A Clash of Two Unlikely Contenders

BROKK Versus Man on National Geographic’s “Showdown of the Unbeatables”

A hay wagon, 900-pound cable spools and beer kegs might sound like a honky-tonk celebration, but on the set of “Showdown of the Unbeatables,” it was part of a battlefield where the Brokk 100 faced the world’s strongest man.

The National Geographic show brings together two brute contenders for a head-to-head battle on the proving ground, and on April 11, 2014, it was man versus machine. On one end was the skilled Brokk machine operator Augie Scalici, who also is Brokk’s application and training specialist. On the other end was Brian Shaw, winner of the 2011 and 2013 World’s Strongest Man competition.

Scalici and the Brokk 100 nailed the second challenge, which involved lifting giant 900-pound wooden cable spools. Known for its extreme strength, the Brokk 100 didn’t even come close to breaking a sweat as it lifted the spool while Shaw couldn’t quite manage to lift his.

But throughout the other two challenges Shaw literally had two legs up on the Brokk machine. During the competitions that included lifting full beer kegs onto pedestals and pulling a hay wagon, the world’s strongest man proved he’s not only strong, he’s swift.

He might have won the challenge of speed and strength, but the Brokk 100 has nonstop power to go all day without tuckering out and without commercial breaks.

So while he might have won the battle, the Brokk machine could win the war.