The disclosure relates to an work implement, in particular a cable excavator, comprising a mechanical diaphragm wall gripper with two gripper buckets, which is suspended on the work implement by means of a hoisting cable and a closing cable, a hoisting cable winch on which the hoisting cable can be wound up and unwound for adjusting the diaphragm wall gripper, in particular substantially vertically, a closing cable winch on which the closing cable for actuating the gripper buckets is mounted so that it can be wound up and unwound, a measuring device with at least one sensor for detecting a current position, speed and/or acceleration, a control unit connected to the measuring device, via which the hoisting and closing cable winches can be actuated, and an input means connected to the control unit for controlling the diaphragm wall gripper.