2022SUMMER EAGLE Y E ProView progress US Production, dealer network and services all expanding Food for thought Do you want to recycle with zero emissions? The Electric RCV for Sustainable Cities eRCV power play Where electric dreams are becoming reality dennis-eagle.co.uk
1814 Transition to electric Independents and hire firms among eCollect customers.......04 Cleaner, greener recycling First Kerbloader EVs ordered after trials success ................10 Aftermarket How a total package clinched Stirling order.........................16 Contents 08 Weathering the stormPaul Marvin on how we navigated through purchasing challenges ProView prospersDealers, sales, production, staff and services all expanding in N. America 12 It's coming homeWarwick launches a new Dennis Eagle and Terberg fleet News round-up27 complete RCVs heading to Greenwich 2
Even though global shortages made headlines, prices spiralled upwards and supply chains collapsed around them, they somehow succeeded.
The time for teams
They kept our manufacturing teams supplied so production could meet the growing demand for our vehicles. The end result is that our customers have been able to keep working and fulfil their vital roles.
Of course, our subsidiary name remains Dennis Eagle, linking us to our historic roots. We are a subsidiary of Terberg Environmental which is a division of the Royal Terberg Group. Ros Roca proudly remains the Spanish subsidiary of Terberg Environmental.
It is useful to understand what it is about Dennis Eagle that has
A
enabled us to manage so well in these ‘interesting times’ and two key characteristics stand out.
Secondly, the particular team ethic we have developed comes to the fore when the pressure is on. While our company is big enough to work in well-focused teams, we avoid that silo mentality of working in bubbles and not knowing what others are doing.
Kevin Else Managing Director
a prolonged and unprecedented sequence of seismic challenges.
EAGLE EYE Summer 2022
First, the flexibility of our different teams is admirable. As a relatively small business among the Goliaths of the automotive sector, we are used to encountering problems and finding practical solutions. It’s simply what we do.
A change in our branding took place at the start of the year when Royal Terberg Group became the sole shareholders of Terberg RosRoca Group. In keeping with Royal Terberg Group’s branding style, our divisional name changed to Terberg Environmental to reflect the division’s activity.
The challenges faced by our purchasing teams throughout this period have been remarkable, as our Head of Purchasing and Supply Chains Paul Marvin explains in this edition of Eagle Eye.
Yet for Dennis Eagle, it has brought into focus just what it takes to make specialist vehicles and why we do it so well.
As a result, the way different teams understood each other’s needs and pulled together to conquer these enormous challenges was hugely reassuring. And it is something we should all be proud of.
ll over the manufacturingworld,industrieshavebeengoingthrough
Behind the innovative design, the quality of engineering and the efficiency of production, there are many unsung heroes striving to ensure it will happen. And never more so than in these last five tumultuous years.
Whereas energy and commodity prices have gone through the roof, material shortages in many sectors have led businesses to grind to a halt and further added to costs.
Some of them were predictable, such as the consequences Brexit would have on our supply chains, while others came out of the blue.
The people who have worked on this project recently are (L-R), Alex Eddleston (Test Engineer), Joely Side (current Product Engineer), Ben Greenhow (Apprentice Engineer), Oliver Cole (Design Engineer), Dan Birch (Apprentice Engineer) and George Avery (Electrical Engineer).
4
NEW ECOLLECT TARGETS URBAN AIR QUALITY
4X2
t has been developed to meet urgent demand for a zero-emissions RCV to operate in urban areas with restricted access. These rounds are often in locations suffering from poor air quality.
EAGLE EYE Summer 2022
Alongsideneeded.airpollution,
The nature of the trial rounds meant it travelled around 35 miles a day, but that will be typical of the urban rounds the 4x2 eCollect will be used on and there was plenty of charge left to do more if
The 4x2 is a smaller version of the multi-award-winning original 6x2 eCollect. Like its big brother, it has a Narrow Track chassis to provide outstanding manoeuvrability, but its smaller footprint allows it access to the tightest locations. Its 10m3 body is also still capable of carrying the same payload.
