Todd Cole says he's consolidating the manufacture of the CottonMaster grapple device for field and gin use to his home operation in Friendship, Tenn. The move should be complete by the end of this year and will see all welding, cutting and assembly of the cotton bale-handling grapple  in one location.

With nearly 30 of the units in operation around the Delta and surrounding cotton producing areas, Cole is pleased with the demand for the product and says there's lots of potential in the product's market.

Both field models of the CottonMaster and those for use at the gin will be produced fully at CottonMaster's home in Friendship, Tenn., this year, as the company brings all facets of manufacturer to one location.

The CottonMaster can be used with any commercial loader, and features 56 spikes along the top and bottom that gently remove plastic bale wrap without contaminating the cotton. The machine makes lining bales side by side an easy chore, in the field or in the gin.

MSRP for the CottonMaster I (gin model) is $32,500 and the field model (CottonMaster II) is $15,500.

For more information on the two tools, visit www.cottonmasterinc.com.