5 questions about hooklifts and hoists

1. Can you provide an overview of Hiab and its products for the waste industry?

Hiab is a leading provider of smart and sustainable load-handling solutions, offering a wide range of products and brands, including Galfab and Multilift, designed to increase productivity and efficiency in the waste and recycling industry. Hooklifts are the predominant means of transporting containers around the world for any industry from private to municipalities, in waste and recycling to landscaping.

Galfab, a part of Hiab since 2021, is a leading roll-off hoist manufacturer for the domestic waste industry in the USA, which continues to manufacture in Indiana. By combining Galfab’s expertise in roll-off equipment with Hiab’s broad range of load-handling solutions, the company is well-positioned to serve the diverse needs of the waste and recycling industry in the USA.

2. The Galfab Electronic Control System is a new technology for roll-off trucks. Why are these controls essential for operators?

The new system is a game-changer for roll-off truck operators. It offers a range of benefits that enhance safety, efficiency and functionality through stability sensors, sequence potential and wireless capabilities.

3. How do those enhanced safety elements help protect workers?

Historically, the operators are right next to the truck as the equipment is operating. But a wireless remote allows the operator to walk around and make sure the environment is safe—that there’s no one walking around near the truck or no overhead obstructions. It provides much better visibility and better awareness.

Additionally, the electronic controls offer slope detection technology that can determine if the truck is on unstable ground or in a precarious position. It will give a warning, and if the slope increases, it will shut down and lower the equipment to prevent it from getting into any further hazardous conditions.

4. What are the key features that set these controls apart from the competition?

Our electronic controls are proven in the most demanding environments, including some of the toughest defense applications. It’s a proprietary technology and something we’ve developed over many years. The controls can be integrated with the equipment as well as the chassis, offering a lot of functionality that can be relayed onto the truck itself.

Our valve is sophisticated and programmable, meaning we can adapt the flow to whatever is required by any ancillary equipment. This allows us to alter the operation to almost any specific equipment versus the traditional method of having to put restrictors on the line on the hoses that create heat in the hydraulics and another potential leak point.

The other part would be the in-cab controls. Our in-cab controls are durable, robust and easy to use. We have a joystick that can be operated with one hand, and it controls all hoist functions. Those individual buttons can control either hydraulic or electric functions as well, like lights.

5. How can the new demountable Above Frame provide flexibility for operators?

We designed the unit around ease of installation and maintenance, with the key driver being low total cost of ownership. The new, revised above frame integrates extremely well with the Electronic Control System, just like any of our hoists. The end result is reduced mounting time, increased reliability and flexibility on different styles of chassis, whether that’s diesel, electric or alternative fuel vehicles. Having an integrated, behind-the-cab hydraulic tank provides a lot more flexibility for packaging on different chassis applications.