HIAB’s Variable Stability Limit i.e. the VSL-V system complete with analog sensors has made it a popular option for transportation companies. HIAB equipment is generally chosen by transport companies like Jansson & Frank Transport AB due to a number of advanced features for speed and precision. With the VSL-V, HIAB trucks and cranes now boast extra stability. The system is designed to ensure that the truck does not tip over during operations.

The VSL-V manages to keep the truck stable while maximizing the outreach and lifting capacity of the crane. The system is capable of sensing exactly how far the stabilizer legs are spread and also assists the crane to handle heavy loads in restricted spaces. These stabilizing extensions have in-built sensors that keep track of the movement and position of the truck and the additional pressure sensors detect the amount of pressure inflicted on the stabilizer legs.

The European Union machinery directive states that vehicles should have up-to-date security and disconnecting these systems is considered illegal. However with the VSL-V, the integrated system gets rid of all security concerns raised by the EU. The VSL-V system is a helpful addition whether you are hauling heavy machinery or transporting construction equipment.

The VSL-V helps prevent accidents in numerous situations. If the operator is unable to see the exact position of the vehicle, the remote control of the VSL-V pinpoints the accurate position of the stabilizer legs and the corresponding lifting capacity. Additionally, the VSL-V system takes charge if the operator is distracted and forgets to leave out the stabilizers or lower the crane when necessary.

 

 

The HIAB 251 crane has been an important part of many research expeditions planned by SARDI (South Australian Research and Development Institute) for over a year. The primary research vessel of SARDI called Ngerin makes use of the 251 sea crane for deep sea programs. The HIAB 251 crane has an impressive outreach of 11.6 meters, at which it can carry about 1,900 kilos. At full capacity, the 251 crane can lift an overwhelming weight of 10,500 kilos.

The main objective of the project is to deploy seabed moorings fitted with sensors into the ocean. These sensors would then measure important data like tidal flow, salinity, wave height and fluorescence. Ngerin is equipped with IMOS (Integrated Marine Observing System) and the crane is an important part of the scientific research carried out by SARDI. Currently occupied by the IMOS initiative, Ngerin needed a quick upgrade on its lifting capabilities. The overall depth of the sea moorings would usually vary between 40 and 500 meters and required a powerful and versatile crane.

The moorings weigh just about 750 kilos, much lower than the load capacity of the HIAB 251 crane. However, the institute needed a crane that could operate safely and effectively in the volatile and ever-changing sea conditions. The new upgrade allowed them to do just that. The massive lifting capacity of the crane and its versatility has helped them deploy and retrieve moorings from rough parts of the sea. Additionally, the crane is also used for loading heavy equipment like diving gear and recompression chambers.

 

 

Understanding the dependence of hard working professionals in the materials handling sector, HIAB have continued to achieve new successes, with stories pouring in from all parts of the world. The latest HIAB Method magazine chronicles the numerous achievements made by HIAB with customers in various industries.

One of the biggest achievements by HIAB this year includes their global expansion, opening new offices in Japan and receiving large orders from Mexico. HIAB has also been helpful in loading and hauling live poultry and played an important role in deep sea research in Australia. Advanced technologies like the VSL-V give HIAB cranes an edge over other equipment with extra stability and better functionalities. Analog sensors to measure the position and pressure of the crane keep the operators safe and stable.

Electric truck mounted forklifts from Moffett continue to impress with energy efficient and cost efficient features. The low costs of operations paired with the almost zero exhaust emission from the forklifts make Moffett a pocket friendly and environment friendly option. The flourishing construction industry of Oman has received great support from HIAB’s loading equipment with its innovation in design and expansion in the range of features.

Small and medium businesses in Chile and France have received a major boost in the past few decades with transportation of furniture, antiques and other heavy equipment. Many companies in different parts of the world have expanded from a single HIAB truck to a fleet of several hundred loader cranes. Successes of Grua-Cor and the Guisnel Group have made HIAB a popular choice for handling cargo and heavy loads.

 

 

If you already know that present-day HIAB cranes have been used for animal-rescue operations, this blast from the past won’t come as a big surprise to you: the HIAB 174 Speedloader was used to feed wild beasts in a Swedish zoo. Yes, even forty years ago, HIAB cranes came to the aid of animals, and not just the pet kind, but bona fide wild African animals! Amusingly, the Speedloader used for this purpose went by the name of ‘Elefant’.

Elefant was mainly used for the zoo’s transportation tasks. Clearly, the crane’s more interesting job was delivering elephants, giraffes, rhinos and zebras their meals for the day. Exciting afternoons for truckers and a good dining experience for the beasts!

