The rest of the pipe tine model codes follow that same read — the digits correspond to the span — but verify the exact figure on the individual product page or in Kenco's documentation before you order, rather than inferring it from the part number.

One ordering trap is worth calling out: the SL6000 medium pipe tine and the SL12000 small pipe tine share the same number, PL15T31.5. The SL6K- prefix is what distinguishes the SL6000 version. Check the prefix, not just the digits.

Carrier, Site and Operator Considerations

Before you buy, confirm three things about the carrier machine: the mounting interface, the hydraulic supply the attachment needs, and what the machine's own capacity chart allows with the attachment installed. An attachment adds weight at the end of the boom, which changes what the carrier can safely pick at radius — that is a machine question, not a tine question.

Site conditions decide the rest. Pipe work usually means trench work, and OSHA 29 CFR 1926.651 sets the excavation requirements that govern spoil placement, access and the ground the carrier tracks on. OSHA's construction crane and derrick standard, 29 CFR 1926 Subpart CC, requires a competent person to inspect hoisting equipment each shift, and where conventional rigging runs alongside the grab, OSHA 1926.251 covers slings. Keep personnel out from under suspended loads and plan sightlines or a signal person before the first pick, not after.

Maintenance on tines is mostly visual and mostly cheap: look for cracked or bent tips, elongated pin holes, excessive pin play, weld cracks at the mounting interface, and uneven wear that indicates the tines are not closing square. Any of those is a reason to pull the set from service and consult the manufacturer rather than field-repair a lifting component.

What This Collection Includes

Twelve active Kenco items, priced from $1,200 to $7,326: pipe tines in three sizes per series, log/debris tines for the SL6000 and SL12000, barrier tines for both series, and the Kenco Superlift Body (SL12000). Because bodies and tines are separate line items, price the combination you actually need. If you are unsure which series your existing body is, or which grip range covers the pipe you run, contact us with the model number before ordering.