Hiab, part of Cargotec, has produced truck mounted forklift unit number 100,000 at the production supply centre in Dundalk, Ireland.

Designed to be carried on the rear of most trucks and trailers, truck mounted forklifts can be dismounted and ready to deliver loads in under 60 seconds. The Dutch company Kooi created the first truck mounted forklift in 1967 while MOFFETT created its first truck-mounted forklift in 1986. In 2004, Kooi was incorporated into MOFFETT, then a part of Hiab.

Today, Hiab produces truck mounted forklifts under two brands, MOFFETT which is available in 40 countries and PRINCETON which supplements Hiab’s offering in the US. In 2021, the assembly of both brands was expanded to the US, in Streetsboro, Ohio.

“Hiab is the world’s leading provider of truck mounted forklifts with over 25,000 units sold in the last five years. A big thank you to customers, all partners and employees who make this possible,” says Jon Lopez, Senior Vice President, Truck Mounted Forklifts, Hiab.

Jann Hansen, Vice President, Sales & Product Management, Truck Mounted Forklifts, Hiab, adds: “Our truck mounted forklifts are being used to keep everyday life moving in over 40 countries around the globe. There is a truck mounted forklift for almost any application with our line-up of more than 30 different models, ranging from 1.5 to 3.5 tonnes.”

As the first manufacturer, Hiab has introduced a complete all-electric lineup of emission free models matching the diesel versions. Electric charging contributes to a lower total cost of ownership for electric units combined with reduced service costs as they are engineered with fewer moving parts.

“We have made significant investments in R&D as we develop our portfolio, in particular, our MOFFETT eSeries of all-electric models. Our focus is on safety, sustainability, productivity and lowering the total cost of ownership. In the future, new models will benefit from improvements to our advanced control systems and connected services,” says Kevin Turnbull, R&D Director, Truck Mounted Forklifts.

All truck mounted forklifts models can navigate tight spaces and drive on uneven and soiled surfaces. This makes them ideal to distribute building supplies, beverages and gas canisters. Not limited to traditional logistical operations, their versatility means that truck mounted forklifts are used for defence and poultry farming operations and everything in between.