As we publish our fourth quarterly issue of Eagle Eye in 2024, I am reflecting on what a busy year it has been for all of our sites. I’ve recently visited a number of these and it’s been really good to spend time talking to our employees and to see the pride they have in our products.
2024 has been notable for the opportunities we’ve purposefully created at Dennis Eagle, to connect face-to-face with as many of our customers as possible. Our industry is truly well-served through the year with a regular drumbeat of shows and events. Some of those at which we’ve flown the Dennis Eagle and Terberg Matec UK flags are IFAT, RWM, LARAC, OWL, Fleet Vision International and APSE in Aviemore.
Thank you to all who have paid us a visit, booked in meetings and taken the time to learn about our latest technologies and growing training provisions. It has been a pleasure
to continue to invest in the strong relationships that underpin our business.
We’re are all looking forward to 2025, which promises to be a significant year with the forthcoming legislation on food waste collections.
This is driving high levels of interest in our wide range of Duo, One Pass and ORUS bodies, which are ideally suited to collection of this waste stream.
We want to extend our heartfelt gratitude to all our valued customers for their continued trust and partnership throughout the year.
Your support has been the cornerstone of our success, and we are truly honoured to work with so many forward-thinking organisations.
As we look forward to an exciting year ahead, we wish you and your loved ones a
Events round-up, new machines into Lili Waste
IN FOCUS
Patryk Potrapeluk speaks about environmental impact
THE CUSTOMER
Cox Management Services are flying high
EAGLE EYED
A selection of winning photos from our community
Merry Christmas filled with joy and a New Year brimming with health, happiness, and prosperity.
Thank you for being part of our journey, and we can't wait to continue working with you in 2025!
Keith Day Managing Director
FEATURES
HACKNEY
Borough of Hackney widens narrow body fleet
New waste and recycling service is launched 08 12 16 22 06
LAMPTON SERVICES
Recycling open day is a hit with children in Hounslow
EAST SUFFOLK
Navigating the twists and turns of coastal routes
EPPING FOREST
Coastal Protection
Dennis Eagle’s narrow 6x2 rear-steer RCVs are helping drivers safely navigate the twists and turns of East Suffolk’s coastal roads. See page 14 for details.
Cleans Up Hackney
London Borough of Hackney has taken delivery of two new Dennis Eagle narrow RCVs as it expands its fleet
Hackney is one of London’s most culturally significant boroughs, home to neighbourhoods such as Hoxton, Shoreditch and Dalston that shape how the capital city is seen by the world. It brims with colour and life, unsurprising when its population density of 35,560 people per square mile places it third in the list of the 296 districts across England.
So many people packed into the fourth smallest borough in London poses a significant challenge for the London Borough of Hackney’s fleet management department. Narrow streets require a nimble but robust fleet of RCVs, and these special circumstances call for specialist vehicles. This is why Hackney Council’s refuse trucks are all Dennis Eagle vehicles.
“Dennis Eagle has always served us really well,” says Norman Harding, Corporate Fleet Manager at London Borough of Hackney. Let’s find out why.
Narrow focus
Norman looks after 610 vehicles across Hackney’s fleet, with 52 RCVs serving almost 260,000 in the East London borough.
All 52 Dennis Eagle RCVs are narrowbodied to manoeuvre around the narrow streets. “The urban environment in Hackney is so compact that while a full-width vehicle can be used for around 80% of our rounds, a lot of our streets are simply too narrow. Dennis Eagle narrow-bodied trucks are perfect for this. The population density translates into more houses, which translates into more bins, which translates into a lot of trucks for what is actually a relatively small area of London.”
Of the 610 vehicles Norman manages, he says the nature of refuse collection means RCVs are the hardest to maintain. “They have sophisticated equipment and work in a fairly hostile
environment, so you get a lot of wear and tear on the bodies.”
This reality means Norman wants a truck he can trust to reduce downtime, which is why he always turns to Dennis Eagle. “The drivers really like the trucks, and the cabs are brilliant; second to none,” he says. “The main competitor has a good reputation too, but they don’t do narrow trucks, so Dennis Eagle has always worked out really well for us.”