“But like the original eCollect, the 4x2 had to be put through a whole suite of tests and homologation, which always takes time. It involves several different teams – the electrical team, the test team, production engineering and others.”
Design Engineer Oliver Cole led the development project for the Chassis Design team. They began the project in July 2020 and two development vehicles were built in June 2021:
carbon savings are the key benefit of introducing eRCVs. Switching to the eCollect 4x2 will typically save between 20 and 30 tonnes of carbon emissions each year –depending on how operators use it – which not only helps fight climate change but also reduces operational costs.
The first 4x2 eCollect was trialled in Kensington and Chelsea, where it successfully worked on a variety of rounds earlier this spring. It routinely returned to the depot after a double shift with 30-35% of its charge remaining.
“The first 4x2 went into production this summer and of course, we’ve already moved on to developing the next iteration of the eCollect.”
I
The cab is also the same, with plenty of room for the driver and up to three crew. Bin lift options come from either our ever-popular Beta bin lift or the market-leading Terberg ‘Omni’ automatic split-lift range.
“The key was to change as little as possible – it’s essentially the same vehicle as the original 6x2 but with a smaller footprint,” said Oliver.
Together, they provide it with 180kWh of power, comfortably enough for a full day’s work on a typical double-shift. It still has the same 200kW electric drive as the original eCollect.
The main thing that changed was we had fewer batteries packaged on a shorter wheelbase.
“It was a significant project for customers who have urgent issues regarding air quality and climate change. But it has clearly been a success,” added Oliver.
The second configuration of the eCollect – an 18-tonne 4x2 all-electric RCV – has been launched.
Being smaller, the vehicle needs less power and is fitted with three battery packs instead of five. These are carefully balanced to optimise its load, with one centre pack and one pack on each side.
But while the charging system is the same as the 6x2 eCollect, with only three battery packs, it is quicker to charge, typically taking just 3.5 hours to reach 100% after starting with around 15% residual charge.
The 4x2 model was chosen because many of the places in which a vehicle of this size will operate have air quality issues. These remain a priority for many customers and consequently, the first orders for the new eRCV have already been received.
The eCollect is being charged at its Lea Riverside materials recovery facility in Bow, East London where electricity is generated by 4,000 rooftop solar panels. It is the largest retro-fitted photo-voltaic (PV) installation in the whole of London and reflects the company’s plans to provide the most sustainable waste management service in the UK and become carbon-neutral by 2030. Before buying the eRCV, the company trialled the
Independent operator Bywaters starts electric fleet
eCollect on different rounds to test its functionality and battery life, and ensure it would only have a positive impact on the services they provided.
The vehicle is the first eRCV the family-owned business has purchased as it bids to establish an all-electric fleet of refuse collection vehicles.
Bywaters’ Head of Logistics James Carlisle said: “This is just the first step on the road to establishing a 100% electric fleet. It is not only the right thing to do but will also win us customers and help us retain existing customers.
We’ve had a very good relationship with Dennis Eagle for years and after the trials, this vehicle was an obvious choice for us. It’s currently operating on an eight-and-a-half-hour shift and only using up 32% of the battery power.”
6
Leading independent waste management company Bywaters has put its first eCollect to work in Central London.
Three new eCollects, which will soon be powered by renewable energy, have started working in Exeter to help the city become carbon neutral by 2030.
Birmingham trials its first eCollect
The decision to introduce the all-electric RCVs followed a successful trial of the eCollect in Exeter last year.
We are confident that the benefits of the new fleet will be appreciated by both crews and residents. It provides an excellent real-world example to other local authorities of what is now possible and how it can be achieved.”
Summer 2022 EAGLE EYE
The Northampton-based contract hire and leasing specialist is part of the Paragon Banking Group, whose Managing Director of Commercial Lending, Dave Newcombe, went to see the eCollects in place.
The vehicles were introduced by Exeter City Council’s fleet partner SFS as part of a seven-year fleet agreement and started work on July 1.
