Ever Wondered What HIAB Stands For?

The name HIAB is synonymous with quality and innovation in materials handling solutions. From truck mounted loader cranes to Multilift hooklifts and Moffett piggyback truck mounted forklifts, HIAB covers all the bases when it comes to load handling.

But what does HIAB, the name, actually stand for?

The company was founded in Sweden in 1944. Its full name is Hydraliska Industri AB, which was shortened to HIAB.

The founder was Eric Sundin who had developed a way to use hydraulics to power loader cranes. Around the same time, three Finnish brothers developed the first hooklift. They launched the Multilift company in 1949. The two companies would later find themselves merged together when the Partek Corporation purchased Multilift (in 1977) and then HIAB (in 1985).

More mergers have occurred since then, and HIAB and Multilift have continued to thrive under their various owners: first the KONE Corporation, which acquired Partek in 2002, and then Cargotec, which acquired the brands in 2005.

Since 1953, Atlas Polar has worked as distributor of HIAB products—truck mounted cranes first, followed by the other HIAB products. In fact, Atlas Polar is HIAB’s oldest independent dealer in the world. To see the full range, visit our home page and then select the product category you want to learn about: HIAB truck crane, Moffett forklift, or Multilift hooklift.