Blog Summary
Quality Fleet Service, Inc. (QFS) is the sole distributor of Powerhand Attachments in the United States, giving customers across the country access to Powerhand’s complete attachment lineup.
QFS supports customers with Powerhand vehicle recycling systems, forestry grapples and tiltrotator grapple saws, while also supplying material handling grapples and other specialized attachments for recycling, forestry, municipal, industrial and material handling applications.
Our role goes beyond supplying the attachment. QFS coordinates directly with Powerhand, equipment dealers, service teams and transportation partners to ensure each attachment is properly matched and fitted to the carrier machine, then delivered where it needs to work.
In this article, we cover:
- How QFS supplies and supports Powerhand Attachments throughout the United States
- Powerhand Vehicle Recycling Systems and their use at Full Circle Recycling
- Why end-of-life vehicle recycling is becoming increasingly important
- Powerhand EX Series forestry grapples and grapple saws
- Powerhand grapples for municipal and public works applications
Powerhand Attachments Available Through QFS
Quality Fleet Service is the U.S. source for Powerhand Attachments, providing specialized equipment for auto recycling, forestry, tree care, material handling, municipal work and other demanding applications.
While Vehicle Recycling Systems and forestry attachments make up a large portion of the Powerhand equipment we supply, QFS has access to the full Powerhand product lineup for customers throughout the United States.
That includes equipment such as:
- Vehicle recycling systems/Auto dismantlers
- Forestry grapple saws
- Forestry grapples
- MV scrap grapples
- Clamshell buckets
- Other specialized recycling, forestry and industrial attachments
Getting the attachment into the United States, however, is only one part of the process. Our job is to help determine the correct attachment, coordinate the required machine fitment, work with Powerhand and equipment dealers, manage shipping and transportation logistics and help deliver a setup that is ready to work.
Powerhand Vehicle Recycling Systems
One of Powerhand’s most specialized products is the Vehicle Recycling System (VRS) designed specifically for dismantling end-of-life vehicles. The system combines a Powerhand dismantling grapple with hydraulically operated clamp legs that hold the vehicle securely while the excavator operator separates components and valuable materials.
The goal is simple: recover more usable and recyclable material from every vehicle while processing it efficiently.
Instead of treating an end-of-life vehicle as one piece of scrap, the operator can separate components and material streams before the remaining vehicle continues through the recycling process. That can mean greater material recovery, more value per vehicle and a more efficient dismantling operation.
Full Circle Recycling: A Powerhand VRS in Action
Full Circle Recycling in Rhode Island is a strong example of how this system can be used in a working recycling operation. Full Circle operates recycling facilities in Johnston and Pawtucket and handles materials including metals, vehicles, electronics, plastics and other recyclable commodities.
For an operation processing end-of-life vehicles, every vehicle contains more than just scrap steel. There may be wiring, copper, aluminum, engines, transmissions, radiators and other components that can be separated and recovered before the remaining vehicle is processed.
Full Circle Recycling became the first reported Powerhand VRS customer in the United States, putting a VRS200 to work on a Liebherr R922 excavator.
With this attachment setup, valuable components could be removed from a vehicle in approximately 15 to 20 minutes. The system also gave Full Circle the ability to recover materials that had not previously been separated as efficiently.
That’s where mechanized auto dismantling begins to change the economics of an operation. If a recycler can recover more value from each vehicle while increasing the number of vehicles processed in a day, improvements in both production and material recovery can add up quickly.
Why End-of-Life Vehicle Recycling Is Becoming More Important
Vehicle recycling is also becoming increasingly important within the larger automotive manufacturing cycle. Across the globe, manufacturers and regulators are placing greater emphasis on circular production, recycled content and the recovery of valuable material from end-of-life vehicles.
The European Union has been one of the strongest examples of this shift.
In 2026, the EU adopted updated vehicle circularity requirements that introduce phased requirements for recycled plastics in newly manufactured vehicles. The requirements ultimately increase the percentage of recycled plastic that must be used, with a portion required to originate specifically from end-of-life vehicles.
European end-of-life vehicle rules have also established targets for vehicle reuse, recycling and recovery by weight. These are European requirements rather than U.S. mandates, but they demonstrate a larger direction within automotive manufacturing.
Materials coming out of end-of-life vehicles are increasingly becoming raw materials for the vehicles and products that come next. That makes efficient vehicle dismantling increasingly valuable.
For auto recyclers, the opportunity is not simply to process a vehicle faster. It is to more effectively separate the materials and components within that vehicle so more value can be recovered before it reaches the next stage of the recycling process.
