Dennis Eagle - Eagle Eye - 2024 - Issue 1

Fifty-two

WELCOME

2024 has already been a year of significant progress in our sector and it’s only March! Naturally, we can go further and that’s why we are fully behind initiatives such as the latest WISH guidance, (see page 22). By the time this edition of Eagle Eye is with you, all third-party certification for our bin lifts and refuse collection bodies will almost have been secured. We won’t stop there; we will keep innovating to improve safety and the workplace environment wherever in the world our products serve you. Like our backing of ‘Together for Safer Roads (TSR)’ – dedicated to advancing road safety. Our USA ProView product aligns with TSR's commitment to promoting fleet safety and reducing traffic-related incidents worldwide.

With a manual transmission (not fully synchromesh either!), no seat belts and legislation mandating them still over 10 years away, coupled with a huge 2.8m³ hopper designed to swallow as many bags as possible, the evolution from the Delta is remarkable.

Continuing the theme of progression, we caught up with Dennis Eagle’s next generation for Apprentice Week. Star of the aforementioned video, Geoff was an apprentice at Dennis Eagle himself when the first Elite featured was still on the drawing board. Our next cohort of apprentices and graduates will surely look back fondly at eCollect in the years to come.

We’ll also look in closer detail at some of the sustainability developments that are being rolled out at our Blackpool cab production facility and its expansion plans for the future. But before then, we have a packed 2024 to fit in.

Contents

REGULARS

NEWS

New vehicles to Salford, round-up from USA IN FOCUS

Roger Lane bows out after 50 years

CONTRACT HIRE

Bob Sweetland of SFS shares his thoughts

EAGLE EYED

A selection of winning photos from our community

08

FEATURES

To measure the progress we are making, it’s good to remind ourselves how far we have come.

Keith Day Managing Director

FUTURE PROOF

Crawley look ahead with new Elite+ fleet

12

FOOD WASTE

Dennis Eagle/Terberg and food waste challenges

APPRENTICES

Meet our Dennis Eagle and TMUK apprentices

NEW GUIDELINES

Elite+ continues to deliver

Operators are appreciating the improved ergonomics of the latest Elite+ cab, helping them to focus on the job and surrounding environment. See page 10 for details.

A ‘Narrow’ decision leads to Dennis Eagle being the choice of Crawley

Christmas came early to Crawley with new Elite+ ‘Narrow’ chassis fleet delivery

Whilst many were thinking of slowing down for Christmas, Crawley Borough Council was putting to work 15 new Dennis Eagle’s ‘Narrow’ Elite+ vehicles to replace a fleet of Elites that had been on front-line collection service for nine years!

With a population of around 120,000 and over 45,000 pick ups every week, the West Sussex town isn’t one of the largest boroughs but alongside framework operator Biffa, the council has to balance a unique spread of

pockets of densely populated urban areas and rural countryside.

Balancing the needs and books

“We are a small borough that’s predominantly urban but we cover a rural round too,” says the council’s Partnership Services Manager, Paul Baker. “And within the urban areas, we have to factor in servicing 10,000 flats. We would need a versatile and affordable solution.”

The shorter routes typically lead

Crawley to keep its fleet for longer but even it didn’t expect its 2015 batch of trusty Elites to still be out five days a week, nine years later. “The lower mileage routes mean our refuse vehicles typically have a seven year service life here. Yet as a testament to their reliability, we had the last batch working, cost effectively for a further two years. They didn’t let us down and we didn’t forget that,” says Paul.

A long list of requirements

Working closely with Biffa, Paul and his team identified the priorities – and

there were plenty of them. “At the top of our list was safety,” adds Paul. “Our urban areas present some very tight streets, only exacerbated by more residents working from home, resulting in more parked cars to navigate. Visibility from the front as well as for reversing and manoeuvring was crucial.”

The nature of the routes meant that payload was also critical on the team’s list of wishes. “The higher density of flats, some 10,000 to service in the borough, means we needed a higher payload and a suitable bin lift that was light enough to not compromise the overall weight,” claims Paul.

Looking to the future

Paul and his team also wanted to ensure the vehicles chosen would be a ‘perfect match’ to the upcoming ‘Simpler Recycling’ plans set to arrive in 2026. “With a longer working life here, we specified adaptable trucks to satisfy future demand such as this too.”

