Hydrauliska Industri AB
Encyclopedia
Hydrauliska Industri AB is a Finnish
manufacturer of loader crane
s, demountable container handlers, forestry cranes, truck-mounted forklifts and tail lift
s. In some countries, 'HIAB' is used as a synonym for a loader crane of any make. The company is owned by the Cargotec Corporation.
, Sweden
1944 by Eric Sundin, a ski manufacturer who saw a way to utilize a truck's engine to power loader cranes through the use of hydraulics
. On the other side of the Bothnian Sea
in Raisio
, Finland
about the same time, three brothers, Mikko, Mauno and Martti Terho developed a mechanical cable-operated interchangeable platform loader (Cablelift) that utilised the truck's front winch, with which it was possible to use a variety of platform bodies. In 1949 they started Multilift to manufacture their innovative load handling equipment.
The roots of today's Hiab Company lie in a series of acquisitions from 1977 onwards, when Partek Corporation embarked on a comprehensive diversification and internationalisation strategy. Founded in 1898, Partek Corporation was one of the oldest industrial companies in Finland, originally producing limestone
and later a versatile range of materials for the construction industry. In 1977, Partek decided to expand into the engineering industry and thereby decrease its dependence on domestic construction when it first bought named Multilift. Eight years later, 1985 the company bought Hiab with its forestry crane subsidiary Jonsered. 1988 they bought Loglift, as the name applies, also a forestry crane manufacturer.
During the late 1990s, Partek strategically restructured itself into an engineering company, fully divesting its construction materials business and making several acquisitions in the load handling equipment business.
The load handling side of Partek's business was expanded in 2000 with the acquisition of the Zeteco Group (including among others ZEPRO and WALTCO tail lifts). During the same year the truck-mounted forklift business was acquired bringing today's MOFFETT and PRINCETON PIGGY BACK brands into the company.
KONE
Corporation acquired Partek in 2002. In 2004 the load handling business area was renamed after its most valuable product brand, HIAB. June 1 2005 KONE Corporation demerged into new KONE and Cargotec Corporation (listed in Helsinki Stock Exchange). Cargotec
consists of Hiab load handling, Kalmar container handling and MacGREGOR marine cargo handling solutions.
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
manufacturer of loader crane
Crane (machine)
A crane is a type of machine, generally equipped with a hoist, wire ropes or chains, and sheaves, that can be used both to lift and lower materials and to move them horizontally. It uses one or more simple machines to create mechanical advantage and thus move loads beyond the normal capability of...
s, demountable container handlers, forestry cranes, truck-mounted forklifts and tail lift
Tail lift
A tail lift is a mechanical device permanently fitted to the back of van or lorry, which is designed to facilitate the materials handling of goods from ground level or a loading dock to the level of the load bed of the vehicle, or vice versa....
s. In some countries, 'HIAB' is used as a synonym for a loader crane of any make. The company is owned by the Cargotec Corporation.
History
The name, Hiab, comes from the commonly used abbreviation of Hydraliska Industri AB, a company founded in HudiksvallHudiksvall
Hudiksvall is a city and the seat of Hudiksvall Municipality, in Hälsingland, Gävleborg County, Sweden with 14,850 inhabitants in 2005. Hudiksvall is also known as Glada Hudik , a term that originated in the 19th century as word spread of its friendly hospitality and its lively social life...
, Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
1944 by Eric Sundin, a ski manufacturer who saw a way to utilize a truck's engine to power loader cranes through the use of hydraulics
Hydraulics
Hydraulics is a topic in applied science and engineering dealing with the mechanical properties of liquids. Fluid mechanics provides the theoretical foundation for hydraulics, which focuses on the engineering uses of fluid properties. In fluid power, hydraulics is used for the generation, control,...
. On the other side of the Bothnian Sea
Bothnian Sea
The Bothnian Sea links the Bothnian Bay with the Baltic proper. Kvarken is situated between the two. Together, the Bothnian Sea and Bay make up a larger geographical entity, the Gulf of Bothnia...
in Raisio
Raisio
Raisio is a town and municipality in south-western Finland and an important junction of major roads. The town has a population of and is located in the region of Finland Proper, neighbouring the region's capital, Turku...
, Finland
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
about the same time, three brothers, Mikko, Mauno and Martti Terho developed a mechanical cable-operated interchangeable platform loader (Cablelift) that utilised the truck's front winch, with which it was possible to use a variety of platform bodies. In 1949 they started Multilift to manufacture their innovative load handling equipment.
The roots of today's Hiab Company lie in a series of acquisitions from 1977 onwards, when Partek Corporation embarked on a comprehensive diversification and internationalisation strategy. Founded in 1898, Partek Corporation was one of the oldest industrial companies in Finland, originally producing limestone
Limestone
Limestone is a sedimentary rock composed largely of the minerals calcite and aragonite, which are different crystal forms of calcium carbonate . Many limestones are composed from skeletal fragments of marine organisms such as coral or foraminifera....
and later a versatile range of materials for the construction industry. In 1977, Partek decided to expand into the engineering industry and thereby decrease its dependence on domestic construction when it first bought named Multilift. Eight years later, 1985 the company bought Hiab with its forestry crane subsidiary Jonsered. 1988 they bought Loglift, as the name applies, also a forestry crane manufacturer.
During the late 1990s, Partek strategically restructured itself into an engineering company, fully divesting its construction materials business and making several acquisitions in the load handling equipment business.
The load handling side of Partek's business was expanded in 2000 with the acquisition of the Zeteco Group (including among others ZEPRO and WALTCO tail lifts). During the same year the truck-mounted forklift business was acquired bringing today's MOFFETT and PRINCETON PIGGY BACK brands into the company.
KONE
KONE
Kone Oyj , founded in 1910 and headquartered in Espoo, Finland, is an international engineering and service company employing some 32,500 personnel worldwide. The firm is the fourth largest manufacturer of elevators worldwide, a leading manufacturer of escalators, and also provides maintenance...
Corporation acquired Partek in 2002. In 2004 the load handling business area was renamed after its most valuable product brand, HIAB. June 1 2005 KONE Corporation demerged into new KONE and Cargotec Corporation (listed in Helsinki Stock Exchange). Cargotec
Cargotec
Cargotec Oyj is a Finnish company that makes cargo-handling machinery for ships, ports, terminals and local distribution.Cargotec was formed in June 2005 when Kone Corporation was split into two companies to be listed: Cargotec and new KONE...
consists of Hiab load handling, Kalmar container handling and MacGREGOR marine cargo handling solutions.
Further reading
- Hiab - Official Hiab website and country websites
- Hiab Loading and Unloading Safety Procedures