An excavator shear attachment does one job: it cuts steel. I-beams, rebar, structural columns, vehicle frames—steel that would take hours to torch-cut or is impossible to saw is sheared in seconds. The attachment mounts to the excavator arm, clamps onto the steel, and uses hydraulic force to cut through cleanly. No sparks, no grinding dust, no heat-affected zones. The YG series excavator demolition shear offers five models covering excavators from 5 to 50 tons. Weights range from 620kg to 4052kg, with maximum jaw openings from 334mm to 801mm and bottom shear forces from 81.2 tons to 387.2 tons.
Excavator Shear Attachment Technical Parameters:
| Product | Excavator-mounted hydraulic demolition shear for waste scrap rebar | ||||
| Item | YG-620 | YG-1413 | YG-2200 | YG-2977 | YG-4052 |
| Weight kg | 620 | 1413 | 2200 | 2977 | 4052 |
| Max. Open Size mm | 334.4 | 540 | 500 | 660 | 801 |
| Width mm | 864 | 1175 | 1370 | 1600 | 1700 |
| Height mm | 1521 | 2050 | 2380 | 2600 | 2700 |
| Effective Shear Depth mm | 286 | 348 | 486 | 578 | 736 |
| Rotating Way | 360 collision | 360 hydraulic | |||
| Working Pressure Bar | 235 | 300 | 320 | 320 | 320 |
| Bottom Shear Force T | 81.2 | 138.2 | 171.2 | 330.2 | 387.2 |
| Medium Shear Force T | 50.2 | 80.2 | 100.2 | 189.2 | 218.2 |
| Tip Shear Force T | 32.2 | 53.2 | 75.2 | 127.2 | 147.2 |
| Applied Excavator Weight T | 5-9 | 10-19 | 20-25 | 28-35 | 38-50 |
Case 1: Singapore – Building Demolition Contractor
- Customer: A demolition contractor in Singapore specializing in industrial building and factory demolition.
- The Challenge: The contractor was processing structural steel from demolished factory buildings using torches. Torch cutting was slow, required multiple workers, and created slag and fumes that needed additional cleanup. The contractor needed a faster, safer way to cut structural steel on site.
- The Solution: YG recommended the YG-2977 excavator shear attachment for the contractor’s 30-ton excavator. The YG-2977 delivers 330.2 tons of bottom shear force with a 660mm jaw opening and 360° hydraulic rotation. The attachment connected to the excavator’s auxiliary hydraulic circuit in under an hour.
- The Results: The contractor reduced steel cutting time by approximately 70% compared to torch cutting. A beam that took 10-15 minutes to torch-cut was sheared in under 30 seconds. Clean cuts eliminated the need for post-cut grinding and slag cleanup. One operator handled the entire cutting process from the cab.
- Customer Feedback: “Torch cutting was slow and we always had to worry about fire safety. The shear changed everything. We cut beams in seconds instead of minutes. One operator handles it all from the cab. We are getting more scrap recovered per shift and the scrap buyer pays a better price for clean-cut steel.”
Case 2: Oman – Infrastructure Demolition Contractor
- Customer: A civil engineering contractor in Oman working on highway and bridge demolition projects.
- The Challenge: The contractor needed to dismantle reinforced concrete bridge structures, separating rebar and structural steel from concrete for recycling. Using breakers to crush concrete and torches to cut rebar was slow. Each bridge section took days to process.
- The Solution: YG recommended the YG-4052 excavator shear attachment for the contractor’s 45-ton excavator. The YG-4052 delivers 387.2 tons of bottom shear force with an 801mm jaw opening and 736mm effective shear depth. The 360° hydraulic rotation allowed precise positioning for cutting rebar and structural steel at any angle.
- The Results: The contractor reduced bridge demolition time by approximately 50%. The shear cut through rebar and structural steel in seconds, eliminating torch cutting and associated cleanup. Clean cuts produced higher-quality scrap that commanded better prices from recyclers.
- Customer Feedback: “We were spending days on each bridge section. The YG excavator metal shear changed the whole process. We cut through rebar and structural steel in seconds. The 801mm jaw opening handles the thickest beams we encounter. We are completing bridge demolitions in half the time and recovering more clean steel. This attachment has become essential for our infrastructure demolition work.”
Why Contractors Are Switching from Torches to Shears?
The difference between an excavator shear attachment and torch cutting is not just about speed—it affects safety, cost, and scrap value.
- Speed. Torch cutting a structural beam takes 10-15 minutes with two workers. A shear takes under 30 seconds with one operator. On a demolition site with hundreds of beams and tonnes of rebar, the time savings are substantial.
- Safety. Torches create open flames, sparks, and slag. They require fire watches, extinguishers, and permits in many jurisdictions. A shear uses cold cutting—no flames, no sparks, no fire risk. The operator controls everything from the cab.
- Cut Quality. Torch cuts leave slag, heat-affected zones, and uneven edges. The cut steel requires additional cleaning before it is accepted by scrap buyers. Shear cuts are clean, square, and consistent. Scrap buyers pay premium prices for clean-cut steel.
- Labor Requirements. Torch cutting requires at least two workers—one to operate the torch and one to assist with positioning and fire watch. An excavator demolition shear requires one operator in the cab. The crew size is cut in half, and the remaining worker is kept out of the hazard zone.
- No Secondary Cleanup. Torch cutting produces slag that must be removed. Shear cutting produces no slag, no grinding dust, and no cleanup. The cut steel goes directly to the scrap pile.
How Does the Excavator Shear Attachment Handle Different Materials?
The YG series excavator metal shear is designed for cutting ferrous metals across a range of thicknesses and profiles.
I-Beams and Structural Steel. The wide jaw opening—up to 801mm on the YG-4052—allows the shear to grip and cut through heavy structural sections. The effective shear depth determines how deep the jaws can close on a beam, affecting the range of sizes the attachment can handle
Rebar. Reinforced concrete contains steel rebar that must be separated from the concrete for recycling. The shear cuts through rebar cleanly, producing steel that is ready for the scrap yard without additional cleaning.
Steel Plate and Heavy Sections. The bottom shear force—up to 387.2 tons on the YG-4052—provides the cutting power needed for thick plate and heavy structural sections. The leverage advantage at the base of the jaws delivers maximum force where it is needed most.
Vehicle Frames and Scrap. The smaller models (YG-620, YG-1413) are suited for scrap car recycling and light steel processing. The 620kg weight of the YG-620 allows operation on 5-9 ton excavators commonly used in scrap yards.
Demolition Shear Price
If you need an excavator shear attachment that cuts steel efficiently and safely, the YG series provides proven performance. Contact us with your excavator model and typical material types. We will recommend the right excavator metal shear for your operation. Get a free quote for your demolition shear price today.
