Whilst screening buckets may be their flagship product, Wheatway has been manufacturing headplates and interfaces under its Kustom Konnect brand since 2016. Many of these are designed specifically for Gyru-Star screening buckets, but the company’s reputation for quality and innovation has seen it producing an increasing number of interfaces for other attachments. This has become increasingly prevalent as demand for S-type headplates continues to grow.
Another Kustom Konnect product that has become increasingly popular is the dual carrier headplate. These use an interchangeable or sliding pin to accommodate different pin centres and interface widths, allowing one attachment to be used on multiple carriers without changing the headplate.
"This is exactly why an open standard is so important,” explained Colin Smith, Wheatway’s Managing Director. “It gives operators the flexibility they need to choose the right tool for the job without compromising on safety or efficiency. Joining the Open-S Alliance was the natural next step for us.”
Wheatway sells its Gyru-Star screening buckets globally through a network of dealers, many of which are also dealers for Steelwrist, Rototilt, Wacker Neuson and Kinshofer Group.
“One of the main reasons we’re interested in Open-S is that it would allow our dealers to offer their customers a complete package that integrates seamlessly with the tiltrotators and carriers they have on offer. This is something that none of our competitors are currently able to do,” he adds.
Development of the new product range is well underway, and all going well, the interfaces will be available to customers towards the end of the year.
Initially, Wheatway plans to introduce the interfaces for key models in the Gyru-Star range before launching interfaces for the rest of its excavator-compatible screening buckets. Eventually, these interfaces will also be available for any other attachments Wheatway offers, including its DRC pile cutter, which is currently being redeveloped.
“I see Open-S as a crucial step in future-proofing our product range. By aligning with an open standard, we ensure that operators have the flexibility to use their screening buckets with any compliant system, regardless of brand. I would like to think that it also gives operators the confidence that they are investing in an attachment that will still be relevant for years to come,” says Colin.
Ultimately, Wheatway’s membership of the Open-S Alliance underscores its commitment to innovation and its ongoing mission to deliver practical, forward-thinking solutions that meet the changing needs of operators and contractors across the globe.
Furthermore, this is an opportunity for the company to raise the profile of British attachment manufacturers on the global market and push for continued innovation across the industry.