Your excavator is already on site. There is scrap metal everywhere – rebar, steel plates, shredded cars, demolition debris. Picking it up by hand is slow. A grapple drops pieces. What if your excavator could simply lift any ferrous metal like a giant magnet?
That is exactly what an excavator magnet attachment does. It turns your machine into a mobile scrap collector. You drive over the metal, switch on the magnet, and the metal sticks. Drive to the pile, switch off, and the metal drops. No buckets, no grapples, no manual labour.
YG Machinery offers the YGML series of hydraulic excavator magnets. Seven models from YGML02 to YGML20 fit excavators from 4 tons up to 50 tons. They generate their own power using a built-in hydraulic generator – no external electrical source needed. The magnet face diameter ranges from 700mm to 1400mm. Weight from 1400kg to 2800kg. This article explains the specs, how it works, and why adding a hydraulic magnet makes your excavator a scrap handling machine.
YGML Series Hydraulic Magnet For Excavator
Here are the complete specifications for all seven models. Choose based on your excavator size and typical material.
| Item/Model | Unit | YGML02 | YGML04 | YGML06 | YGML08 | YGML10 | YGML14 | YGML20 |
| Suitable Excavator | ton | 4-6 | 7-11 | 12-16 | 17-23 | 24-30 | 31-40 | 41-50 |
| Weight | kg | 1400 | 1500 | 1890 | 2000 | 2200 | 2500 | 2800 |
| Power | kW | 5 | 8 | 8 | 10 | 10 | 15 | 15 |
| Outer Diameter | mm | 700 | 800 | 900 | 1100 | 1200 | 1300 | 1400 |
| Working Flow | lpm | 30-55 | 50-100 | 90-110 | 100-140 | 130-170 | 200-250 | 250-320 |
| Working Pressure | bar | 170 | 180 | 190 | 200 | 210 | 250 | 250 |
How Does An Excavator Hydraulic Magnet Work?
A normal electromagnet needs 220V or 440V AC power. But an excavator does not have wall outlets. So a hydraulic magnet attachment solves this by building a small generator right into the unit.
Step 1 – Hydraulic oil flows. Your excavator’s auxiliary hydraulic circuit sends oil to the attachment through hoses.
Step 2 – The generator makes electricity. The hydraulic oil spins a hydraulic motor, which turns a generator. The generator produces DC electricity.
Step 3 – Magnet turns on. The electric current goes to the electromagnet coil. The magnet face becomes a powerful magnetic field. Ferrous metals (iron, steel) stick to it.
Step 4 – Pick up metal. Drive the excavator over scrap. Lower the magnet. The metal attaches. Lift and move.
Step 5 – Turn off to release. The operator switches a valve (usually in the cab) to stop the hydraulic flow. The generator stops. The magnet releases the metal.
No external generator, no power cables dragging behind. Everything is self-contained.
Why Choose An Excavator Magnet Attachment Over Other Attachments?
| Feature | Hydraulic Magnet | Grapple | Bucket |
| Picking speed | Very fast – just drive over | Slow – need to grab | Slow – need to scoop |
| Selectivity | Picks only ferrous metal | Grabs everything | Grabs everything |
| Cleanliness | Does not pick dirt or rocks | Picks debris | Picks dirt and debris |
| Complexity | Simple on/off | Multiple moving parts | Simple but inefficient |
| Best for | Scrap yards, demolition, recycling | Mixed material handling | Bulk material |
If your job involves separating steel from other debris (like after a building collapse or at a recycling plant), a hydraulic magnet for an excavator is unmatched. It only picks the metal. The rest stays on the ground.
Where Can You Use An Excavator Magnet Attachment?
Typical job sites:
- Scrap metal recycling yards – Picking steel and iron from piles, loading trucks.
- Demolition sites – Separating rebar from concrete rubble after a building is knocked down.
- Steel fabrication shops – Moving steel plates, beams, and offcuts.
- Foundries and steel mills – Handling scrap charge for furnaces.
- Ports and shipbreaking yards – Lifting steel scrap from ships or docks.
- Construction sites – Cleaning up leftover rebar and steel ties.
The magnet works on any ferrous metal: rebar, steel plate, steel pipe, shredded car bodies, cast iron, heavy scrap.
Smart Features Of The YGML Series
- Hydraulically powered – No external generator or power cord needed. Just connect to your excavator’s auxiliary circuit.
- Q345 manganese steel construction – High strength, corrosion-resistant. Lasts long in harsh environments.
- Semi‑permanent design – Fewer hoses and fittings mean less maintenance and fewer leaks.
- Two options – Standard (smooth face) or toothed for gripping irregular scrap.
- Wide flow range – Each model works with a range of hydraulic flows. Your excavator does not need to match exactly – just stay within the min/max
- Heavy lifting capacity – Large diameter and strong magnetic field lift heavy loads.
Turn Your Excavator Into A Scrap Magnet
An excavator magnet attachment is not a luxury – it is a productivity tool for any business that handles scrap metal. The YGML series gives you seven models to fit excavators from 4 to 50 tons. The built-in hydraulic generator means no external power supply. The Q345 manganese steel body is tough and corrosion-resistant. Just connect the hoses, and you are lifting steel.
Standard or toothed face? Pick based on your scrap. For flat plates and bulk scrap, the standard is fine. For tangled rebar or irregular scrap, choose toothed.
YG Machinery also offers shears and other demolition attachments. Contact YG with your excavator make, model, and typical scrap type. They will recommend the right hydraulic magnet for the excavator and provide a quote. Stop scooping – start lifting.
Frequently Asked Questions
No. Electromagnets only attract ferrous metals (iron and steel). Aluminium, copper, brass, stainless steel (some grades) are not magnetic.
Not recommended. The magnet coil and generator are not sealed for underwater use. Moisture can cause short circuits.
Standard has a smooth face – good for flat plates and bulk scrap. Toothed has teeth or ridges – helps grip irregular shapes like twisted rebar or shredded scrap.
Check hydraulic hoses for leaks. Inspect the magnet face for wear. The electrical generator requires no routine maintenance.
Yes, if the loader has auxiliary hydraulics. But the mounting bracket must match. YG can customise.