The HIAB 174 Speedloader was well-known for its far reach and flexibility. It was commonly used to hoist roofs in many parts of Europe as well as North America. The Hiab 174 Speedloader was more compact than bulky building cranes while offering the same reach. The extensions built into the 174 Speedloader allowed it to lift weights upto heights of eleven meters, almost four floors high. It is the same lightweight mechanism that allowed Swedish truckers to feed large animals like elephants and giraffes safely.

The Hiab 174 Speedloader’s sleek design was also useful for other activities like pouring concrete into pipes and laying them in position. With great heating systems, power steering and a swiveling driver seat, truckers were at ease when handling the Hiab 174 Speedloader for lifting heavy objects, transporting loads or simply feeding grass to zoo residents.

Read more about HIAB 174 Speedloader used to feed the animals in a Swedish zoo.

 

 

Looking back over 40 years ago, there were initiatives by the Western Geophysical Company to find oil off the US west coast. And, of course, the efforts were supported by HIAB, with HIAB loaders becoming an integral part of this process.

What does the oil exploration job entail? Back in the Sixties, it started with studies of the geology of the seabed with the help of a survey vessel. Known as the Dantzler Spruce, this survey vessel studied the features of the seabed using different methods including shooting powerful sound waves into the surface of the ocean, a method similar to SONAR. These sound waves are reflected back from the various layers of the seabed and recorded by the sensitive equipment aboard the vessel.

These sensitive recordings provided geologists with an approximation of what the seabed is comprised of. The readings also indicate the possibilities of finding oil beneath the seabed, under the numerous layers of earth.

Two HIAB loaders accompanied the Dantzler Spruce. One of the loaders included the HIAB Titan that lifts heavy cannons used to fire sound waves into the ocean. These heavyweight cannons weigh almost four tons and are loaded in two wells aboard the vessel. Licensed under HIAB Italy, Titan can easily reach both wells on the Dantzler Spruce to switch cannons. When the vessel is docked, HIAB Titan is used to hoist equipment on and off the vessel.

The HIAB 174 Speedloader was used to lift delicate and sensitive equipment that was generally towed behind the vessel. Owing to its flexibility and expansive reach, the 174 Speedloader could clutch and lift delicate instruments away from the ship without risking any damage.

Read more about the HIAB Loaders used in Undersea Oil Prospects.

 

 

Can you imagine a time when loading and unloading was done only by hand? Before cranes, workers had to rely only on their strength and makeshift arrangements like planks to discharge loads. HIAB METHOD looked back at the good ‘ol days with Enstaberga Cementgjuteri, a pre-cast concrete works in Stockholm, started by brothers Georg and Sivert Karlsson in 1945.

Enstaberga truck driver Rune Eriksson spoke about the difficulty experienced in loading and unloading bigger pipes. The concrete pipes had to be rolled off by many workers. They were eased down using ropes tied to the front wall of the truck’s deck. Rolling them off one by one involved tipping the desk, but this had to be done carefully so that the pipes didn’t fall on top of each other and break.

This tiring loading and unloading work by hand became a thing of the past once the HIAB Model 193 wire-rope crane was purchased by the company. It brought down the workload and the requirement for many hands for the job. But with the free-slewing jib, the unloading task had to be done carefully as the load would swing to and fro, and more so when the truck was not standing perfectly level. The solution to this problem came in the form of the 173 Speedloader. When mounted on the truck, it could unload almost a ton at a time.

Even better is the new rotator-equipped 174 Speedloader, says Eriksson. The rotator keeps the load from twisting during the lift. Positioning the pipes exactly and laying up high pipes is also easier with the hydraulic extension. Rune Eriksson says that he can deliver thrice as many pipes a day as he could previous to the 174.

Take a look at the HIAB Method Magazine No. 8 from 1967.

 

 

The HIAB Method Magazine No. 8 from 1967 shone the spotlight on a simpler day and age when faced with fewer effective loading solutions, workers would lift loads manually or use ropes and other rudimentary tools to discharge and move loads at job sites. The improved HIAB 174 Speedloader ushered in greater load-handling efficiency and performance. While the star of this issue of Method was clearly the 174 Speedloader, the magazine also featured articles on the BL7 bogie lift and the 177 Speedloader.

The featured articles showed through customer testimonials and photographs, how the 174 helped out at different job sites. From a scrap yard in England to a precast-concrete cast works in Stockholm, the 174 served various kinds of jobs diligently. The extensions built into the crane allowed it to lift weights at a height of eleven meters. This, combined with its lightweight mechanism saw the 174 being used to feed animals like elephants and giraffes safely. When it came to versatility, the 174 delivered brilliantly.