He said: “As a supporter of the government’s ambition to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, I’m delighted that Paragon and SFS are able to support Exeter City Council’s goals to decarbonise their refuse fleet.”
And Veolia has ordered seven of the 4x2 all-electric RCVs for its London Borough of Kingston operation. Each will be fitted with a Terberg OmniDEL bin lift.
The first orders have already been placed for the new 4x2 eCollect by operators around the UK.
Leading hire company SFS introduces our eRCV
The UK’s largest local authority – Birmingham City Council – trialled its first eCollect earlier this summer.
Managing Director of Commercial Lending, Dave Newcombe.
Not only did it operate with zero emissions, it didn’t incur a charge for entering the city’s Clean Air Zone which was introduced by the council with a strict ruling that its own vehicles would not be exempt.
SFS Managing Director Bob Sweetland, said: “The decarbonisation of Exeter’s RCVs is an important step.
Orders placed for first 4x2s
To further reduce the council’s impact on climate change, the new electric fleet will eventually be powered by the Water Lane Solar Park in Exeter which, at the time of going to press, was expected to go live this month (September).
has ordered three 4x2 eCollects to join the 6x2s it already operates. They will feature a mixture of Terberg OmniDEKA and OmniTRADE bin lifts and will also be fitted with our own Safety Solutions 5 Camera System providing 360° vision.
Essex-based municipal vehicle hire specialist Fiveways has ordered a 4x2 eCollect with an OmniDEL lift for its operations in ultra-low emissions zones in the London NottinghamBoroughs.CityCouncil
It successfully operated in the city’s Clean Air Zone for three weeks in July and August, collecting waste and recycling material from the city centre.
WEATHERING THE STORM
It required a very flexible approach from our manufacturing colleagues. It’s testament to just how good the teams in Blackpool and Warwick are, but Dennis Eagle seems to be a company where flexibility is Somehow,normal.
First there was Brexit, followed by the pandemic, then the microchip crisis and finally Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the global economic chaos it’s caused.
“It really all started after the Brexit referendum. We had a lot to learn… new processes and laws … and there were obviously going to be supply chain issues, though it wasn’t clear what they’d be.
“I’ve never experienced anything remotely like it and I’m not sure if it’s changed me as a person,” says Paul, our Head of Purchasing and Supply Chain.
we kept manufacturing going throughout 2020 while the supply chains were still reeling – even though we recorded close to a record output.
8
“We’d just about got on top of it all when Covid came along. France and Spain pretty much closed down overnight, so many materials were quickly running short,” explains Paul.
For Paul Marvin and his team, getting through each of them was crucial. It kept our factories working and our customers operating. It required good judgement, sheer grit and determination and occasionally, a bit of luck.
A
“There were some very long days and nights worked back then. People spent hours on the phone, finding supplies and sitting on them until we got them. You had to be able to trust people – not just to do their normal job but to go above and beyond while coping with the complications of working from home. And they did.
How Dennis Eagle navigated the way through unprecedented change.
Of course, nobody could have realised how fortuitous that move would turn out to be. Thanks to the company’s foresight over Brexit, we were better placed than many to cope. The challenges, however, remained huge.
ny one of these could present a career-defining challenge to a purchasing professional but incredibly, they came along one after another in the space of around five years.
We also had to source PPE. While others were struggling to get it, we somehow managed. In the end, we got production back up in five weeks.
So, we set about buying stock we thought may be difficult to source – especially the high value stuff, like engines. And we got a warehouse just around the corner from our headquarters in Warwick to keep it in.”
Then, just as we thought we would get back to some sort of normality, the microchip issue hit home. It was more difficult than ever but the Purchasing team negotiated brilliantly and again, we kept production going.”
And although Paul is emerging from five years of chaos, he will be glad to take some of the lessons that have been learned with him.
Our Supply Chain team had a few personnel changes to cope with following Covid. After 10 years with the company, Sally Warren retired six months into lockdown. Supply Chain Manager Helen Bricknell, who had been a tower of strength throughout, retired in May 2022 after 22 years – but not before training Stacey Irvine as her successor. The transition has been seamless.
