Hook-lift garbage truck: a highly efficient and environmentally friendly modular sanitation transportation equipment

I. Core Definition of Hook-Lift Garbage Trucks Hook-lift garbage trucks (commonly known as "trolley-mounted garbage trucks") are specialized sanitation vehicles centered around a "detachable garbage container + hydraulic hook-lift mechanism." Their core components include four main modules: a vehicle chassis, a hydraulic hook-lift system, a detachable garbage container, and an electronic control system. Rated load capacity ranges from 2 tons to 25 tons, and they are suitable for garbage container volumes of 5 to 30 cubic meters. Their core value lies in "modular transfer + high efficiency and flexibility + sealed and environmentally friendly operation." Through the hydraulic hook-lift mechanism, garbage containers are quickly lifted, unloaded, and transferred (single container loading/unloading time ≤ 3 minutes). One truck can be equipped with multiple garbage containers for reuse, avoiding secondary pollution of garbage. It is a core piece of equipment connecting urban and rural sanitation collection and transfer links, and is widely adaptable to the sanitation operation needs of "centralized collection and classified transfer." II. Development History The industrialization of hook-lift garbage trucks began in the 1970s, with European and American countries pioneering the first generation of mechanical hook-lift garbage trucks. These trucks addressed the pain points of traditional garbage trucks, namely low loading and unloading efficiency and severe pollution, and were initially mainly used for garbage transfer on urban main roads. In the 1990s, upgrades in hydraulic technology and sealing materials propelled industry progress. The hook-lift mechanism evolved from mechanical transmission to hydraulic drive, and the garbage container achieved a fully sealed design. Simultaneously, Japanese and German companies developed smaller models suitable for community operations. China achieved a breakthrough in domestic production at the end of the 20th century (e.g., Hubei Chengli's first 5-ton hook-lift garbage truck). In the early 21st century, with accelerated urbanization and market-oriented reforms in the sanitation industry, the sector entered a period of rapid development, with companies such as Zoomlion, Fulongma, and Aerospace Morninglight gradually achieving large-scale production. In recent years, driven by the "garbage classification + dual-carbon strategy," enterprises have made breakthroughs in core technologies such as new energy chassis (pure electric and hybrid), intelligent monitoring, and special classification bins. China has become the world's largest producer and consumer, with products exported to more than 30 countries in Southeast Asia and Africa. III. Core Characteristics Analysis

(I) Core Functional Characteristics
The core advantage of hook-lift garbage trucks lies in "modular and efficient transportation": In terms of operational efficiency, the hydraulic hook-lift system can achieve "one-click loading and unloading" of garbage bins, with a single bin operation time of only 1.5 to 3 minutes, improving efficiency by more than 40% compared to traditional rear-loading compactor garbage trucks. One truck can be equipped with 5 to 20 garbage bins, achieving "vehicle-bin separation and cyclical transportation"; In terms of environmental protection and sealing, the garbage bin adopts a fully sealed design, equipped with a leak-proof bottom plate, sealing strips, and deodorization devices. During garbage transportation, there is no leachate dripping or odor diffusion, achieving a 100% secondary pollution control rate; In terms of ease of operation, it is equipped with a manual/electric dual control system, allowing the driver's cab to complete all operations without additional manual assistance, reducing labor intensity. (II) Structural and Performance Characteristics The vehicle adopts a modular design of "chassis + hook arm mechanism + detachable garbage bin". The chassis is mostly a light/medium truck chassis (such as Foton, Dongfeng, Sinotruk), and some heavy-duty models use a special modified chassis, which has strong load-bearing capacity and good driving stability (maximum speed up to 90km/h); the hook arm mechanism is made of Q690 grade high-strength alloy steel, which is integrally forged and heat-treated. The rated hooking force is 1.5 to 2 times the load capacity to ensure lifting safety; the garbage bin is made of cold-rolled steel plate or stainless steel welded together, with anti-corrosion treatment on the inner wall. Some high-end products use aluminum alloy to achieve weight reduction (12% to 18% weight reduction); the safety protection system is complete, equipped with hook arm locking device, garbage bin anti-fall alarm, overload protection and other devices, with an operational safety factor ≥1.4. (III) Scene Adaptability Characteristics: Different types of garbage bins can be configured to adapt to diverse scenarios: standard sealed bins are suitable for urban and rural domestic waste transfer; specialized bins (divided into 2-4 compartments) are suitable for waste sorting and collection (dry waste, wet waste, recyclables); corrosion-resistant bins are suitable for the transfer of medical waste, chemical waste, and other hazardous waste; and food waste bins are equipped with insulation and leak-proof design, suitable for the transfer of catering waste. Strong Tonnage Adaptability: small vehicles (2-5 tons) are suitable for operation in narrow areas such as residential areas, urban villages, and towns; medium-sized vehicles (8-12 tons) are suitable for waste transfer on urban main roads and in industrial parks; and heavy-duty vehicles (15-25 tons) are suitable for centralized transfer at waste transfer stations and landfills. IV. Mainstream Production Processes