The procurement process also considered feedback from Biffa, its operators and maintenance teams. “The positive experience everyone had, either using the vehicles, or engaging

with the aftermarket teams over the last nine years was an important factor. We always planned to introduce the new trucks just ahead of Christmas. It’s our busiest time, so the reassurance that Dennis Eagle could fulfil our vehicle specification and deliver the overall support package was compelling,” adds Paul.

The valued order comprised 15 Elite+ trucks, one 18t that is best suited for the rural routes with the balance all 26t. One of these is equipped with the Beta bin lift. All 15 were specified as ‘Narrow’ chassis derivatives, offering more room to manoeuvre on Crawley’s restrictive, car-lined roads whilst still affording the world-class visibility around the vehicle, that Paul and his team craved.

Christmas delivery

Despite rolling out during the hectic time of Christmas when demand is higher and most times are affected by holidays and absences, Paul is delighted: “We are very happy. The support has been excellent and it’s a tried and tested relationship. Any issue, no matter how small, is dealt with efficiently and the crews love them.”

The Elites might already be hard at work but there is one last task on Paul’s list. “We are currently collaborating with the local schools to name some of the vehicles,” concludes Paul. “It’s great that these trucks can inspire Crawley’s future generations to take an interest in our environment and recycling. It’s been a perfect match all round.”

Reggie the Red, first of the names to be confirmed in honour of the Crawley Town FC mascot, will be on the streets with 14 others picking up rubbish, garden waste and the REDtop recycling bins.

New Elite+ fleet takes Salford to next level

As the site of the first true canal in England, Salford has been at the heart of transport revolution for over 250 years. Now it’s the turn of its refuse fleet to be at the cutting edge of this buzzing city. Alan Fitzsimons and his team have recently received a further ten 26t Elite+ to take the total to 34 (30x26t ton and 4x18ton). Cost, short delivery times, local manufacturing, excellent and highly responsive aftermarket support nearby, alongside multiple benefits associated with Terberg’s OmniDEL electric lift were behind its decision.

“Achieving the best value for money was the number one factor,” says Salford City Council’s service manager Alan Fitzsimons. “But there was more

to this decision than just cost. As well as doing everything it could to meet our delivery date, the trucks are built in the UK which appealed.” In fact, it’s even more local as the Elite+ cabs are built just over an hour from the heart of Salford at Dennis Eagle’s Blackpool plant.

With around 1,600 (per vehicle) collections per day, Salford opted for rear steer Elite+ models to offer excellent manoeuvrability and control in both the narrow, older streets and the landscaped new estates the trucks operate in. Fitzsimons also identified cost efficiencies and benefits for residents by choosing the electric Terberg OmniDEL bin lift. “We like the fact the truck comes as

one package and this electric bin lift offers substantial fuel savings, lower emissions and is much quieter outside and in the truck,” says Fitzsimons. “As well as being quieter, our operators like the improved layout inside the new cab, making it a popular choice.”

With around 20 Dennis Eagle trucks already serving Salford, Fitzsimons was aware of the excellent local support that his team could count on to keep the trucks on the front line. “Whether onsite, or mobile, we’ve always had good support from the team just up the road in Trafford. Dennis Eagle has ticked all the boxes,” concludes Fitzsimons.

Momentum with Manvik

Under the leadership of enthusiastic director Alan Haire, it’s been a very busy end to 2023 for Dennis Eagle’s esteemed Northern Irish dealer Manvik Plant & Hire Ltd. Most recently, the Belfast-based specialist proudly handed over nine vehicles to Ards & North Down Borough Council. Alongside five conventional refuse collection vehicles comprising Elite+ 6x2 MS chassis, with Olympus OL23W bodies and Terberg OmniDEKA electric bin lifts, the order also included four Terberg TL25 top loaders mounted to Dennis Elite+ 6x2ML chassis, the first of its type to be delivered in Northern Ireland.

In 2024, that momentum shows no signs of slowing down for Alan’s team with Belfast City Council receiving five more Elite+ narrow track 6x2 RS vehicles, with Olympus OL19N bodies and Terberg OmniDEKA electric bin lifts joining thirteen narrow chassis Elites that were added to the fleet in 2022. Through the excellent working relationship with

Stateside Roundup

We're thrilled to announce our partnership with Together for Safer Roads (TSR), a leading non-governmental organization in the USA dedicated to advancing road safety through collaboration and technological innovation. Our Direct Vision cab design perfectly aligns with TSR's commitment to promoting global fleet safety and to prevent traffic crashes, injuries and fatalities around the world. With truck design playing a fundamental role in road safety, we are looking forward to sharing our experiences with TSR and its other members to increase progress understanding, awareness and adoption of concepts such as Direct Vision.