He continues: “I suppose we should have known better but coming into 2022, we thought we could see a period of calm and stability ahead. Then Russia invaded Ukraine and turned the global economy on its head again. The impact has been profound: steel is up from £550 to £1,500 per tonne and energy costs have gone through the roof.
Paul Marvin – Purchasing Manager and Stacey Irvine – Supply Chain Manager - Purchasing.
At the end of this rollercoaster ride, the Purchasing teams are finally returning to some sort of normality and mapping out precisely what that means so we can keep prices stable and reliable.
“There are two invaluable things that I’ve taken from all this,” he says.
Throughout all this, we’ve been dealing with production for the new venture in the USA. We started on that four or five years ago, sending people over to set the supply chains up, establish accounts, provide credit checks. It was a lot of work and a lot of the businesses we were dealing with took a lot of convincing.
It actually feels great to be challenged for a positive reason once again!”
We’re currently managing it all from Warwick with different working hours to cope with the time difference – and that’s all fine. But the volume of vehicles we’re producing has grown exponentially.
“First, the value of the team – it is so important. It was the key to getting through those major challenges. And second, trust is vital – you get it back ten-fold.”
EAGLE EYE Summer 2022
But as well as efficiently performing its environmentally responsible role of collecting recyclables, it does the job with zero emissions.
“The electric Kerbloader underwent extensive trials for three weeks on Anglesey earlier this year,” explains Terberg Matec UK Managing Director, Will Marzano.
T
ALL-ELECTRIC KERBLOADER EV EXCELS IN ANGLESEY
The first orders have have been received for Terberg Matec UK’s all-electric Kerbloader EV after it successfully completed extensive trials with the local authority on Anglesey.
And there’s more too: this is a 12-tonne vehicle but we also have a 14-tonne model. It has the same powertrain, yet with a bigger payload, it is even more efficient.”
Reduced noise from the electric motor means collections can be made from sensitive locations without causing disturbance – even early in the morning and later in the evening. And better acceleration and torque can speed up collections to increase operational efficiency.
10
It has retained all the valued credentials of the original Kerbloader which is known as the durable, safe and flexible solution to one-pass recycling collections. The Kerbloader EV collects up to seven different waste streams and keeps them safely separate, just like the original Kerbloader, with overall payloads of over 3.2 tonnes.
It’s a lovely quiet vehicle. The feedback was excellent.” By producing no exhaust gases, the Kerbloader EV will not only help local authorities and other operators reduce their carbon footprint but also meet their increasingly urgent air pollution targets.
Will concludes: “Ultimately, we recycle for environmental reasons. The Kerbloader EV is simply the next, logical step towards the same important goal.
“The 140kWh battery pack enabled it to comfortably complete 8-10 hour shifts on one charge. We were completing two rounds a day and have satisfied ourselves that the vehicle has a range of around 100 miles or more. It performed exceptionally well in the Anglesey hills and in locations with narrow access.
he original diesel version of the multi-stream recycling vehicle has been engineered to create a carefully integrated interface with an electric chassis. Now everything that was powered by the diesel engine now comes from zero-emissions electric battery power and the body and chassis have been designed to dovetail so as to make best use of the available space and to maximise volume and payload.
Above all, the arrival of the Kerbloader EV means that as diesel engines are gradually phased out, the future of one-pass recycling is assured.
The design and engineering that has gone into this, so that our market-leading Kerbloader can be properly integrated with an electric chassis, is remarkable. I’m delighted with the end result and we already have orders from four different local authorities. The first vehicles will be delivered in Q4 this year.
A noise-reducing system is fitted to the glass collection compartments.
The automated plastic and can-press system and heavy-duty card-press significantly improve payload and efficiency.
Discharge of materials is controlled from inside the cab which is both quicker and safer for the driver and crew.
A colour HMI touch-screen in the cab for the vehicle and diagnostics systems.
