“Hijsen” is Dutch for lifting or “to hoist”. Hijsen Pty Ltd, has taken a different approach to this discipline by building a specialist fleet of equipment – including the largest spider lifts in the country – to solve the toughest access and lifting challenges.
Director Jim Dawson has spent his career in the crane industry, starting as a rigger and crane driver.
“We love managing the jobs others can’t or don’t want to handle,” he said. “I realised that jobs are easily done when people are willing to put in the effort and think creatively beyond the usual approach.”
That mindset led to a clear realisation when the team first encountered large spider lifts.
“There was a real opportunity for these machines in the Australian market. I came to the conclusion that many jobs can be done with less ground preparation and environmental impact as a result of the capability of the big spiders, and being prepared to apply ourselves and think outside the box.” Traditional access equipment often falls short. Wheeled boom lifts struggle on sloping ground and offer no lifting capacity. Truck-mounted elevated work platforms (EWP) typically lack functionality for crane work and cannot access or set up where the spiders can. Spider lifts fill the gap, combining personnel access and material lifting in one compact, versatile machine. An option that has been received very well, Jim notes.
Hijsen’s fleet is centred on spider lifts, with models from 33 metres to 54 metres:
• 33m Spider Lifts – 300kg basket capacity, 300kg winch capacity
• 43m Spider Lifts – 400kg basket capacity, 500kg winch capacity
• 54m Spider Lifts – 400kg basket capacity, 1000kg winch capacity
Capable of traversing steep hills and navigating soft ground, each model features telescopic booms with telescoping jibs, 360 degree slew, multi-position, large stroke outriggers and bi-leveling tracks.
The standout benefit is the ability to switch between EWP and crane modes in minutes while being able to access and set up on challenging terrain.
“One of the biggest advantages with these machines is their ability to access site with minimal preparation or disturbance. The spiders function as cranes as well as EWPs,” Jim explains. “This flexibility enables us to complete projects that would normally require two machines.”
In energy and telecommunications, the advantages are clear:
• Minimal site disturbance.
– Setup on footpaths
– Set up in vegetation zones
– Set up without hardstand or expensive pad and track preparation
• No traffic control needed on many roadside jobs
• Safe, stable operation on rough or uneven terrain
• One-machine efficiency — reducing footprint, logistics and cost
Jim sums it up simply, “Hijsen is about providing solutions which help our clients look good to their clients.”
“We are already travelling all over Australia and tracking up the steepest hills to assist the telcos and power guys. Prospects for the future include getting into the city and showing the builders what these machines can do. Glass, facade, structural steel, access to lane ways. Machines with telescopic fly jibs working at 15 to 50 metres with up to one tonne safe working load.”
For projects where access is tight, but lifting is essential, Hijsen delivers high-performance solutions backed by certified operators, full maintenance programs and tailored Safe Work Method Statements to meet Tier 1 and utility standards.
Contact: 1800 445 736 or hijsen.com.au