Over in Ohio, we’ve got to hear more about one of our newest customers, Dumpster Bandit. This rapidly expanding family business, serving 12,000 homes, recently invested in two Dennis Eagle trucks from our dealer Trivista and is delighted to have made the switch. Despite an initial reticence to buy a brand of truck he hadn’t experienced,

Manvik, Belfast has been a long-time customer, going back almost thirty years, with the vast majority of its fleet that now serves the tighter confines of this city proudly served by Dennis Eagle, Terberg and Manvik.

Not to be outdone, Lisburn and Castlereagh City Council also made strides in fleet modernisation with the addition of four Elite+ 6x4 trucks, with OL23W bodies and Terberg OmniDEKA G2 electric bin lifts, further strengthening its trust and reliance on Dennis Eagle vehicles.

And Manvik’s hard working team is not done yet; it has enjoyed further success with a significant order of 10 Elite+ trucks set to hit the streets of Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council in the coming weeks.

Alan assures us there is more to come so we’ll keep you updated as the year progresses.

Trivista’s Vince Cerni was able to highlight to Dumpster Bandit’s Mark & Caitlyn Horvath that the US built truck had all the proven components it trusted and was a US truck at heart. The side and rear load pairing of 6X4 ProViews have been a resounding success with one of Dumpster Bandit’s operators claiming it’s “the best trash truck he has driven in the past 20 years.” For Horvath, it was the technical support that set Dennis Eagle apart from the more established players. “With Dennis Eagle, I know that any time I call the support line, I’ll be able to speak to a person. I’ve always received the best level of service with a quick turnaround.” Here's to more success stories and impactful partnerships ahead!

That dealer support brings us on to our US Dealer Conference at the beginning of March. Held in Summerville, where dealers got the chance to share experiences, visit the factory and enjoy some downtime together too.

SUEZ picks Dennis Eagle for ‘Garden of England’

Fifty two Elite+ vehicles for Mid Kent strengthens partnership with leading waste management company

After a successful roll out in Milton Keynes, leading waste management company SUEZ Recycling and Recovery UK is ‘growing’ its partnership with Dennis Eagle for its latest contract success in Mid-Kent.

SUEZ is a key provider of reliable and trusted services to local communities across the country, and ever since it began offering its waste services in the UK in 1988, SUEZ has sought innovative solutions to manage resources in a smarter way. In Mid-

Kent, that involves the acquisition of 52 Dennis Eagle Elite+ in addition to a further four Olympus Mini bodies to serve the homes and businesses across Ashford, Maidstone and Swale.

With a mix of tight, narrow urban and rural rounds, the SUEZ team opted for the ‘Narrow’, rear steer versions of the Elite+. With predicted rises in food waste, it specified the Olympus Duo body with top discharge pod, a popular solution for food collection due to its ability to

prevent cross-contamination whilst ensuring sufficient payload for high volume collections. At the rear, all 52 Elite+ have the quiet and fuel-saving OmniDEL Electric bin lift.

For SUEZ, a combination of both product and after service features sealed the decision. “Safety features were naturally high on our priority list,” says Steve Holgate, director of fleet and mobilisation. “Dennis Eagle’s Five Star Visibility rating was a factor along with the low entry cab. The operators told us they appreciated the improved ergonomics of the latest Elite+ cab, helping them to focus on the job and surrounding environment.”

Alongside the benefits offered by the Elite+, Holgate’s team was also impressed with the aftersales service Dennis Eagle delivers. “This new contract will see SUEZ maintaining the fleet across three depots in Kent,” adds Holgate. “We know that Dennis Eagle offers great aftersales. Whether it’s parts or tech support, the team is always responsive. We’ve also been impressed with Terberg Connect’s remote diagnosis and tracking of parts in real time. As we take over this important contract, we will use all the tools we have to make fleet maintenance more efficient to serve Mid-Kent.”

50 Years at The Eagle

After 50 years, Roger Lane, Technical Manager of Body Engineering is taking a well-earned retirement

Roger Lane, a stalwart figure at Dennis Eagle, is bidding farewell to his esteemed career as the technical manager of Body Engineering. Having commenced his journey with Eagle Engineering through a four-year apprenticeship in 1975, Roger's legacy spans decades of commitment and expertise in our industry. As Roger explains, it was quite a different business back then.