Summer 2022
The result is a highly efficient and manoeuvrable one-pass recycling vehicle.
Stillages are removed with a fork-lift truck to avoid the “pushing-and-pulling” injuries associated with manual handling.
rear to reduce the risk of tyre-shredding.
KERBLOADER FEATURES AND BENEFITS
LED lighting illuminates the working area.
LEDs in internal compartments help avoidGlasscross-contamination.isunloadedatthe
High grade stainless steel and composite GRP board make it corrosion-free.
he trucks – 33 Dennis Eagle RCVs and 18 Terberg food waste vehicles – are being operated by Biffa who started providing the new joint waste and recycling service for Warwick and Stratford district councils on August 1.
The two local authorities introduced their shared 123+ Collections service for 126,000 households in the Stratford-upon-Avon and Warwick districts. Their goal was to improve efficiency while underlining their commitment to protecting the environment and tackling climate change.
That was the catchphrase of Summer 2022, thanks to England’s Lionesses. But it also resonated with everyone at Dennis Eagle when our own local authority, Warwick, launched a new fleet of vehicles.
‘IT’S COMING HOME!’
The RCVs all feature the new Elite+ cab introduced by Dennis Eagle earlier this year, which is designed to improve comfort and convenience for the crew and the safety of everyone around the vehicle.
23 of them have 6x2 Rear-Steer Wide chassis with Olympus 21m3 bodies. The other 10 have a 6x2
12
T
An important aspect of the new scheme was the introduction of separate weekly food waste collections. This will become obligatory in England in 2023 with the goal of increasing food recycling rates and reducing the build-up of smelly waste that attracts flies and other pests.
Biffa’s Head of Fleet Development, Darren Judd added: “The main objective was to provide the most efficient collection service possible and to do that we needed everyone working closely together.
Of course, we were already familiar with the vehicle options and worked out what would be the best to optimise this service. For example, there were places in these two council areas that would clearly benefit from Dennis Eagle narrow vehicles.
Councillor Richard Hales Deputy Leader, WDC
Warwick District Council’s Portfolio Holder for Neighbourhood and Leisure, Councillor Moira-Ann Grainger, says: “In order to improve our recycling rates and reduce the amount of waste going to landfill, we set a high bar for our new 123+ service in terms of reliability and efficiency. It was important for us to select vehicles that could fulfil our objectives, particularly as we were covering a much wider area and number of households than previously. We were, therefore, delighted to have contracted local Warwick-based company Dennis Eagle who we were confident would meet this brief.”
Operations Director, Biffa
Councillor Moira-Ann Grainger
The food waste vehicles are all ORUS 7HDs on an Isuzu 11-tonne chassis. This is a lighter option than the 12-tonne chassis frequently used and can offer an even better payload. The innovative panier system provides efficient hand-loading from caddies but still allows a slave bin to be used if preferred, showing the flexibility of the ORUS.
Councillor Andrew Day Leader, WDC
Councillor Daren Pemberton Deputy Leader, SDC
EAGLE EYE
Simon Crook
Andrew Dutton
Councillor Ian Shenton
Portfolio Holder for Climate Change, SDC
EAGLE EYE Summer 2022
And the cherry on the cake was that having identified them as the best vehicles for the job, Dennis Eagle’s RCVs are built just down the road. Many of the people who work for them and their suppliers live in Warwick or in AsStratford-upon-Avon.wellasboostinglocal industry, there are positive environmental implications in this too, so it’s a win-win situation for both local authorities.”
Rear-Steer Narrow chassis and Olympus 19m3 bodies, with a smaller footprint making them even more manoeuvrable and helping them operate more efficiently on tighter roads. And they are all fitted with market-leading Terberg OmniDEL lifts.
We have a long-term relationship with Dennis Eagle and are used to working very closely with them. We were totally confident that they’d be able to build and deliver the vehicles on time and that was vital.
Biffa
Portfolio Holder for Neighbourhood and Leisure, WDC
“The difference in width [25cm narrower] may seem insignificant at a glance but to drivers it makes all the difference.”
