LOADER CRANES Ӏ SECTOR SNAPSHOT
heart-warming note HMF itself is owned by a Danish foundation, Bundgaard-Fonden. Arne Bundgaard founded HMF back in 1945 as a bicycle repair shop; the foundation is a non-profit charity whose purpose, through running HMF, is to contribute funds for buying hospital equipment. Mutares says that with the completion of its buy-and- sell transaction it 'once again demonstrates its competence in active portfolio management: the partial sale reflects the consistent execution of the strategic rationale underpinning the original acquisition of F.lli Ferrari, namely to focus the group on internally produced crane platforms and proprietary brands including F.lli Ferrari, Kennis and Amco Veba Marine'. The last two, also knuckle boom makers, were part of Hyva and were acquired along with it. And, for completeness,
we should add that Finnish manufacturer Hiab, whose name is almost synonymous with knuckle boom loaders, in January this year bought Brazilian knuckle boom manufacturer Ing Cranes. The aim is to strengthen its position in the South American market. If that musical merry-go-round
of sales and acquisitions has left your head spinning, you are not alone. After a short pause to catch our breath let us turn from business to actual cranes.
LATEST OFFERINGS The latest offerings from Italian maker Cormach (which, refreshingly, is still owned by the Comensoli family who founded it some 65 years ago) are the medium-capacity 23500 E ASC Plus crane and, in the heavy range, the 185000 E ASC Plus. The former has 4280kg capacity
in its E4 variant, with 11.63m hydraulic reach. “Its compact dimensions and 360° rotation on a slew bearing makes this product very interesting for various sectors,” says Enrico Odescalchi of the company’s sales department. “The 185000 model is for applications where higher capacities or reaches are needed,” he adds. “It lifts up to 32 tonnes and reaches 44 metres with 1.6 tonnes. And by the end of the year
38 CRANES TODAY
we shall be ready with a big new model: a 400 tm crane.” Watch this space for more information. In December 2025 Palfinger
introduced an addition to its TEC range of mid to high capacity loader cranes: the 23 tonne, 68.7 tonne/metre, PK 720 TEC. The new model slots into the range between the PK 580 and PK 880 TEC. In its nine-extension
configuration, and with a fly jib, it has 34.4 metres of reach. The crane has Palfinger’s Dual
Power System (DPS-C) and the P-profile boom system. Palfinger says the P-profile boom combines maximum stiffness with low dead weight. A new lighting system includes two working lights on the knuckle boom and the fly jib, plus LED strips beneath the knuckle boom.
AWARD WINNER: HIAB GOES NOISELESS
In May one of Hiab’s latest developments, the Hiab wspr+, won a technical award, gaining gained fi rst place in its category at the 2026 VAK Innovationspreis, given by the German Association for Work Machinery and Municipal Technology, for its contribution to the future of the municipal and logistics industries.
The Hiab wspr+ is claimed as the world's fi rst loader crane ePTO-
system and is Hiab’s answer to the growing demand for sustainable urban operations. By allowing the crane to operate at full capacity electrically while the truck engine is switched off it removes the trade-off between power and environmental responsibility. Since it is almost silent it gives operational freedom to work in noise-
sensitive residential areas or night zones without restriction. Its use-phase emissions are zero, so it signifi cantly reduces the carbon footprint of every lift. And, as a by-product, it delivers cost effi ciency through lower fuel consumption and imposing less wear on the engine of the truck. The system won fi rst place in the Vehicle/Assembly Technology category. The point about silence is something that Hiab takes extremely seriously, to the extent that it has published an on-line white paper about it. In conventional loader cranes noise can come not only from the truck diesel engine but also from the hydraulics and the hydraulic pump, from vibrations from heavier lifts, and from impacts when placing loads. Noise affects safety – high noise levels make communication harder; it increases operator stress and fatigue; and it reduces productivity by limiting the hours of work that are permissible in residential zones. A further benefi t of quieter working conditions is that they may help in attracting and retaining skilled operators. “Driver shortages are a structural challenge across road transport. Better working conditions, including a quieter working environment, can make the profession more attractive and sustainable over time” says the white paper. It is available for free download here:
https://bit.ly/4eEn6bX.
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