“When I started, we did everything ourselves in-house,” says Roger. “We had our own carpentry shop for body frames and a blacksmith for forging. At that time, we were building a range of specialist vehicles. There were fire engines of course, anti-riot trucks and even BBC telecommunication vehicles. Everything was designed on drawing boards, not computers!”

Through the merger of Dennis and Eagle Engineering, Roger seamlessly transitioned his design skills, becoming an integral part of Dennis Eagle's evolution and worldwide growth. “I spent quite a lot of time in Hong Kong and China in the 1980s as we deployed Phoenix 1 bodies, Alpha bin lifts and road sweepers there. It was exciting to visit countries long before they became as accessible as they are today,” adds Roger.

With a primary focus on the development of our vehicle bodies and bin lifts, Roger leaves an indelible mark on the company's product range that will continue long into the future. Leading a team of seven design engineers, Roger's

stewardship has been instrumental in driving innovation with some iconic products from our history. “Some of the key projects I worked on are the Phoenix bodies, the Alpha bin liftthe predecessor of today’s Beta Bin lift, which incidentally shares a fair few common parts. Most recently I’ve been looking at efficiency improvements for the body systems as we move towards greater electrification. Now, efficiency is one of the key factors for our engineers alongside safety and reliability. That’s one of the biggest changes I’ve seen.”

Roger says one thing that has been constant is the positive culture and people of Dennis Eagle, which means he never really wanted to go anywhere else. “Dennis Eagle has a knack for attracting a certain kind of person that is full of team spirit and empathy. It’s always felt like a family business, where every door is open, you can speak to anyone in the organisation and we’ll all pull together. Our parent company Terberg is also a family business and has ensured that culture thrives,” adds Roger.

Roger’s expertise has also played a pivotal role in the way our recycling and waste is managed around the world, which has continually evolved under his guidance. Through CHEM, Roger was the BSI representative working with colleagues in Europe to develop a series of standards, many of which are still relevant today.

Beyond his managerial role, Roger has also been pivotal in nurturing

talent within the company. His mentorship and support have been invaluable to numerous apprentices entering the engineering department, leaving a lasting impact on the future generation of our engineers.

Roger Lane's retirement marks the end of an era at Dennis Eagle, but his contributions will continue to resonate within the company and the industry for years to come and is planning to keep an eye out for what’s next. “I don’t think I’ll ever tire of seeing products, whether ours or competitors, out working. You are always fascinated to see how they are being used, spotting any innovations. That will never change.”

On behalf of everyone, thank you Roger for your incredible contribution to the history and future of Dennis Eagle. Enjoy your well-earned retirement!

Jon Sayers – Engineering Director commented: “Roger Lane has decided to hang up his slide rule, almost 50 years after starting an apprenticeship at ‘the Eagle’ and is rightly leaving us to spend more time enjoying the finer things in life. We all would like to express our thanks to Roger for his dedication and commitment over this time, having dedicated his career to Dennis Eagle, Roger has contributed greatly to some very key projects, I speak on behalf of everyone at Dennis Eagle when I say, we are sad to lose all of Roger’s knowledge, experience along with his very happy, positive attitude.”

Lancashire legacy recognised for excellence

The Dennis Eagle plant in Blackpool, Lancashire, has been announced as a finalist in three categories in the county’s Red Rose Awards, demonstrating the company’s drive towards progress and sustainability, not just in the region, but globally.

Dennis Eagle Blackpool is nominated in categories for: Export, Made in Lancashire, and the Environmental, Social and Governance award.

Judges will deliver their decisions at the finals in March.

Blackpool plant manager Oliver Minett stated, "Being finalists in not one but three categories is a significant achievement and a testament to the hard work and dedication of the team, who I’m extremely proud of. We're one of the biggest manufacturers in Lancashire, with a talented workforce and in the past year, we've made significant strides in each of those categories.“

Driving change

The awards announcement comes at a time of increased investment and growth for our Burton Road site which has been manufacturing and supplying cabs to our Warwick headquarters since 1990, supplying more than 15,000 units in that time.

The production line currently manufactures 30 cabs per week, but has recently undergone significant investment and reconfiguration, including better access, stock efficiencies and production flow, resulting in takt time improvement and an increase in online production space from 11 to 18 cabs. Plans are now underway to progress to achieving 40 cab builds per week to support sales growth targets.

Export excellence

They may begin life in Lancashire, but the hand built cabs are exported all over the world. Of the weekly output from Blackpool, 20 typically

We're looking forward to meeting other Lancashire finalists at the awards. Blackpool's success is only made possible by working together as a team.

head for Europe and the UK , while 10 are destined for Australia, the USA and Canada. From Hawaii to New York, the Lancashire made cabs are well represented throughout the US.

Green giants

As a leading manufacturer in the waste sector, sustainability is a core company value. Dennis Eagle was the first to build a fully electric refuse truck and now their assembly is becoming more sustainable too.

“It’s important for us to show the way with sustainable practices,” explained Oli. “Environmental improvements include a project to install solar panels on the south-facing roof which will generate more than enough electricity to operate the site, with a third of what’s generated exported back to the grid."

Engaging with the community is a priority, too. Blackpool has pioneered a Sustainable Schools Programme run in conjunction with councils around the UK. The star of the ‘Dennis to the Rescue’ programme is a refuse truck converted into a mobile classroom which visits schools, driving behaviour change with education. Pupils visit the truck for a session on recycling and environmental awareness and conduct a litter-pick in the area.

Made in Lancashire

As one of the last HGV manufacturers in the UK, the Blackpool plant helps maintain the country’s manufacturing

legacy. The site team is dedicated to keeping the supply chain local, beneficial in managing complications caused by Brexit, and having once been the site of the Duple coach builders, the team has a huge amount of experience in cab building. Many employees have been with the

company for more than twenty years with some having worked at the site when coaches not cabs poured out of the factory gates. Much has changed since to evolve both the site and workforce. There is regular staff development opportunities and new apprentices taken on every year.

“We’re looking forward to meeting other Lancashire finalists at the awards evening. We’ll be bringing representatives from every department to celebrate being finalists because Blackpool’s success is only made possible by working together as a team,” said Oli.

SFS Contract Hire

SFS are one of the largest contract hire businesses in the municipal sector. Managing Director Bob Sweetland shares his thoughts and experiences.

SFS has been around for 30 years – what’s the secret to your success?

I’d say there are three elements that set us apart. First, we are focussed on the municipal sector. We draw on our 30 years’ experience to ensure customers get what they need, and that’s just the start of it; which leads me nicely into our second element, as we now operate an increasing number of modern workshops for councils – taking away the headache of recruitment, retention and training. Thirdly, we have always been owned by secure financial institutions. For councils, it’s hugely reassuring to know we are here for the long term. And we are. We have nurtured long-term relationships and maintain unrivalled customer retention levels with many councils including Teignbridge District, Epsom & Ewell Borough and North Northamptonshire. For many of these customers, we are onto our third or fourth consecutive contract, supplying and maintaining vehicles and running workshops. I’m extremely proud that we are selected on merit.

How big is SFS?

We have 88 staff of which 50 are technicians, so we are business focussed on engineering support – something that is increasingly important as we take on more maintenance contracts. We now operate 13 workshops nine of which are in council depots. Councils have been hit brutally by the cost to recruit staff and train them in new practices as well as the need to invest in workshop equipment. We’re on hand to help, and to encourage preventative maintenance measures to reduce vehicle downtime and improve fleet management.

We have 1,700 vehicles, from light vans to sweepers, including Dennis Eagle RCVs of course. In fact, we’ve got around 600!

Sounds like you are a fan of Dennis Eagle then. How did that relationship start?

It started way back, in fact back to the first municipal contract I worked on in 1990. It was in the Hestair days. Like SFS, we have found Dennis Eagle focusses on what the customer wants, so it’s always worked well. Trust is important, such as consistently honouring prices and never letting us down with a delivery. During the pandemic, Dennis Eagle has been there for us. Throughout our entire working relationship, if we ever have a problem, we can always talk to someone. And that’s incredibly important when you need a truck back out on the road.

You mentioned the importance of workshops as part of your offering. Why is that?

Fleets increasingly have a longer life and if we can incorporate proactive maintenance practices in from the start, we will make a positive difference. For councils who rely on us for maintenance, we can offer immediate access to technicians trained in new technologies and alternative fuel vehicles. That’s a big headache we can take away.

How are you helping fleets address decarbonisation?