F
While the council has been a Dennis Eagle customer for many years, it had used other chassis before the Elite+ was launched earlier in 2022.
“Gettingmanoeuvrability.completevehicles
27 complete RCVs ordered by Greenwich
Narrow track and Elite+ land Copeland BC tender
Four of the vehicles are Elite+ 6x2 Rear-Steer Wide chassis with 22m3 Olympus Twin Pack (50:50) bodies. Two more are 6x2 Rear-Steer Narrow chassis with 19m3 Olympus bodies and one is an Elite+ 4x2 Narrow with a 13m3 Olympus Twin Pack (50:50) body. Each has Terberg OmniDEL Electric bin lifts. The eighth vehicle is a 7.5 tonne Olympus Mini with an integral bar lift.
The council’s Head of Environmental and Community Services Shirley Proctor-Dow said Dennis Eagle’s Narrow track vehicles were ideal for coping with busy tourist areas and the increase in home-working leading to more cars parked outside homes:
or the first time, the Royal Borough of Greenwich has ordered an RCV fleet entirely made up of Dennis Eagle and Terberg products.
from an original equipment manufacturer has significant benefits,” says Regional Sales Manager Dan Foden.
The 27 RCVs all feature Olympus 20m3 bodies and Terberg OmniDEL Electric bin lifts while the chassis have a shorter wheelbase and rear-steer axle for greater
And we offer the best Aftermarket support in the industry which is vital to any fleet’s operation. Our Bexley Service Centre is less than eight miles from the Greenwich depot so any work will be quick and convenient.”
“From the time of ordering, through to delivery and supporting the vehicles in operation, there’s just one company to deal with. It saves so much time and is much more reliable.
She was also pleased that the new Elite+ cabs addressed the working environment of drivers and crews: “This is their office and so their comfort is a very important point.”
Workforce at Copeland Borough Council.
E
14
ight new RCVs are going into service with Copeland Borough Council in Cumbria as it brings collections and maintenance in-house.
ROUND-UPNEWS
Crane vehicle built for Spelthorne Direct Services
Fife buys Narrow RCVs for efficiency
The vehicles are Elite+ 6x2 Narrow chassis with 16m3 Olympus bodies and OmniDEL Electric bin lifts.
T
The 26-tonne 6x2 Elite uses a crane to empty underground bins and the first Terberg OmniMAX electric bin lift in the UK to empty wheeled bins.
Cost comes into it as well. When your drivers – no matter how good they are – are constantly squeezing through parked vehicles, you have to expect insurance claims. And on that point, the 360 o camera system with live cameras proves invaluable too.”
Gary McLauchlan joins Terberg Matec UK
“I’ve known Terberg products and the people all my working life and that was the key for me deciding to take up this role.” said Gary.
Dennis Eagle provides new fleet for Ubico
n a conquest deal, four narrow RCVs are being delivered to Fife Council for collections in the rural north-east of the county.
Gary McLauchlan.
Spelthorne Borough Council Business Development Officer, Graham Boswell says: “Going out to tender was a challenge because very few manufacturers could meet our requirements. Dennis Eagle could not only supply what we wanted but outscored the competition, which was great as we have worked with so many Dennis Eagle RCVs on our domestic fleet and we knew they would build a great truck and provide excellent support.”
Ubico’s Head of Fleet Operations Ian Bourton says: “The drivers and crews like the Dennis Eagle trucks –they are designed and built to be RCVs. The Olympus bodies are very reliable and the support we get from Dennis Eagle is great.”
he new Area Sales Manager for Terberg Matec UK in the North & Scotland is Gary McLauchlan.
I
Gary is already a well-known and respected figure throughout the industry, having already amassed an impressive twenty-year career in the industrial and municipal sectors:
Ten of the RCVs have 6x2 Rear-Steer Narrow chassis with Olympus 19m3 bodies and OmniDEL lifts. The other is a 6x2 Rear-Steer Wide chassis with an Olympus 22m3 Twin Pack body and an OmniDEL Triple lift.
