Iowa-built grapples, pallet forks, and buckets for the mid-market contractor. Berlon has built a reputation for solid construction and competitive pricing — here's what Canadian operators need to know.
Berlon Industries is an Iowa-based attachment manufacturer with a product lineup focused on grapples, pallet forks, and buckets for skid steers and compact track loaders. The brand is positioned squarely in the mid-market: solid construction, competitive pricing, and a dealer network with Canadian presence. For operators who want a known North American brand with decent dealer support without paying OEM or premium-brand prices, Berlon is worth evaluating.
This guide covers Berlon's Canadian-relevant product range, quality assessment, and where to source their products in Canada.
Berlon targets the working contractor — landscapers, property maintenance companies, general contractors, and agricultural operators who need reliable attachments for daily commercial use. The brand doesn't compete on being the heaviest-built option (that's Werk-Brau or Paladin territory), nor on the lowest price (that's TMG Industrial or economy imports). They occupy the practical middle ground: better than economy, priced below premium.
Their grapple and fork lineup in particular has earned consistent positive reviews in the North American contractor community. Grapples and forks are relatively straightforward products where the mid-market tier performs well — the engineering isn't exotic, and Berlon's execution is reliable.
Grapples are Berlon's best-known product category. They produce root grapples, brush grapples, and combination grapple buckets for skid steer and CTL applications.
Berlon's root grapple is designed for land clearing, stump removal, and brush handling. The tine construction is solid mid-market — properly sized for the typical land clearing and property cleanup work that most contractors do. The hydraulic cylinder is adequately protected, and the tine spacing works well for grabbing stumps, root balls, and debris piles. For this use case at this price point, the Berlon root grapple competes well against HLA's equivalent and other mid-market options.
Brush grapples have a wider jaw opening and denser tine spacing than root grapples, suited for handling loose brush, slash, and light woody debris. Berlon's brush grapple is a practical tool for cleanup work after tree felling or storm damage clearing.
A grapple bucket combines a standard bucket with an upper grapple jaw, allowing the operator to both scoop material (like a bucket) and grip material (like a grapple). These are versatile attachments for mixed-use operations where operators need both digging and grasping capability from one tool. Berlon's grapple bucket is a popular choice for landscapers and property maintenance operators who don't want to carry a full second attachment.
Pallet forks are a core part of Berlon's lineup. Their fork frames and tines cover standard load ratings for typical skid steer material handling: palletized supplies, bundled lumber, bagged aggregate, and similar commercial loads.
Berlon's standard fork frames are solid mid-market products. The tines are replaceable when worn, the frame construction is appropriate for the rated capacity, and the quick-attach interface is standard SSQA. For operators who regularly move palletized material on job sites or in yard environments, these are a practical, fairly-priced option.
The heavy-duty fork series steps up the tine thickness and frame capacity for operators moving heavier loads — precast concrete panels, steel structural members, or high-density palletized material. If your regular loads push the limits of standard forks, stepping to the HD series is the right call.
Berlon makes general purpose and heavy-duty buckets for skid steers. The product lineup is less extensive than bucket specialists like Werk-Brau, but covers the common sizes and configurations. For operators who primarily need grapples or forks and want a matching bucket from the same brand, Berlon's bucket range serves the purpose.
| Product Line | Quality Tier | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Root / brush grapples | Good mid-market | Core strength — competitive in class |
| Grapple buckets | Good mid-market | Popular for versatility |
| Pallet forks | Good mid-market | Solid construction, replaceable tines |
| GP buckets | Adequate mid-market | Not the core competency — bucket specialists have more range |
Berlon has Canadian dealer presence primarily through construction and landscape equipment dealers. Coverage varies by region: