Steelwrist makes its SaMoTer debut with live demonstrations, third-generation XTR tiltrotators and award-winning SQ40 technology

PRESS RELEASE

Steelwrist, the global manufacturer of tiltrotators, quick couplers and work tools for excavators, is exhibiting at SaMoTer in Verona, Italy, May 6–9, with its own stand for the first time. The exhibition marks an important milestone for Steelwrist in the Italian market, where the company has had its own organization since 2017.

At SaMoTer, Steelwrist presents live excavator demonstrations, three models from its third-generation XTR tiltrotator range, and the first showing in Italy of the SQ40 fully automatic coupler solution for compact excavators. Visitors to the Steelwrist stand, Location 2, Area F, will experience how tiltrotators, automatic quick couplers and work tools can increase excavator efficiency by reducing downtime, improving versatility and enabling operators to perform more tasks with a single machine.

First own stand at SaMoTer highlights Steelwrist’s commitment to the Italian market

SaMoTer 2026 is an important step for Steelwrist in Italy. While the company has been present with its own organization in the country since 2017, this is the first time Steelwrist participates at SaMoTer with its own stand. While the company has been present with its own organization in the country since 2017, this is the first time Steelwrist participates at SaMoTer with its own stand. The exhibition represents both a commercial milestone and an opportunity to further increase awareness of tiltrotator technology in a market where adoption is still relatively low compared to other European markets.

Steelwrist sees strong potential in Italy, where contractors are increasingly focused on productivity, flexibility and making better use of their machines across a wider range of tasks. The company’s offering is built around that exact objective: helping excavators do more work, with greater precision, while improving safety and reducing unnecessary manual operations.

“SaMoTer is a very important exhibition for us, and I am very happy that Steelwrist is attending with our own stand for the first time. We have been building our presence in Italy since 2017, and we see growing interest in our solutions as more contractors discover the benefits of tiltrotators, automatic couplers and efficient work tool changes. We welcome visitors to our stand to experience the technology first hand and see how our solutions can improve productivity in everyday excavation work,” says Max Merlo, Country Manager Italy at Steelwrist.

Live demonstrations with two excavators at the stand

A key part of the Steelwrist presence at exhibitions is to show the products installed on actual excavators and used in realistic working sequences. At SaMoTer, Steelwrist will have two demo machines in the stand, both equipped with tiltrotators.

This is especially important in a market like Italy, where many contractors are still in the early stages of discovering the full benefits of the tiltrotator concept. By allowing the attachment to rotate 360 degrees and tilt 45 degrees in both directions, the tiltrotator makes it possible to work more precisely, in tighter spaces and with less repositioning of the excavator. Combined with quick coupler technology and a wide range of work tools, this makes the excavator a more flexible and efficient tool carrier.

One of the demonstration machines will be equipped with an X07 tiltrotator with SQ40, using various work tools in the live show. This setup demonstrates how compact excavators can benefit from fully automatic attachment changes, allowing operators to switch hydraulic work tools without leaving the cab. A second 14-ton machine will be equipped with a third-generation XTR15 tiltrotator with SQ60.

Continued rollout of the third-generation XTR tiltrotators

Another major highlight at the Steelwrist stand is the continued rollout of the third-generation XTR tiltrotator range. Visitors to SaMoTer will be able to see three models from the new generation: XTR15, XTR20 and XTR23.

The XTR generation represents a major technology step for Steelwrist, combining performance improvements, safety features and functions designed to support uptime and easier integration with modern excavators. The third-generation tiltrotators feature optimized tilt geometry, high torque rotation and a compact build height for smooth and precise operation. The platform also includes Steelwrist’s LockSense safety system, OptiLube onboard lubrication and high-resolution sensors for machine control system integration.

With the XTR generation, Steelwrist continues to develop the tiltrotator concept with a clear focus on productivity, durability and operator experience, while bringing the latest technology to more machine sizes and more markets.

SQ40 shown in Italy for the first time and recognized with a SaMoTer Innovation Award

Steelwrist will also use SaMoTer 2026 to present the SQ40 fully automatic coupler solution in Italy for the first time. SQ40 is designed for compact excavators and extends Steelwrist’s SQ technology to a machine segment widely used in landscaping, utility work and general construction.

The SQ40 solution allows the operator to change hydraulic work tools without leaving the cab, improving both safety and efficiency. By making it possible to switch quickly between different powered attachments, compact excavators can take on more tasks during the workday while minimizing downtime.

At the Steelwrist stand, SQ40 will be shown both in the live demonstration area and through static displays. In addition to the machine equipped with X07 and SQ40, visitors will also see static units featuring SQ40, including the Steelwrist rotor coupler XR7 with SQ40 interface.

A major highlight ahead of the exhibition is that the SaMoTer Innovation Award Committee has named Steelwrist SQ40 among the winners in the Attachments category, with the citation: “For the system that delivers high hydraulic flows and high standards in automatic quick couplers for mini-excavators.”

The award is an important recognition of Steelwrist’s development work in extending fully automatic coupler technology to compact excavators while maintaining the oil flow capacity and performance required for hydraulic work tools.

“I am extremely proud that SQ40 has been recognized with a SaMoTer Innovation Award. It confirms both the strength of the Steelwrist technology and the value it brings to compact excavator operators. I have personally been running SQ40 on my own excavator for more than two years, and we have also received excellent feedback from customers using the system. Italy is a growing and important market for Steelwrist, and SaMoTer is an important opportunity for us to show our latest innovations and our long-term commitment to Italian customers,” says Stefan Stockhaus, Steelwrist CEO.

Open-S continues to gain ground

Steelwrist will also highlight its continued commitment to Open-S, the open industry standard for fully automatic quick couplers for excavators. Steelwrist believes standardized interfaces are essential to giving contractors and machine owners the freedom to combine quick couplers, tiltrotators and work tools from different manufacturers, while maintaining safety and functionality.

As a co-founder of the Open-S initiative, Steelwrist continues to promote the benefits of open interfaces as the market for fully automatic couplers grows. The company sees increasing demand for systems that support interoperability and long-term flexibility in equipment investments.

At SaMoTer, this message is especially relevant as more contractors evaluate how automatic coupler systems can improve machine utilization and simplify attachment use. Steelwrist’s SQ technology is developed in line with the Open-S standard, combining the efficiency of automatic oil connections with the advantages of an open and standardized interface.

“We continue to see strong momentum for Open-S, as more manufacturers and customers recognize the value of open standards and compatibility across brands. The alliance continues to grow, and in the coming months it will have reached 30 members globally. That development is important for the industry, because it gives contractors and machine owners more freedom of choice and supports the continued adoption of fully automatic coupler solutions based on an open standards,” says Karl Serneberg, VP OEM Sales & Marketing at Steelwrist.

For more information please contact:

Karl Serneberg                                 Max Merlo
VP OEM Sales & Marketing             Country Manager
Steelwrist AB                                   Steelwrist Italy
[email protected]        [email protected]
Tel +46 70 261 98 11                       Tel: +39 391 120 00 60

About Steelwrist
Steelwrist is a global manufacturer of tiltrotators, quick couplers and work tools for excavators with headquarters in Sweden. A determined focus on robust and modern products, combined with fast service has been appreciated by an increasing number of customers worldwide. For more information about Steelwrist, please visit steelwrist.com.

Images:

1. Steelwrist booth at SaMoTer
2. XTR10 tiltrotator with SQ50 interface_1
3. XTR10 tiltrotator with SQ50 interface_2
4. Kobelco with Steelwrist SQ40 fully automatic coupler solution with work tools
5. Open-S compliant products
6. Innovation Award
7. Innovation Award ceremony