A
E
custom-made crane vehicle to empty underground bins has been delivered to Spelthorne Direct Services, the commercial waste arm of Spelthorne Borough Council in South-West London.
leven new Dennis Eagle RCVs started work in Gloucester with Ubico in April after the city council became the eighth local authority shareholder of the environmental services company.
EAGLE EYE Summer 2022
Fife Waste Operations Service Manager, Sandy Anderson said: “These old towns are truly beautiful but a lot of the roads were designed for horses and carts. The Dennis Eagle Narrow RCVs make a huge difference.
The repair and maintenance operation started in early September with vehicles being kept operationally available and fully compliant at the Cumbernauld Service Centre which is just 20 minutes away from the Stirling depot.
AFTERMARKET ‘
But the key to the deal was the ‘whole solution’ offered by Dennis Eagle. Fleet Manager Kirsty MacLeod explains: “We trialled vehicles from all suppliers and went to competitive tender.
A
Ten are 6x2 Elite+ Wide Rear-Steer chassis with 21m3 Olympus bodies and Terberg OmniDEL lifts. The other has the same chassis with a 22m3 Twin Pack body and a Terberg OmniDEL Triple lift and was earmarked for trade waste.
Through this process Dennis Eagle came out top.
But the whole solution, with everything from the front to the back of the vehicle plus the repair and maintenance all coming from one supplier, that made life so much easier.
Dennis Eagle’s Cumbernauld Service Centre being nearby was also a real bonus. But the key to the contract was having an engineer on-site for morning surgery.
STIRLINGCLINCHESORDER PACKAGE’TOTAL
The drivers check each vehicle before they go out and when they return after the shift. Having the engineer on-site to repair anything promptly, before they start, is vital. We can’t be held up because of a faulty windscreen wiper!”
Stirling was also concerned with minimising the new fleet’s environmental impact and considered the whole Dennis Eagle operation before placing the order.
‘total package’ including 11 new RCVs supported by a carefully tailored Aftermarket contract, is being rolled out for Stirling Council.
The new RCVs were being delivered for frontline domestic collections throughout the summer and autumn.
16
O
ne of our longest serving engineers – Jim Hatley – has retired after 30 years with Dennis Eagle. He started in the workshops at our Falkirk depot fitting third axles and bin lifters. And he retired as a Field Service Engineer, having travelled all over Scotland and the north of England.
Signage throughout has been brought up-to-date and the building has been given a new identity with corporate colours.
he future looks bright for our Merthyr Service Centre which has undergone an extensive refurbishment over the last 12 months.
Summer 2022
But there’s no great secret: people have to fit in, so we recruit carefully. Then they’re happy and they stay here.”
T
Mick Mclean, Regional Service Manager of Cumbernauld Service Centre where Jim is based, says: “He’s also part of the family here, as we all are – a close knit team. We’ve two more staff with more than 22 years’ service and another with 17. I’ll clock up 30 years myself in January.
The complex, in the heart of South Wales, has had more than just a lick of paint. There is new energy efficient lighting, a new parts office in the stores and stud walls have been removed to open up the reception and create a new light, bright welcome to visitors.
EAGLE EYE
Consequently, the workshops are fully equipped to safely service and maintain electric vehicles and the Merthyr team is properly trained to handle them.
Mick Mclean and Jim Hatley.
The Merthyr Tydfil team including Regional Service Manager Terry Evans and Aftermarket Director, Geoff Rigg.
Merthyr Service Centre looks to the future
There have been exciting developments in the workshops too. The service centre has become the biggest base in the UK for service and maintenance of eCollects with 22 operating in the region already.
There will be plenty of vehicles on show too, including a 6x2 eCollect over an inspection pit, giving visitors a chance to see the eRCV at closer quarters than usual. There will also be a new 4x2 eCollect and the highly acclaimed Elite+ cab – both launched earlier this year –for visitors to see.
30 years and out for Jim
To mark its reopening, an Open Day is being held on Sept 21 at Merthyr Service Centre with guests from across South Wales attending.
