Attachments coupling standards group adds members

The Sweden-based Open-S Alliance, created to encourage a common standard for automatic couplers for excavator attachments, has attracted additional equipment making companies this year.

In April, Germany-based Wacker Neuson joined the organization, and in August, four more companies have been welcomed as new members: Construction Equipment Group AS (CEG) from Norway; Craig Manufacturing from Canada; Daedong Engineering from South Korea; and Pacific JCB from the United States.

Open-S is an advocate for an industry standard for fully automatic quick couplers.

“It is an open standard and a joint initiative, not controlled by any specific manufacturer,” says the organization, whose 2020 charter members include Steelwrist AB and Rototilt Group AB, attachments makers both based in Sweden. Sweden-based global excavator producer Volvo Construction Equipment joined the following year.

“The objective is to enable continuous product development and end user benefits while ensuring full interchangeability between quick couplers, tiltrotators and work tools that comply with the Open-S standard,” the alliance says.

Since Open-S was formally created in 2020, the number of members has steadily grown, with the four newest companies bringing its membership to 13, including both major OEMs as well as attachments manufacturers.

“We warmly welcome the new members who will further strengthen the work to establish an open industry standard for automatic couplers,” says Anders Jonsson, board chair of the Open-S Alliance. “We believe that this common foundation will encourage innovation and a healthy competition.”

Craig Manufacturing and Pacific JCB were the first two North American companies to join the Open-S Alliance.

Since its founding in 1946, Craig Manufacturing has grown into what Open-S calls a leading manufacturer of heavy equipment attachments for the construction, forestry, mining and agricultural industries.

“The Open-S standard provides manufacturers and users with a shared platform that offers the flexibility needed to maximize both production and sustainability in any application,” says Ben Craig, president of Craig Attachments. “By promoting this shared platform, users can select from a variety of couplers, tiltrotators, and attachments without compromising safety.”

Pacific JCB operates JCB construction equipment and Steelwrist dealerships in Seattle and in Portland, Oregon, offering machinery sales, rentals, parts and service.

The Open-S Alliance footprint has spread to Asia with the addition of Daedong Engineering of South Korea, which focuses on vibro and vibro-isolating technologies and other innovative excavator attachments.

“We seek to join the Open-S organization to collaborate with industry leaders in fully automatic quick couplers,” says Jeongyel Park, CEO of Daegong Engineering. “This partnership strengthens our commitment to innovation and enhances Daedong’s ability to deliver advanced solutions and value to our global customers.”

Further expanding the alliance’s presence in Europe, CEG operates consists of four brands: EMA (Earth Moving Attachment), Gjerstad, Vera Tank and Foss-Eik, which combine to offer excavator accessories, trailers and tanks.

“CEG supports the initiative to create an open standard that offers our customers greater flexibility, while we manufacturers standardize dimensions and tolerances on equipment to ensure the best safety and quality for our customers,” remarks Tor Kjetilson Moe, group CEO at CEG.