PALFINGER History - FROM A FITTER’S WORKSHOP TO A GLOBAL, LOCAL PLAYER
  1. Home
  2. About PALFINGER
  3. History
HistorY

FROM A FITTER’S WORKSHOP
TO A GLOBAL, LOCAL PLAYER

1932 - 1964

PIONEERING PHASE

1932
Richard Palfinger establishes a metalworking and repairs workshop for agricultural trailers, tippers and vehicle bodies.

1959
After experience developing various special agricultural devices PALFINGER constructs its first crane.

1964
Hubert Palfinger, Richard's son, lays the foundations for a new era by specialising in hydraulic truck-mounted loading cranes.

PIONEERING PHASE
1968 - 1992

THE CRANE ERA

THE CRANE ERA

1968
The first crane in serial production comes off the line. Switzerland and France are the first export countries.

1971
Patents for hydraulic lifting moment regulation and cylinder arrangement on the boom extension system.

1973
Patent for mast planting grab. PALFINGER is first to re-define the crane as a "multi-functional machine".

1974
Construction of a new assembly plant at Kasern/Austria

1976
Patent for a hinged main boom. Finally – thanks to this innovation - even cranes with long outreach can be folded up and require very little space.

1977
Patent for cable drum grab. Another useful add-on device for cranes.

1978
Extension of the patent for the cylinder arrangement on the extension boom system, now covering several extension booms. This is still today the state-of-the-art solution in truck-mounted crane technology.

1980
PALFINGER constructs underwater cranes for offshore drilling rigs, used for laying tubes.

1981
Patents for compensated overload cut-off and trailing console

1984
Inauguration of the plant at Lengau/Austria

1988
EPSILON Forestry & Recycling Cranes extends the portfolio.

1989
The export quota climbs over the 90 percent mark. PALFINGER is present in over 70 countries. And counting...

1990
With the STEPA farm cranes, PALFINGER further extends its product portfolio.

1992
Special solutions by PALFINGER RAILWAY are used by railway companies for the first time.

Patents for sequence control (valve design type and “tube-in-tube”), upward swivelling outrigger and return oil utilization. Introduction of the PALtronic and return oil utilization on loading cranes.

Introduction of the electronic spare part catalogues PATIS and PAC, the software for configuration and stability calculations.

1996 - 2007

REPOSITIONING THE COMPANY

1996
Innovation award for COSSAN, the computer-aided method to analyse and optimise welded structures. Award of the Province of Salzburg.
The first PALIFT hookloaders are produced.

1997
Introduction of PEC PALFINGER Equipment Center.

1998
Patent for oscillation suppression system AOS (Active Oscillation Suppression System). 
Market launch of the Truck Mounted Forklift.

1999
PALFINGER goes public with its stock market launch in June. Another milestone in the history of our company. PALFINGER takes over the French company Guima S.A., the world’s second largest manufacturer of hookloaders.

Patent for the hydraulic overload cut-off. Inauguration of the new EPSILON plant at Elsbethen. PALFINGER's 100.000th crane is delivered.

2000
The first MOBILER container transfer systems are produced by PALFINGER.

REPOSITIONING THE COMPANY

2001
Introduction of POWER LINK PLUS, a top reverse linkage system developed by PALFINGER. It allows even the most difficult types of crane work on very limited space.
PALGATE tail lift is added to the constantly growing product portfolio.
Acquisition of Tiffin Loader Cranes and foundation of PALFINGER USA, Inc. Takeover of the Brazilian company Madal S.A. and foundation of MADAL PALFINGER. 
Introduction of the Performance crane series. The latest PALFINGER technology, functional design, the best possible ergonomics and the highest level of safety make the Performance cranes the leaders on the truck-mounted crane market.

2002
RAP (Rapid Process) brings a major boost to the PALFINGER competitive position. Shortened and fixed delivery times for truck-mounted cranes off works become standard.

2003
With ACCESS, access platforms made by PALFINGER are launched on the market for the first time.
Introduction of the KTL coating technology (cathodic deposition dip coating). New quality standards in terms of surface treatment are introduced.
Province of Salzburg Innovation Award for development of the innovative handling terminal (IUT) and for the PALFINGER MOBILER products.

2004
PALFINGER takes over BISON, the German market leader for truck-mounted access platforms. The existing ACCESS products are integrated into the product portfolio of the new brand name BISON PALFINGER.
The crane series Advantage and Compact conquer the worldwide market for truck-mounted cranes.
The newly constructed spare-part center (ETC) guarantees worldwide supply for PALFINGER customers within 24 to 48 hours.

2005
Acquisition of RATCLIFF. PALFINGER takes over the British market leader in the field of tail gates and access systems.
PALFINGER develops the Dual Power System (DPS) expanding the range of application for knuckle boom cranes with the fly jib system.

2006
PALFINGER develops the new stability control solution ISC.

2007
PALFINGER presents "High Performance", a new generation of cranes. It stands out for its innovative and functional design.
PALFINGER takes over the Croatian supplier PiR Metall d.o.o. and the MBB Liftsystems AG, one of the global leaders in the manufacture of tail gates.

seit 2008

INTERNATIONALIZATION PHASE

INTERNATIONALIZATION PHASE

2008
PALFINGER takes over the ELEVANT sector of WUMAG GmbH, one of the leading German manufacturers of truck-mounted access platforms. PALFINGER takes over Omaha Standard Inc. – one of the market leaders in the US in the field of truck bodies and pick-up tail gates. With the PK 50002-EH, PALFINGER presents its first model of the new High Performance large cranes. Inauguration of the new hexagonal boom production at Lengau.

