West-Trans Equipment has used the Brisbane Truck Show to display its skip loaders, hook lifts, tarping systems and HMF vehicle loading cranes, often stripped back to bare components so visitors can see the fabrication work usually hidden beneath the paint. Held every two years and well supported by both industry and the city of Brisbane, the show gives fleet operators, dealers and manufacturers a chance to see equipment up close rather than in a brochure or on a spec sheet.

Equipment showcased by West-Trans

West-Trans has used the show to cover four parts of the business: skip loaders, hook lifts, tarping systems and, through its Australian import arrangement, HMF truck-mounted cranes. The specific models on display have changed from show to show as the range has grown. Still, the focus has stayed consistent: lifting performance, durability, payload and the kind of straightforward serviceability that keeps a truck working rather than sitting in a workshop.

Australian-built skip loaders

Skip loaders have been a consistent part of West-Trans’ presence at the show. Past displays have included a DS80 skip loader with two-thirds of its floor removed so the welds, plumbing and valve work were fully visible, alongside an MXS-150 arm shown in unpainted steel, complete with the original mill markings still on the metal.

The current skip loader range spans from the 4,000kg DS 40s through to the 15,000kg MXS-150, West-Trans’ highest-capacity model. All are manufactured at the company’s Mulgrave, NSW factory, abrasive blasted and finished with an anti-corrosion primer base coat and two coats of high-gloss paint for protection against harsh Australian conditions. Loaders are built with a low arm fold height for easier access in tighter clearances, and radio remote control is available across the range as an option, standard on the MXS-150. Extended deck configurations are also available depending on the model, and each loader uses tipping chains to secure bins during the lift and tip cycle, with stabiliser legs that steady the truck without lifting it off the ground.

Skip loaders are built to pick up and transport skip bins carrying rubbish, scrap metal, sand, soil and general material, making them a fit for waste management, demolition and recycling operations where bins need to be moved and tipped directly on site.

Hook lift engineering and innovation

West-Trans has also used the show to demonstrate the engineering behind its hook lift systems, displaying jib components in bare metal alongside the finished trucks. One earlier display featured a hook lift built with lower pedestals and rollers, allowing the bin or container to sit lower on the chassis for a potential payload benefit.

The current hook lift range covers lifting capacities from 6,000kg through to 26,000kg, built in high-tensile steel and designed around varying bin lengths, hook heights and site conditions. Hook lifts use a sliding arm and jib to draw containers onto the truck chassis, with hydraulic locks holding the load securely once it’s in place. Fixed and articulated jib options are both available depending on the model and the type of site the truck is working on.

Hook lifts suit operations dealing with different container and tray types across construction, off-road and waste sites, and articulated jib models extend that further into underground and confined-site work. They’re generally less suited to tight urban access given the length of the trucks involved, so the fit comes down to the sites and loads a fleet is actually working with rather than one system being better than the other in every case.

Load covering with West-Trans tarping systems

Tarping systems have featured at past shows fitted directly to the skip loaders and hook lifts on display. Their purpose is load containment. A properly covered load keeps material such as scrap steel, sand or waste secured on the truck and compliant with road regulations, rather than protecting the load from weather. Operators stay outside the cab to manage the tarping process throughout.

West-Trans’ current tarping range includes Double Cover for tipping trailers, run hydraulically or manually; HyCover for dog trailers, hook lifts and skip loaders, operated pneumatically; and UnderCover, designed specifically for hook lift bins, operated hydraulically and stowed underbody when not in use. Past displays have shown these systems fitted to hook lifts to reduce the need for an operator to hold a tarp by hand in windy conditions.

HMF vehicle loading cranes

West-Trans has also used the Brisbane Truck Show to showcase HMF’s crane range alongside its own equipment. Past displays have included the 1920K3 and 2820K4 cranes, upgrades to earlier models, shown next to HMF’s smaller and simpler 270K knuckle boom crane, a valve-controlled option with no electronics built for lighter service and work truck applications.

HMF cranes are built with high-strength steel to reduce tare weight while maintaining lifting performance, and the range includes electronic vehicle stability technology that adjusts lifting performance to the vehicle’s stability in a given configuration or payload. West-Trans engineers each crane and sub-frame combination around the specific cab chassis it’s fitted to, aiming for a stronger and more stable finished vehicle.

Historical models shown at past shows may not reflect the current HMF range, so it’s worth checking directly with the West-Trans team for what’s currently available.

Built tough in Australia

West-Trans equipment is designed and manufactured at the company’s Mulgrave, NSW factory around the conditions found across Australian waste, recycling, construction and transport sites. That focus shows up as corrosion protection, straightforward servicing and a design approach that aims to reduce downtime rather than add complexity.

What sits beneath the finished product

Part of what has made West-Trans’ truck show appearances distinctive is a willingness to show equipment before it’s painted. Displaying major components such as skip loader arms and hook lift jibs unpainted lets visitors see the welds, the hydraulic installation and the structural fabrication that normally sits underneath the finished coating.

Previous Brisbane Truck Show highlights

2021 highlights

The 2021 show featured a DS-80s skip loader fitted with a West-Transcover Tarp Tower, alongside a hook lift built with lower pedestals and rollers for a lower bin position. That same hook lift was shown fitted with a West-Transcover UnderCover sheeting system, designed to cover a load without the operator needing to hold the tarp by hand in strong wind. A range of HMF cranes was also on display.

2019 highlights

The 2019 show coincided with West-Trans marking 25 years under the ownership of Managing Director Jim Whittle, with a display theme of “Built Tough in Australia.” Alongside its finished equipment, West-Trans showed a DS80 skip loader with the floor removed and an MXS-150 arm in unpainted steel, with all fabrication and welding fully visible. HMF’s newer RCS crane range was also shown, including upgraded models built around higher-gauge steel and the company’s electronic vehicle stability system, alongside the smaller 270K knuckle boom crane.

Explore the current West-Trans equipment range

The equipment shown at past Brisbane Truck Shows reflects how West-Trans approaches its wider range: built for Australian conditions, engineered for durability and designed to be serviced rather than replaced. That includes the current skip loader, hook lift, tarping system and dog trailer range, alongside HMF’s crane line-up.

Speak with the West-Trans team

Get in touch with the West-Trans team to talk through your truck, payload and site requirements, and we’ll help you find equipment suited to your business.

Call 1300 877 411.