As demand for recycled materials increases, equipment that improves dismantling efficiency can help recycling operations increase production, improve material recovery and potentially improve profitability per vehicle.
Powerhand Forestry Grapples, Grapple Saws and Tiltrotator Grapple Saws
Powerhand's forestry lineup gives operators greater control when cutting, handling and moving trees, timber and brush. QFS supplies Powerhand EX Series forestry grapples and grapple saws to tree care, forestry and land-clearing companies throughout the United States.
A Powerhand grapple saw allows an excavator operator to grip, cut and move material without leaving the cab. The grapple holds the material securely while the integrated saw performs the cut, giving the operator control over where the material goes.
This makes the attachment particularly useful for tree removal in tight spaces, roadside clearing, storm cleanup and forestry operations where precision, productivity and operator safety are important.
Chestnut Tree & Landscape: Changing How Jobs Are Bid
For Chestnut Tree & Landscape in Harvard, MA, pairing a Powerhand EX-28 tiltrotator grapple saw with a Liebherr R 914 Compact excavator has completely changed how the company approaches land-clearing projects.
During a 4-acre invasive species removal project for the MA Department of Agricultural Resources, owner Grant explained just how much the setup had changed their operation.
"Since buying the grapple saw about three months ago, the way I think about quoting work and what we could get done in a day has totally changed," Grant said.
A project that Chestnut Tree would have previously estimated at 10 to 12 days could now potentially be completed in just 4 days with one operator.
"It's one guy, maybe 4 days. Totally changes our ability to put a competitive bid together and to look at bigger work."
The setup also reduces the need for additional ground crews, bucket trucks and manual cutting. Operators can cut, handle and position material directly from the excavator cab, reducing labor requirements and limiting exposure to hazards on the ground.
Another advantage is versatility. Chestnut Tree originally purchased the Liebherr R 914 Compact for excavation and site work. By adding the Powerhand EX-28, the company expanded what the machine could accomplish without turning it into a dedicated tree removal machine. When the grapple saw isn't needed, the attachment can be removed and the excavator can return to digging, grading and other site work.
For Chestnut Tree, the right attachment hasn't just made the work faster. It's opened the door to more competitive bids, larger projects and greater productivity from equipment already in their fleet.
Powerhand Grapples for Municipal and Public Works Applications
Powerhand attachments also provide valuable solutions for municipal highway departments and public works crews handling materials that standard excavator buckets aren't designed to manage.
The Town of East Brookfield, MA, is one example. During multiple culvert replacement projects, a Powerhand grapple gave operators greater control when grabbing, moving and positioning materials throughout the job.
Beyond culvert work, Powerhand grapples can be used for roadside cleanup, handling logs and brush, positioning pipe, moving large stone and managing irregularly shaped materials.
In limited municipal fleets working with a wide range of projects, adding a specialized grapple can expand the capabilities of an excavator they already own without investing in another dedicated machine.
How Long Does It Take to Get a Powerhand Attachment?
Turnaround time depends on the specific Powerhand attachment, product availability, manufacturing requirements, international shipping and the amount of machine fitment required.
Some projects are relatively straightforward. Others involve custom brackets, hydraulic modifications, control systems or coordination with another equipment dealer. For that reason, QFS evaluates each Powerhand project individually.
Once we understand the attachment, carrier machine and destination, we can build a much clearer picture of what’s required and coordinate the fastest practical route to getting the system operational.
The important difference is that the customer has one U.S.-based team helping coordinate the entire process.
Working With Equipment Dealers Across the Country
QFS doesn’t need to replace a customer's existing relationship with their local equipment dealer. In many cases, we work directly with those dealers.
If a customer already has an excavator or intends to purchase one through a dealer in another state, QFS can work with that organization to help determine what’s required to install the Powerhand attachment.
This creates a much more practical path for customers throughout the United States. The machine doesn’t necessarily need to travel to Massachusetts just to receive a Powerhand attachment.
Full-Service Support After the Attachment Is Delivered
QFS is a full-service equipment dealership, not simply an attachment importer. Our team provides equipment sales, service, parts, rentals and transportation support alongside our Powerhand distribution.
That means customers have a resource in the United States if questions arise about their Powerhand equipment after delivery. We understand both the attachment and the machines carrying it.
Need a Powerhand Attachment in the United States?
Whether you are dismantling end-of-life vehicles, removing trees, handling timber, replacing culverts or trying to make an excavator more versatile, QFS can help determine whether there is a Powerhand attachment built for the job.
Already know which Powerhand attachment you need? Talk with our team about your carrier machine, application and location. Not sure which attachment is right? Start with the job you are trying to accomplish.
QFS can help handle the rest.
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