PALFINGER Marks 100 Years Of Work-Truck Manufacturing Experience
Centennial recognizes a century of craftsmanship and expertise that started with Omaha Standard and continues today through PAL Pro mechanics trucks.
PALFINGER celebrated 100 years of work-truck craftsmanship at its Council Bluffs, Iowa, facility on October 2, honoring a legacy that began with Omaha Standard in 1926 and continues today through the PAL Pro mechanics trucks that help field service professionals keep critical equipment operating in the field.
Held in conjunction with National Manufacturing Day, the centennial celebration brought together employees, retirees, and community members to recognize the people, relationships, and expertise that have shaped the operation over the past century.
The event included a commemorative tree planting at the Council Bluffs facility, symbolizing the roots established over the past 100 years and the generations of people connected to its history.
"This milestone belongs to the generations of employees whose skill, dedication, and knowledge built the foundation of this operation, and to the customers and partners who have trusted that work for decades," said Ismael Daneluz, President of PALFINGER North America. "Their pride and commitment continue to shape every PAL Pro mechanics truck we produce today. As we celebrate the past 100 years, we are equally focused on helping customers meet the challenges of the next century."
Throughout its history, the company has remained actively engaged in the community while also investing in the future workforce through partnerships with local schools and technical colleges. These efforts help raise awareness of manufacturing careers and support the skilled workforce that will carry its legacy into the future.
A Century Built by Generations
Since its founding in 1926, Omaha Standard evolved alongside the people and industries that build, repair, transport, grow, and serve, from family farms and local trades to commercial fleets and national enterprises.
PALFINGER acquired Omaha Standard Inc. in 2008, bringing its work-truck manufacturing expertise into PALFINGER's North American operations.
Today, that legacy continues at PALFINGER's Council Bluffs facility, where PAL Pro mechanics truck bodies and service cranes are produced and assembled by dedicated employees for customers across North America. Denny Nelson, a subassembly lead, exemplifies this dedication, having just celebrated his 51st work anniversary with the company. Together with his father, brothers, and son, the Nelson family has 169 years of combined service.
The centennial recognizes the people, craftsmanship, and customer relationships behind a century of work while looking ahead to the next generation of PAL Pro solutions.
From Truck Body to Mobile Workspace
The role of the mechanics truck has evolved significantly over the past century. For today's technicians, a mechanics truck is more than transportation. It serves as a mobile workspace that combines storage, lifting capability, power, and specialized equipment needed to perform service and repair work in the field.
PAL Pro mechanics trucks support technicians working in industries including construction, agriculture, and mining. Available configurations combine service cranes, compressors, organized storage, and other accessories to meet the needs of specific applications.
As equipment becomes more complex and fleets look for ways to improve productivity, PALFINGER continues to work closely with customers and partners to understand how mechanics trucks are used and where designs can continue to evolve.
"A mechanics truck today is much more than a place to carry tools," said Brian Heffron, PALFINGER North America Vice President, Sales, Service Cranes & Crane Bodies. "Technicians need a truck that helps them work efficiently at the jobsite, with the lifting capability, storage, power, and equipment they need close at hand. Our job is to keep listening to how that work is changing and continue developing PAL Pro around those needs."
The century of craftsmanship built in Council Bluffs extends beyond manufacturing. PALFINGER supports PAL Pro customers through a network of dealers, service, parts, and technical resources that help fleets keep equipment working in the field.
As PALFINGER marks this centennial milestone, the company remains focused on building on a century of craftsmanship, innovation, and customer partnership while shaping the next generation of PAL Pro solutions.
