A mechanical and an electric coil tong do the same job: they grip a horizontal steel coil on its outer surface and carry it with an overhead crane. The difference is what opens and closes the arms, which safety functions are present and what power they need. This guide puts the two types side by side; the right choice depends on cycle frequency, the operator's role and the power available in the plant.
What closes the arms
The Mechanical Coil Tong closes its arms without an electric drive. A scissor linkage worked by the load during lifting closes the arms onto the coil; within its designed working range it adapts mechanically to coils of different widths.
The Electric Coil Tong opens and closes its arms by remote control. Gripping is managed from the remote, without the operator having to approach the coil.
Safety functions
On the Mechanical Coil Tong, an automatic mechanical latch holds the arms open when unloaded and prevents them from opening during lifting.
On the Electric Coil Tong, closing is not permitted until the coil centre is detected, the arms are prevented from opening under load, and limit switches stop the arms from over-closing and squeezing the coil.
Capacity and coil width
The values are the upper limits of each product family; not every combination of dimensions exists in a single model, and the exact model is set at the quotation stage.
| Feature | Mechanical Coil Tong | Electric Coil Tong |
|---|---|---|
| Arm drive | Load-actuated scissor linkage | Remote-controlled arms |
| Capacity (family upper limit) | 40 tonnes | 50 tonnes |
| Coil width | 300–2,200 mm | 300–2,200 mm |
| Power supply | Not needed | Needed |
| Motorized rotation | — | Option |
Power and installation
Because the mechanical tong needs no power supply, installation is simple, and it is supplied with a parking stand. For the electric tong, how power is brought through the crane is settled at the quotation stage together with the crane details.
Which one for which line
- Mechanical: storage and shipping areas where running a power line is not wanted, cycle frequency is moderate and a simple solution is enough.
- Electric: high-cycle lines, places where the operator should not approach the coil, and applications that call for coil centre detection.
- If headroom under the hook is very limited: the Manual Handwheel Horizontal Tong can be considered instead of either type; its arms are set by handwheel and its compact layout helps in that case.
For a general comparison of tong types and alternative attachments, see the guide How to Choose a Coil Lifting Tong.
Information needed for a quotation
- Coil weight, width, outside and inside diameter
- Cycle frequency and shift pattern
- Crane capacity, headroom under the hook and available power
- Surface sensitivity and need for rotation
You can send the details through the quotation form.