PALFINGER is celebrating 100 years of work-truck manufacturing experience rooted in Omaha Standard, a legacy that began in 1926 and continues today through the employees and PAL Pro mechanics trucks, produced at the company’s Council Bluffs, Iowa, facility. PALFINGER acquired Omaha Standard in 2008, bringing that deep industry knowledge into its North American operations and expanding PALFINGER’s portfolio of crane and lifting solutions in the region.
The centennial reflects a century of craftsmanship and manufacturing knowledge, and industry relationships that continue to shape PALFINGER’s work-truck business today. It also highlights the evolution of work-truck manufacturing and the people who have helped ensure that the products built in Council Bluffs continue to meet the changing needs of field service professionals.
"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, PALFINGER Vice President of Sales and Service, North America. “The experience built over the past 100 years continues to shape how we serve our customers today. PALFINGER is proud to carry that legacy forward while helping customers meet the challenges of the next century."
The company’s history also includes a unique connection to NTEA – The Work Truck Association. Recognized as a founding member, Omaha Standard joined NTEA in 1965. PALFINGER continues that longstanding membership and support of the work truck industry. Through organizations such as NTEA, manufacturers, distributors, suppliers, fleets, and other industry partners play an important role in sharing knowledge and collaborating to address evolving customer, technical, and regulatory needs.
A Century of Work-Truck Experience: From Truck Body to Mobile Workspace
For 100 years, the operation that began as Omaha Standard has helped shape the evolution of work trucks in North America. What started in 1926 as a manufacturer of truck bodies grew into generations of expertise in designing, building, and supporting equipment for customers across a wide range of industries. Today, that experience lives on through PALFINGER, serving as the foundation for PAL Pro mechanics trucks produced in Council Bluffs.
Over the decades, Omaha Standard developed truck bodies for industries such as agriculture, lumber, freight, and municipal service. As equipment and field-service requirements changed, those products evolved to support new applications and more specialized work.
The evolution of the mechanics truck is one example of how a century of manufacturing experience continues to inform PALFINGER’s products today. What began primarily as a truck body for transporting tools and parts has evolved into a mobile workspace that helps technicians perform increasingly complex service and repair work away from the shop.
Modern mechanics trucks can bring together organized storage, lifting capability, power, compressors, and other equipment needed at the jobsite. PAL Pro mechanics trucks support technicians maintaining machinery in demanding applications, including construction, agriculture, and mining. Their configurations reflect the way field technicians work and the need to keep essential equipment operating.
“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. “It is a complete mobile workspace with lifting capability, storage, power, and equipment that supports technicians in the field, allowing them to complete their tasks without returning to their shop. Our job is to keep listening to how that work is changing and continue developing PAL Pro around those needs.”
As mechanics trucks and the equipment they support continue to evolve, after-sales support has become increasingly important for fleets seeking to maximize uptime. PALFINGER supports customers through its North American network of dealers, service, and parts locations, helping ensure that fleets have access to the resources they need throughout the life of the equipment.
Generations of Commitment
Beyond products and innovation, PAL Pro mechanics trucks are assembled by dedicated employees. Denny Nelson, a subassembly lead, exemplifies that commitment, recently celebrating his 51st work anniversary with the company. Through multiple generations, members of the Nelson family have contributed 169 years of combined service.
Throughout its history, the company has remained 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.
Celebrating the Legacy, Building the Future
PALFINGER will commemorate the centennial throughout 2026, including an October 2 celebration aligned with National Manufacturing Day.
For PALFINGER, the centennial is both a recognition of the Omaha Standard legacy and a statement about what comes next. That history began in 1926, became part of PALFINGER in 2008, and continues today through the people who design, build, and support PAL Pro mechanics trucks. The next chapter will be written under the PALFINGER brand, supported by a century of work-truck manufacturing experience.
For more information about PAL Pro mechanics trucks, visit PALFINGER.com.