(I) Core Production Process (Mainstream Process)
The production of hooklift garbage trucks is based on "modular integration + environmentally friendly processes". Key processes include:
1) Chassis selection and modification: Selecting a special chassis according to the load capacity requirements, reinforcing the frame, installing the hydraulic tank, and adapting the power take-off (powered by the engine);
2) Hooklift mechanism manufacturing: High-strength steel plates are CNC cut and forged, then welded by robots (weld pass rate ≥99.8%), followed by quenching and tempering heat treatment to improve strength, and then assembling hydraulic cylinders, pins, and other components;
3) Garbage bin production: Plates are CNC bent and stamped, welded, and then pickled, phosphated, and coated with anti-corrosion paint. Sealing strips, locking devices, and sewage outlets are installed;
4) Assembly and debugging: Fixing the hooklift mechanism to the chassis, connecting the hydraulic pipeline and the electrical control system, conducting pressure tests (1.5 times the working pressure), loading and unloading cycle tests (≥500 times), and driving performance tests, and finally passing the tests. Products meet GB/T 19001 standards and are certified for use in sanitation equipment. The process is highly automated, with a production cycle of approximately 15-30 days for standard models. (II) Technological Upgrade Directions With the increasing demands for environmental protection and the upgrading of intelligent sanitation systems, the industry is accelerating technological innovation: First, lightweight manufacturing, using high-strength aluminum alloys and carbon fiber composite materials to produce garbage bins and hooks, reducing the overall vehicle weight by 10%~15% and fuel/electricity consumption by 8%~12%; Second, intelligent upgrading, integrating GPS positioning, garbage overflow monitoring, remote dispatching, and operation trajectory tracking systems, with some high-end models achieving "automatic bin finding and precise docking" for auxiliary operations; Third, new energy transformation, developing pure electric (range 120~280km), hybrid (oil-electric/gas-electric), and hydrogen fuel cell chassis models, with pure electric models suitable for zero-emission operations in cities and equipped with fast charging technology (fully charged in 1~2 hours); Fourth, environmentally friendly process upgrades, using water-based paint spraying and welding fume purification systems, reducing pollutant emissions during production by more than 60%, and adding an antibacterial coating to the inner wall of the garbage bin to improve deodorization and anti-fouling effects. (III) Core Component Manufacturing Processes Key component technologies have become core competitiveness: 1) Hydraulic hook arm system: The hook arm adopts an integral forging process, increasing strength by 30% compared to welded structures. The hydraulic multi-way valve adopts precision casting + CNC machining, with valve core mating clearance ≤0.008mm, ensuring smooth operation; 2) Demountable garbage bin: Adopting a "folded edge + full welding" process, its leak-proof performance meets GB 18598-2019 standards. The classification-specific bin is equipped with an independent sealing cavity and labeling system; 3) Electrical control system: A dedicated controller (ECU) has been developed, integrating operational safety interlock functions (such as prohibiting driving if not locked), with a response time ≤0.2 seconds. V. Core Application Areas (I) Urban and Rural Sanitation Transfer (Traditional Core Area) More than 75% of hook-lift garbage trucks worldwide are used in urban and rural sanitation, making them core equipment for garbage classification and transfer. In urban communities, small hooklift trucks equipped with 2-5 cubic meter small garbage bins enable "fixed-point collection and scheduled transfer," making them suitable for narrow roads and densely populated residential areas. On main urban roads and in industrial parks, medium-sized trucks equipped with 10-15 cubic meter garbage bins efficiently transfer garbage from centralized collection points. In towns and rural areas, relying on the "vehicle-bin separation" model, one truck can serve multiple villages, reducing sanitation operating costs and promoting the improvement of rural living environment. (II) Special Waste Transfer (Important Application Scenarios) In the field of medical waste transfer, special sealed waste bins are equipped with ultraviolet disinfection and leak-proof devices, complying with the medical waste transfer standard (GB 18598-2019) to prevent the spread of viruses; in the field of food waste transfer, insulated waste bins can control the temperature to ≤10℃ to prevent food waste from deteriorating, and some models integrate small crushing and solid-liquid separation functions; in the