Multilift
Raisio, Finland

1983 Multilft HL 16 Hooklift     Brothers Mikko, Mauno and Martti Terho purchased a U.S. Army surplus GMC truck and began hauling timber in Finland after the Second World War. The burden of loading the heavy timbers inspired the Terho brothers to develop a system of demountable truck bodies, which could be loaded at ground level and hoisted on board by a winch running off the vehicle PTO. They filed a patent in 1947, and by 1949 founded the company Autolava in Naantali, Finland.     Mikko Terho next developed a hydraulic winch in 1956, and the company growth led to a move to Raisio in 1961. Export activity began in 1964, and the following year brought the first patent for a refuse collection body, a rear loading crusher-shredder with ejection discharge. An export version of the rear loader was announced in Great Britain in 1966 and known as the CAF Autolava. The company was sold in 1968, beginning a series of ownership changes and continued international growth under the name Multilift. Partek acquired the brand in 1977, and also crane manufacturer Hiab in 1985. Currently Multilift operates as a Hiab subsidiary and manufactures a wide variety of demountable bodies. 1983 HIAB-Mulilift (Germany) CL 16 Roll-off with twin synchronized hydraulic winches Multilift front load refuse packer, circa 1980s The latest: HIAB-Multilift XR26S Hooklift SELECTED PATENTS Patent # Description Inventor Assignee Date US2621819A Loading and unloading device for motor trucks Terho, et.al. November 12, 1948 US3319810A Refuse vehicle Terho April 4, 1965 REFERENCES Classic Refuse Trucks: CAF 2/19/18 © 2018 All Rights Reserved Photos from factory brochures/advertisements except as noted Logos shown are the trademarks of respective manufacturers