The magazine tells us how HIAB products were the top choice of many industries back in the 60′s as well. Even as the technologically-advanced HIAB cranes of today offer wireless warning and remote control in risky environments, it is great to read about the developments made by HIAB’s products over the years. While the emphasis in the early days was to get the job done as efficiently as is possible, many more factors like ease of maintenance play an important role in the design of modern-day truck mounted equipment from the manufacturer.

 

 

In yet another instance where HIAB truck mounted cranes have come to the rescue, a billboard-delivery company has purchased the XS 622. Bordbusters BV, a Dutch company, has added the HIAB XS 622 to its line-up. The choice was a no-brainer as Bordbusters is aware of the reliability and excellent service associated with all HIAB products, as it already owns the XS 1055 and XS 066. The company’s clients include private firms and government agencies that emphasize timely delivery to meet project and event needs.

The HIAB XS 622 has an important duty to perform. It will handle the company’s five tonne most wanted boards. The requirements for this task are good reach and longer hoisting distances. This is because Bordbusters takes care of lighting too, and some lighting masts in industrial areas and sports arenas are placed high. The X-function of the XS 622 offers better accessibility in smaller, confined spaces, allowing Bordbusters to reach places that it couldn’t manage previously. The company expects this kind of efficiency to help it bag more clients.

What makes the HIAB XS 622 the top choice? For starters, it is optimized for heavy installation tasks, and vertical lifts such as containers and boats. Its HiPro control and boom systems deliver smooth operation through excellent precision and minimum deflection. The robust hydraulics ensure that wear and leaks are negligible, while its long 32 meter maximum outreach allows operation even in areas that are typically inaccessible for cranes of such a size.

 

 

The stability versus capacity concern has been duly addressed by HIAB with VSL or variable stability limit. The solution maximizes the capacity of the crane relative to its stability, delivering efficiencies in both departments. It is able to achieve this by accurately registering the distance to which the stabilizer extensions are extended. This makes the safety system the most advanced of its kind.

VSL now allows cranes to use higher capacities in sectors where this was previously restricted. This in itself, is a big advantage, bringing about enhanced productivity in many more applications. VSL accomplishes this through its built-in sensors that communicate the position of the stabilizers to the Space system, and enable them to reach optimal capacity in all the positions. VSL also allows step-less extension of the stabilizer legs thanks to its analogues sensors.

Of course, safety is an-important aspect where VSL hits the bull’s eye. The pressure applied on the stabilizer extensions is measured to supervise stability. When the stabilizer legs cannot be fully extended, working at optimum capacity is still possible relative to the stability legs position. In this way, the vehicle’s stability is secured through variable stability limit.

HIAB cranes with VSL offer better safety for both operator and the vehicle. They are apt choices in industries and applications where higher capacities are handled on a regular basis. In line with HIAB’s continued innovation, VSL is a great solution that tackles the issue of safety in relation to capacity effectively. Cargo handlers can now enjoy more peace of mind knowing that their VSL equipped HIAB cranes are offering the best of both worlds!

 

 

As the exclusive distributor of HIAB equipment in Canada, Atlas Polar is the go-to destination for quality HIAB cranes, Moffett truck-mounted forklifts and Multilift hooklift systems. The company has gone from strength to strength over the years, with a fairly healthy economy and a flourishing energy sector contributing to greater optimism.

Customer demand has also remained strong given that HIAB products have delivered the expected performance and Atlas Polar has remained committed to customer service excellence. An article in the 2/2011 HIAB Method magazine takes a more detailed look at how Atlas Polar has reached out to and served customers dedicatedly.

Companies looking for load handling solutions have to match their needs to the equipment perfectly; this promises a good ROI. The equipment provider, on the other hand, must understand these needs properly to be able to suggest the best solution. And that’s what Atlas Polar focuses on to ensure that the HIAB truck-mounted crane or Moffett forklift in question serves its purposes admirably. This is perhaps a reason why customers trust Atlas Polar to meet their unique requirements. Take for instance, Canadian company Patene Building Supplies, which purchased the HIAB XS 453K truck crane to enable lifting and lateral transfer of roof supplies 12m in the air. HIAB’s innovative products have also made previously restricted areas more accessible now, thereby catering to many more applications successfully.

Atlas Polar gives its customers multiple options to own quality HIAB equipment. It is recognized for truly flexible in-house financing. For the past twenty years, customers have enjoyed the many advantages of Atlas Polar’s rent–to–own programs, short-term rentals and direct purchasing options.