2009
Introduction of DPS-Plus, Single Link Plus and the Power Link cable winch for even more efficient truck-mounted crane operations. PALFINGER took over Automated Waste Equipment, a US producer of container handling systems, thus becoming number two in this product division in the US.

2010
Convenience and safety initiative according to EN 12999:2011. With the introduction of the new SH crane series, including the PALtronic 150, PALFINGER revolutionizes the truck-mounted crane technology. 
PALFINGER acquired an 80-percent interest in access platform manufacturer ETI – a top player in the North American market. This was a major step for PALFINGER, as the Group had not been present in North America with access platforms before.
With the acquisition of a 75-percent interest in the Dutch company Ned-Deck Marine B.V. (ND M), PALFINGER entered the market of ship-mounted cranes.
PALFINGER expanded its marine portfolio with the acquisition of the marine and windmill crane business of Palfinger systems GmbH – the market leader in cranes for offshore wind energy plants. This acquisition made PALFINGER one of the leading suppliers of marinecranes.
2011
The new stability safety system HPSC (= High Performance Stability Control) offers a maximum level of convenience and safety for truck-mounted crane operation. It is the most intelligent system on the market.

After obtaining the approval of the Russian anti-trust authority, PALFINGER acquired the leading Russian crane producer INMAN.

2012
Another great milestone. The joint venture with SANY, the leading Chinese construction machine manufacturer, PALFINGER consolidates its position on the world market for the next decade.
PALFINGER strengthened its market presence in South America by reaching an agreement on the takeover of Tercek, a company developing electric-powered bus lifts – a growth segment in this promising market – under the brand name Líbero.
With the acquisition of the Norwegian Bergen Group Dreggen AS, PALFINGER took a major step forward in the growth of its marine business. The Dreggen cranes added tailor-made crane solutions for the shipbuilding, oil and gas industries to PALFINGER’s product portfolio, thus opening up new opportunities and markets.

2013
The PALFINGER Group has been awarded the most significant contracts for its marine business in the total equivalent amount of approx. EUR 90 million. The signing of the contracts has just been announced by Palfinger Dreggen, a PALFINGER subsidiary specializing in offshore cranes.

With Palfinger Platforms Italy, PALFINGER entered the market for standardized access platforms mounted on smaller trucks. 

Takeover of parts of the business of the Korean marine supplier MCT ENG. 
PALFINGER expanded its portfolio for the shipping and offshore industries to include special systems for accessing and performing repairs and maintenance by acquiring majority holdings in Palfinger systems GmbH and the Arab Megarme Group. 
PALFINGER reached a cross shareholding agreement with its Chinese partner SANY, with the aim of strengthening future cooperation. 
PALFINGER acquired a majority interest in the Russian PM-Group Lifting Machine, an important supplier of cranes for timber and recycling, with the objective of achieving an even stronger presence in Russia.

2014 
As a pioneer in the field of sustainability, PALFINGER published its first integrated annual report, which not only presents PALFINGER’s economic development but also contains information on ecological and social aspects of the PALFINGER Group.

The cross shareholding of PALFINGER and SANY, which had been in preparation for several months, was concluded with the entry of PALFINGER AG‘s capital increase in the commercial register. 

PALFINGER signed an agreement on the acquisition of a 30 per cent share in HIDRO-GRUBERT, a producer of access platforms, loader cranes and truck bodies.

PALFINGER and KAMAZ, Russia’s largest truck producer, agreed to establish two joint venture companies: one specializing in the production and sale of truck bodies, and the other one in the production of cylinders. With this transaction, local value creation was substantially expanded in the important Russian market.

PALFINGER closes acquisition of Russian PM-Group and is now with its brands Velmash and Solombalsky a major supplier of timber and recycling cranes, loader cranes and hooklifts in the Commonwealth of Independent States.

2015
To complete its product portfolio in the marine business, PALFINGER took over Norwegian Deck Machinery AS, a manufacturer of special winches for the marine and offshore industry. This participation gives PALFINGER access to customer groups that have so far not been addressed.

At the beginning of the year, the plant in Rudong near Shanghai, which had been established in record time, started operations. The plant produces primarily loader cranes for the joint venture Sany Palfinger.

At the beginning of autumn, the new global headquarters of the PALFINGER Group in Bergheim near Salzburg, Austria, was inaugurated. For the first time, all central departments are now housed under one roof.

Adoption of the environmental protection guideline for the Group. The new guideline for environmental protection imposed uniform standards for environmental management at all PALFINGER sites.

New global headquarters of the PALFINGER Group in Bergheim

2016
In the second quarter, PALFINGER acquired a majority interest in its longstanding dealer MYCSA on the Iberian Peninsula and has continued the business at six locations.

PALFINGER acquired Harding, one of the leading suppliers of lifesaving equipment and lifecycle services for maritime installations and ships. The largest acquisition carried out in the history of PALFINGER will almost double the volume of its marine business.

The expansion of the marine business led to a change in segment reporting. Starting with the third quarter of 2016, the performance figures of PALFINGER are being broken down into the segments LAND and SEA. The HOLDING unit maps the Group’s administration and strategic projects for the future.

2017

The previous owner of PALFINGER’s Danish dealer decided to focus on its core business. PALFINGER acquired the shares in the company, taking over all of the staff and continuing the business.

PALFINGER hosted a hackathon in Vienna, the largest one held in Austria to date. Open innovation means developing innovative concepts in cooperation with external talents.

PALFINGER opened an interactive exhibition in Lengau, putting the spotlight on its brand promise with state-of-the-art technology. The exhibition also features the new delivery centre for complete vehicles.

2018
Andreas Klauser takes over as CEO of PALFINGER AG in June 2018. With the former Global Brand President of Case IH and STEYR as well as CNH Industrial board member, an internationally experienced top manager was found.