Jim, who is a keen photographer, plans to spend his retirement hiking in Scotland’s most beautiful scenery and enjoying time with his family.
Plus with food waste on everyone’s agenda, the increasingly popular Terberg ORUS – alongside two Terberg Kerbloaders will be present – one diesel and one electric.
Aaron, Austin, Alan and their parents, Tanya and Bob Matthews with the ProView at Matthews Motors.
Dennis Eagle ProView outside Matthews Motors in Georgia.
Joshua MorrisManufacturing Engineer.
18
A growing order book for the NorthsuppliesSouthfactoryanProViewground-breakingRCVispromptingexpansionofouratSummerville,Carolina,whichthewholeofAmerica.
Michael TudorAftermarket Manager.
SET TO EXPAND DENNIS EAGLE INC.
Geoff Rigg Interim President of Dennis Eagle Inc, comments:
With both Dennis Eagle Inc. and our dealers taking demo vehicles to industry events across the continent, the ProView is generating widespread interest as well as
Theorders.latest
N
“We are extremely excited to become part of the Dennis Eagle family,” says Bob Matthews, CEO of Matthews Motors.
“Dennis Eagle is the industry leader for quality and durability with some of the most innovative refuse vehicle chassis designs in the industry.”
facilities is just about to go ahead. It will give us the potential to double our output and it will also provide us with better offices and training facilities.
In addition, new dealerships are joining our distribution network with 14 already on board. Further agreements have already been exchanged with new dealers in Hawaii, Utah, Idaho and Newfoundland, and more are in the pipeline.
EAGLE EYE Summer 2022
We’re developing our dealer training so those coming on board now will be able to hit the ground running as their vehicles arrive.
authorised dealer to join out network is Matthews Motors who will provide sales and aftermarket services from their base in Augusta, Georgia.
“Matthews Motors fits perfectly into our expanding network of dealerships. They are well established but always looking to improve what they offer customers. They already have a reputation for excellent service and this, combined with the outstanding performance, safety and durability of the ProView, is what we’re looking to build on going forwards.
Another new appointee – Aftermarket Manager Michael Tudor – will lead the development of that vital aspect of the business. He has 30 years’ experience in commercial and specialist vehicles and is highly tuned in to customer Expansionsatisfaction.oftheSummerville
Director of Dennis Eagle Inc, Ian Handley, says: “We’re winning new orders all the time – we’ve just picked up five more trucks for Pittsburgh taking the total there to 14. When customers start to operate their trucks, they soon want more. And as more dealers come on board, demand will only increase.
Aaron Matthews, an owner and Chief Financial Officer of the company, adds: “This will be a really popular vehicle. We have a couple of demonstration trucks coming in and customers really need to see them for themselves. If they call us, we can arrange a demo. We are already reaching out to body builders and we’ll also be taking the truck to shows in the months ahead.”
ew customers introduced by our dealer network and repeat sales to existing customers mean production slots are already being booked for Q1 of 2023.
The company believes the ProView not only has excellent credentials for the refuse collection industry but also for applications beyond that.
We’ve also appointed a Manufacturing Engineer, Josh Morris. He has a strong background in automotive and quality and process engineering and will focus on continuous improvement of our products.
The family-owned business has been operating for more than 30 years and is centered on a 42-bay service repair shop with full sales facilities. It has already established an outstanding reputation as a one-stop-shop for truck sales and repairs on the borders of Georgia and South Carolina.
As dealers and their customers become familiar with our brand and our product, we’re seeing more and more opportunities coming our way, so these are exciting times for us.”
Our cameras have followed different refuse collection crews from across the country to learn more about what a day on the streets looks like. It should’ve been stories about hard work, but it ended up as tales of friendship forged in a Dennis Eagle vehicle. Point your camera to the QR code and watch our series.
FULL SERIES HERE SCAN TO WATCH KEEPING THE STREETS CLEAN
ONE LAUGH AT A TIME www.dennis-eagle.co.uk