field of industrial waste transfer, corrosion-resistant and wear-resistant waste bins are suitable for special wastes such as chemical waste and construction waste, avoiding vehicle corrosion and environmental pollution; in high-end scenarios such as scenic spots and airports, customized waste bins (such as landscape designs) are paired with hooklift trucks, taking into account both environmental protection and aesthetics. (III) Emergency and Special Applications (Growth Drivers) In the field of emergency rescue, hooklift trucks are used for the rapid removal of garbage and medical waste after disasters such as earthquakes, floods, and epidemics. They are equipped with large-capacity garbage bins and emergency power supply systems to adapt to complex operating environments. In the field of large-scale event support (such as sports events and exhibitions), hooklift trucks and mobile garbage bins are temporarily deployed to achieve real-time garbage removal and ensure site cleanliness. In the military field, they are used for centralized transfer of military camp garbage. Some models have off-road capabilities and are suitable for field training scenarios. In pilot cities for garbage classification, specialized classification hooklift trucks have become key connecting equipment in the "front-end collection - mid-end transfer - back-end processing" industrial chain. VI. Market Development Trends (I) Rapid Demand Growth and Significant Upgrading to High-End Products In 2024, China's hooklift garbage truck production capacity was approximately 120,000 units, accounting for 80% of the global market, with a market size exceeding RMB 18 billion. It is estimated that the average annual compound growth rate will remain at 8.5%~10.0% over the next five years. Among them, the demand for new energy (pure electric, hybrid), intelligent, and special-purpose vehicles is growing the fastest, with its share increasing from 32% in 2024 to over 55% in 2029. Currently, the import dependence of core components for high-end vehicles (such as imported hydraulic valves and high-density batteries) is about 18%, mainly relying on imports from Germany and Japan. The promotion of garbage classification policies, the market-oriented reform of sanitation, and the upgrading of rural sanitation are the core driving forces of demand. (II) Concentrated production capacity and regional cluster development Global hook-lift garbage truck production capacity is mainly concentrated in China (Zoomlion, Fulongma, Chengli Automobile), Germany (MAN), Japan (Isuzu), and other countries. Domestic production capacity is mainly distributed in industrial clusters such as Suizhou, Hubei (the capital of special-purpose vehicles), Jining, Shandong, Changsha, Hunan, and Foshan, Guangdong. The industry concentration continues to increase, with the top ten companies accounting for 63.2% of the production capacity. Leading companies build competitive barriers through the integration of the "chassis-superstructure-core components" industrial chain, while small and medium-sized enterprises focus on small and medium-sized vehicles or niche special-purpose fields (such as medical waste transfer vehicles). (III) Technological Innovation Driven, Green and Intelligent Development Becomes the Core Direction The "dual-carbon" strategy and waste sorting policies are driving industry transformation, with new energy and intelligentization becoming core competitiveness. Policies require that by 2025, the penetration rate of new energy sanitation vehicles in first-tier cities reach 50%, forcing companies to increase R&D investment in pure electric and hydrogen fuel cell vehicles. In terms of intelligentization, 5G + remote dispatching, AI-based waste overflow recognition, and automated loading and unloading technologies are gradually becoming widespread, and it is estimated that the proportion of intelligent products will exceed 45% by 2027. In the medium to long term, the specialization of waste sorting, lightweight container materials, unmanned operation processes, and environmental protection throughout the entire life cycle will reshape the industry landscape. (IV) Price Fluctuations and Strategic Layout The price of hook-lift garbage trucks is affected by multiple factors: upstream raw materials (high-strength steel plates saw an average price increase of 12% in 2024, and lithium batteries saw an 8% increase), vehicle chassis (accounting for 35%~40% of costs), and hydraulic components—price fluctuations directly impact production costs; downstream urban and rural sanitation procurement budgets, the implementation of garbage classification policies, and the bidding situation for sanitation market-oriented projects influence demand; environmental policies (National VI emission standards), new energy subsidy policies, and special vehicle access standards affect the supply structure. Due to its irreplaceable role in the sanitation industry chain, hook-lift garbage trucks have become a strategic sub-segment of the sanitation equipment industry. Companies are strengthening the R&D of core components (such as Fulongma's independently developed hydraulic system), new energy technology layout, and overseas market expansion, while also developing integrated solutions of "vehicle + garbage bin + operation and maintenance services" to enhance their bargaining power in the industry chain.