We can also make it easy for operators to trial new technologies. We were the first to provide an eCollect refuse vehicle fleet on contract hire in the UK, for Exeter City Council, and customers can trial electric refuse vehicle technology via our short term rental division CTS Hire. CTS Hire also has available a regularly refreshed stock of high quality low emission vehicles to support peaks in demand. We can take care of all our customers’ needs, short and long term, in-house.

What’s the future hold for the sector?

We expect to see a continuation of the current trend of customers outsourcing their workshop operations to us, whereby we manage the whole lifecycle of the fleet – from specifying to disposal. That’s particularly true for maintenance and is why we are actively engaged in training more apprentices to support this expansion. Proactive maintenance will ensure that we can get the maximum operational output from vehicles and keep them running at optimum for longer.

Finally, we see that as vehicles become increasingly complex, more fleets will want the reassurance of support to get the right specification and combination of vehicles, to meet increasing operational demands as well as comply with ever changing safety, emissions and waste regulations.

Meet the RCVs serving innovative food waste solutions

Food waste management regulation changes are on the horizon, including Defra’s ‘Simpler Recycling’ and universal separate food waste collections. Consequently, the need for more efficient, cost-effective food waste collection vehicles is more important than ever.

Dennis Eagle and Terberg Matec UK are world leaders in designing and manufacturing Refuse Collection Vehicles (RCVs), bespoke recycling bodies and bin lift equipment. With a range of market-leading solutions, their innovative vehicles are helping to future-proof waste and recycling fleets all over the country.

ORUS leads the way for compact organic solutions

Terberg Matec’s ORUS range of compact satellite vehicles are designed to make organic material collections efficient and simple. The range has outstanding manoeuvrability, useful in urban or confined spaces, and with body volumes ranging

from 5m³ - 7m³, ORUS are well-suited to a light chassis, including hybrid or electric options. All ORUS RCVs have leakproof, watertight rear-loading bodies and an essential lift trough and are compatible with weighing and RFID systems.

ABTL is your partner for Bring Scheme versatility

The Aluminium Bodied Toploader (ABTL) range has a lightweight aluminium body for collecting biowaste, food waste and glass. Specifically designed for 'Bring Scheme' multi-material collection, it ensures recyclables are segregated at source and stay segregated, minimising further processing. An optional integrated weighing solution also boosts efficiency whilst safety is a priority with a fully controlled tip cycle, certified E-stops, powered rear doors, hydraulic safety valves and powered internal door locks.

Streamlined and versatile – Olympus One Pass is the ideal solution for segregated collections

The Olympus One Pass leads the way in efficient collection, handling three waste streams in one round. It has two separate compacting bodies, each with smooth-sided, one-piece construction, delivering easier cleaning and maintenance alongside powerful compaction mechanisms. Independent tailgates remove cross-contamination risks, and there's a top discharge pod ideally suited for food waste.

Tough and lightweight performance from PBUV

The PBUV is a polymer-bodied solution designed for collecting low to mid-volume food and organic waste. It is made of strong polypropylene material and is able to withstand daily steam cleaning. The body won't corrode and is leakproof to a height of 300mm.

It's versatile, too, allowing for switching between waste streams. It can be loaded by hand through side hatches or with a bin lift that can handle up to 360 litre bins, making it versatile for managing different types of organic waste. A tipping mechanism also makes light work of discharging.

Dual-Chamber Excellence from the Duo enables food and dry recycling collection

For collecting two separate waste streams in one round, the Olympus Duo excels. It features a main compacting body with an additional pod, which can discharge from either the top for food or the side for glass.

The Duo is a flexible solution, keeping operations simple while also enabling high-volume collections.

Market leading solutions

As waste management evolves and regulations change, having advanced and adaptable Refuse Collection Vehicles means compliant and cost-effective waste practices are easier to achieve with support from Dennis Eagle and Terberg Matec UK.

From the efficiency of the Olympus One Pass and Duo, to the compact focus of the ORUS and the adaptability of the ABTL and PBUV, Dennis Eagle and Terberg Matec UK offer a diverse range of sophisticated options fit for any fleet.

Apprentices Celebrating

Dennis Eagle and Terberg Matec are setting people up with skills for life

Investing in the next generation has always been at the heart of Dennis Eagle (DEUK) and Terberg Matec UK, (TMUK), and is the reason why our apprenticeship schemes have benefited so many employees over many decades. Following National Apprenticeship Week in early February, we get to know some of our Dennis Eagle and TMUK apprentices better.

