Machinery Specialist Builds on VRS Success and Expands Offering to Forestry Equipment
Machinery Specialist is a leading supplier of recycling, demolition, and forestry attachments in Australia and New Zealand. In 2023, the company partnered with Powerhand to bring their iconic auto dismantlers to the Australian market for the first time. With many VRS systems now operating across the country, and consistently positive feedback from customers, the partnership expanded to include Powerhand’s forestry range in 2024.
Powerhand Entering the Market
“We distribute and support leading industry brands, and in 2023 we decided to bring Powerhand auto dismantlers to Australia for the first time. After supplying a number of VRS140 and VRS200 in Australia, the feedback was extremely positive and we decided to extend our collaboration with Powerhand into their forestry range as well.” – Ali Bagheban, Director of Machinery Specialist.
Designed, engineered and manufactured in the UK, the Powerhand VRS is a purpose-built attachment designed to dismantle end-of-life vehicles efficiently and with maximum material recovery. Available in four models, the VRS80, VRS140, VRS180, and VRS200, there’s a Powerhand VRS system to suit operations and excavators of all sizes.
The design of the VRS is what sets it apart, fully optimised to extract the maximum value from an end-of-life vehicle. The grapple is sleek and plier-like with a fixed leg to secure the part you want to remove and a moving leg that closes together, ensuring a firm grip. This means no guesswork is needed when picking off even the smallest of parts, such as starter motors, alternators, and hidden wiring looms.
What Operators are Saying
“Our customers are extremely impressed with the quality and robustness of our Powerhand attachments. The quality and finish can be visibly seen even from the product finish, up to attention to details and choice of components,” said Bagheban.
The response from the Australian market reflects the elite design, engineering, and real-world usability that Powerhand is known for in other markets. The VRS systems enable operators to dismantle vehicles with speed and precision, extracting higher-grade materials such as engine and transmission assemblies, and axle and suspension components, from lower grade vehicle body materials.
Moving into Forestry
The early success and positive feedback from the auto recycling sector led to Machinery Specialist extending its Powerhand range to include forestry attachments. The Powerhand range of forestry and log handling attachments is designed and built to withstand the rigours of tough forestry and sawmilling. They’re used day in day out by forestry contractors and sawmill operators on excavators, forwarders, materials handlers and wheeled loaders.
“We couldn’t have wished for a better partner,” Bagheban added.
The Powerhand forestry line-up includes:
Supporting Australian Industry
Powerhand’s ongoing collaboration with Machinery Specialist means Australian customers now have access to some of the world’s best attachments in the auto recycling and forestry sectors.
Every Powerhand attachment is designed and built for the job at hand. From precise component recovery from ELVs to fast, controlled timber handling in the roughest environments, every product is engineered and manufactured in-house with a focus on performance and reliability.
The partnership with Machinery Specialist means that Australian customers also benefit from local support and product knowledge offered by a distributor who understands the demands of the industries they work in.
It’s a collaboration built on shared values: well-made equipment, trustworthy aftercare, and a focus on helping operators get the most from every job.
About Powerhand
Powerhand designs and manufactures specialist hydraulic attachments for the auto recycling, forestry, and rail sectors. The auto recycling and forestry ranges are now available internationally.
