Caterpillar VRG-30/2

The Caterpillar VRG-30/2 is a Verachtert-built hydraulic demolition and sorting grapple, an excavator-mounted work tool rather than a self-propelled machine, cataloged internally by Caterpillar as G320B-D within its Multi-Grapple line. It carries no engine, ECM, or transmission of its own; jaw clamping and 360-degree rotation draw entirely off the host excavator's auxiliary hydraulic circuit, running at approximately 350 bar and 120 L/min for jaw open-close, with a separate rotation circuit that varies by configuration (roughly 140 to 320 bar depending on source). Operating weight runs approximately 1,870 to 1,970 kg (4,120 to 4,340 lb) depending on the mounting bracket or coupler fitted, with a jaw/shell capacity near 750 to 800 L, a closing force of roughly 66 to 68 kN, and a jaw opening in the 2.0 to 2.05 m range (overall width with jaws open near 2.2 m). It is sized for excavators in roughly the 20 to 32 t class, most commonly cited as 25 to 32 t, and mounts through a Verachtert CW40/SKP40 pin-lock quick coupler, an optional Cat-brand coupler, or a pin-on bracket. It ships in two shell builds: D (demolition), with barred/slotted shells for gripping and tearing debris, and R (recycling), with closed smooth-wall shells for handling loose or fine bulk material. The VRG-30/2 sits in a family that spans VRG-20/2 through VRG-40/2, sharing one parts and service manual and a common FEG-prefix serial range for this size. It is a second-generation rotating update; no confirmed successor model is documented.

The /2 in the model code marks a shift from the earlier fixed (non-rotating) VRG-30 to a rotating grab: an integrated hydraulic swivel drive gives continuous 360-degree rotation, letting the grapple reorient a load without repositioning the excavator boom, aimed at faster sorting and demolition cycles. The core layout carries across the whole /2 family, scaled up or down by size class rather than redesigned model to model, with the D/R shell choice and coupler options giving one frame flexibility across demolition and material-handling duty. In the used and parts market the VRG-30/2 stays relevant because, with no engine or emissions system to age out, its value comes down almost entirely to pivot pin and bushing condition, closing-cylinder seal integrity, and rotator health rather than hour-meter wear. Replaceable tine tips and wear shells let the base frame outlast repeated demolition and sorting cycles, and a strong rebuild market exists around pin-and-bushing kits, cylinder reseals, and rotator overhauls for this size class. Because the whole grapple family shares one parts and service manual structure, sourcing service information and rebuild parts for a used VRG-30/2 stays workable even without a confirmed factory successor model.

Below: full specifications, fluids & capacities, the factory service schedule, common service parts, verified fault codes, what owners discuss, attachment guidance, the complete assembly directory, and a serial-number reference. Complete parts lists with full OEM part numbers, exploded diagrams, quantities, and fitment data are available free in Heavy Parts AI.