Industry Interview
Brian Heffron, PALFINGER
The PALFINGER Pal Pro 72 mechanics body is available in 11- and 14-foot configurations on Class 6 and 7 chassis. The PSC10829 service crane has a 10,800-pound capacity and 29 feet of outreach.
continued.“ We’ ve responded by designing equipment for flexibility and by investing in faster delivery capabilities.”
The overall goal, according to Heffron, is to simplify service trucks and equipment and extend their usable life, all in one setup.“ Customization is key,” he stated.“ These trucks are not just rolling toolboxes, they’ re mobile workstations. Building them from day one to support their specific applications is a huge advantage.”
Starting Point
In particular, Heffron pointed to mechanics trucks and stated the importance of starting with a purpose-built crane body. For example, the PAL Pro Mechanics Truck lineup is designed with that philosophy in mind.
“ What stands out is not just the strength, it’ s a full work truck package that includes the body, the crane, the compressor and everything else that makes it a mobile work platform,” Heffron explained further.“ Things like easy bolt-on locations for welders, toolboxes, compressors and lighting packages and internal layouts, reflect how field mechanics actually operate.”
Heffron also emphasized that some specifications that used to be considered custom are now becoming more standard.“ Lighting upgrades, tool drawers, e-track systems and better compartment layouts used to be one-off requests,” he said.“ Now, they’ re becoming the baseline. The trucks must adapt because the work keeps evolving.”
Evolution is shaping PALFINGER’ s product roadmap, too.“ Starting in 2026, we’ re introducing some updates on our PAL Pro 39 and 43 bodies, like a new 52-inch standard compartment height and factory-installed e-track in the load space and body compartments,” Heffron said.“ The idea is to eliminate drilling holes in the body and give customers more flexibility with accessory mounting, like using a full-length external mounting rail system.”
As field work gets more complex, choosing the correct service crane is essential as well.“ You have to consider how often the crane is used, what it’ s lifting and who’ s operating it,” Heffron advised.“ For lighter or occasional lifting, electric cranes might be viable. But when you’ re moving heavy loads consistently, you’ re going to need hydraulic cranes, with the right capacity and boom configuration.”
Safety is also part of the design goals for PALFINGER service cranes, including features like Wireless Proportional Control and Single Weld Hexagonal Booms.“ There’ s interest now as well in things like winch location, LMI systems and intuitive remotes,” Heffron said.“ That tells us operators want equipment that not only performs but helps them work smarter and more efficiently.
Thinking Long Term
“ Mechanics trucks and service cranes are problem-solvers,” Heffron continued.“ They’ re sent out when cranes and other equipment break down and they’ re operating in all kinds of conditions, across tough terrain and usually on a tight schedule.”
Those realities, Heffron added, have led to running every product through realworld testing and employing tight quality controls.
Looking ahead, Heffron sees customer expectations continuing to evolve, but so will the solutions.“ We’ re in a cycle where the demand for smarter, more durable, more flexible equipment just keeps growing,” he said.“ If you’ re not designing with that in mind, you’ re going to fall behind.”
30
August 2025 • www. cranehotline. com