Olivia and Joshua Deehan

Sister and brother Finance and Welder Apprentices

Siblings Olivia and Joshua, have followed in their father’s footsteps and respectively chosen their career paths through a Dennis Eagle apprenticeship scheme.

Olivia is currently completing her Level 2 Association of Accounting Technicians (AAT) Apprenticeship before starting Level 3 in May.

Through the apprenticeship scheme Olivia has gained a range of accounting skills and hopes to continue her journey with Dennis Eagle once qualified.

Joshua who is a qualified apprentice in welding, also preferred to be in a working environment and wanted to learn a trade that would give him a secure future. Reflecting on his time as an apprentice, the scheme enabled him to improve his socials skills and helped him become the person he is today.

(Left to right) Joshua, Gerard and Olivia Deehan

Leah Fielding

Spray Painter

Leah joined Dennis Eagle as an apprentice five-years ago and trained to be a qualified spray painter. Going to college wasn’t the route Leah wanted to take as she preferred to be more hands-on, so an apprenticeship was the perfect choice for her.

To become a spray painter requires specific training to work with paint as well as having the technical ability to prep a cab, mix the paint correctly, knowing the different types of paint there are, and the knowledge to vinyl wrap a cab.

Patryk Potrapeluk

Senior Engineer TMUK

Patryk was at college studying Mechanical Engineering full-time before joining TMUK’s Warrington facility in 2015 as a Workshop Engineer Apprentice. He also started an NVQ Extended Diploma in Engineering Maintenance alongside his apprenticeship scheme.

The apprenticeship provided Patryk with a range of new skills such as communication, team working, leadership, and time management skills, which have all contributed towards his career progression.

Maeve Wilcock

Workshop Administrator TMUK

Maeve has recently joined TMUK Warrington as a Workshop Administrator helping the Workshop team with general admin of vehicles coming in for repair and refurbishment and has been slowly picking up a variety of tasks and building on her skill-set.

Maeve also has a keen interest in digital marketing and is looking forward to being involved with content creation for the Marketing team and hopes to build a successful career in the future.

WISH forum promotes safer bin lift operation

New WISH guidelines published for 2024

The WISH Forum has published a comprehensive set of guidelines aimed at ensuring the safe operation of bin lifts in automatic mode. The document, titled "WISH INFO 26: Safety in the Operation of Automatic Bin Lifts on RCVS," provides industry professionals with crucial insights into best operating practices.

As many of you will be aware, the aim of WISH is to identify, devise and promote activities to improve industry health and safety standards. Its purpose is to provide information and identify solutions for all that are touched by our sector.

The release of the document in January 2024 follows WISH’s position statement in March 2023 on the safe use of bin lift equipment in automatic mode. The updated guidelines cover a range of safety considerations, including equipment inspection, operator training and emergency procedures for existing vehicles. New bin lifts and refuse collection bodies will now have to be inspected by a notified or approved body, to obtain certification. All new Dennis Eagle supplied RCVs, inclusive of a Terberg bin-lift, have now undergone this external assessment. We apologise that this important procedure led to some minor delays for vehicle deliveries, but the immediate restriction imposed at the end of November by the Office of Product Safety and Standards had to be respected.

For Dennis Eagle RCVs fitted with a Terberg bin-lift already in service,

we have introduced a product upgrade, known as the Bin lift Compaction Control Upgrade (or BCCU). This upgrade, accompanied by relevant training, halts the packer mechanism and disables the bin lift’s automatic mode if an object is lost during the automatic lifting cycle. This option is available for OmniDEKA and OmniDEL bin lifts already in service. For further details, please contact the Terberg Matec UK Service

Team on 01925 283905 or via email at service@terberg.co.uk.

Dennis Eagle wholeheartedly supports WISH’s desire for our industry to work together to develop effective and practical physical safeguarding controls. All industry stakeholders are encouraged to review the document to ensure compliance with the latest safety standards and to promote a secure working environment.

Eagle Eyed

Spot a Dennis Eagle RCV and take a pic

We asked our Facebook community to get creative and take a snap of our RCV's in action. Here's a selection of the best so far.

If you'd like the chance to win some cool Dennis Eagle merch, just take a pic of our trucks, wherever you are in the world and send it to us via our Facebook page. Good Luck!

WINNER: Joseph Hill (left)

RUNNERS UP: (clockwise from below)

Jameel Williams

Southwest Refuse Vehicles Ireland

Reuben Rumsby

Chantelle Alice