Waste not, want not
Hackney Council has recently taken delivery of two new Dennis Eagle 18-tonne Elite+ Chassis cabs with OL10 narrow bodies to support its food waste collection service.
“Our food waste collection has really taken off,” says Harding. “However, this has meant that the four vehicles we have for food collection are now too small. So, while we explore options, it makes sense to use two 18-tonne RCVs, with all of the necessary specifications, such as collection trays added, and Dennis Eagle has
really helped us here.”
Hackney Council has four waste collection streams – general waste, recycling, garden waste, and food waste. However, rather than purchasing vehicles with significantly different specifications for each of the four streams, the Council’s strategy is to ensure all vehicles share similar specifications.
Not only does this support driver familiarity, but it is also more efficient. “It means that when we have vehicle downtime, such as when a truck is in for a service, we can take almost any other Dennis Eagle truck and put it on any round, and it does the job. This builds in a lot of flexibility for us.”
Going green
Hackney Council has implemented electric vehicle technology across much of its lighter fleet, but widening this out to HGVs is proving challenging.
However, while pathways to electrification are explored, the borough is reducing its vehicle
carbon emissions by running all of its internal combustion trucks on more environmentally friendly hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO). “We have a long history of running our vehicles on renewable biofuels and were one of the first authorities in the country to use HVO across our HGV fleet, including all of our RCVs. We’re always pushing the environmental agenda as much as we possibly can.”
See Hackney in Action
You can watch the Hackney team in our 'Bin Days' series.
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Lili Waste picks Dennis Eagle for fleet boost
National waste management expert Lili Waste has taken on its first two Dennis Eagle Olympus bodies as it freshens up its fleet.
Founded in 2014, Lili Waste has grown from serving East Yorkshire to managing eight dedicated depots across the country, from Leeds to London, and Southampton to Cardiff. It has two depots in Kent in Canterbury and Paddock Wood, and it is at these bases that Lili Waste took delivery of two Dennis Eagle Olympus bodied vehicles in October.
A simple decision
With two of Lili Waste’s fleet of multipurpose vehicles coming to the end of their lifecycle, the company explored replacing them with new products. “When we looked at the overall suppliers for RCVs there were a few things we really liked about
Dennis Eagle,” says John Hopkins, Lili Waste’s National Fleet Manager. “One is the simplicity of the operation of the vehicle, and they’ve got a really good payload. They’re also easy to maintain and are reliable, with a lack of downtime and plenty of uptime.”
Both Hopkins and Lili Waste’s Managing Director, Darren Powell are very experienced in the industry and have used Dennis Eagle vehicles in previous roles. So the decision to team up again was an easy one to make. “We both really liked Dennis, so it made sense to bring them in,” says Powell. “We’ll be looking to take on the Dennis product across our other eight depots over time, as well.”
Masters of integration
Lili Waste has paired the two Olympus bodies with a Mercedes Econic chassis and a Dennis Eagle Beta 2 bin lifts. This simplicity of integration was another major reason why Lili Waste chose Dennis Eagle, as was its wideranging partnership ecosystem.
Lili Waste has also started trialling anti-rollaway technology in one of the vehicles to optimise fleet security, as well as specifying bin weighing. “Lili Waste was one of the first companies to take the bin weighing software and trial it,” says Powell. “This has enabled us to implement a pay-by-weight model, charging customers fairly, only for the waste they have collected.”
A regular annual fixture on the Dennis Eagle calendar is the Resource & Waste Management (RWM) Expo at the NEC, held on September 11th and 12th this year. On show on the Dennis Eagle stand was an Olympus Duo and Terberg ORUS. It was great to have Terberg Connect part of the stand, manned by Ian Warren, as well as a dedicated training area, care of Alice McCabe and Nathan Wheatley.
OWL, Northern Ireland
For many in the industry, including the Dennis Eagle team, there was only a short rest between RWM and the OWL Roadshow in Northern Ireland, held in partnership with IRTE Ireland North Centre in early October. Jeff Shaw of Ards and North Down Borough Council brought a Dennis Eagle Elite+ the short 13 miles to the impressive Titanic Centre event venue. Technical Sales Manager, Simon McCulloch, participated in a panel discussion about the challenges of transitioning to EVs and setting up a charging infrastructure in Northern Ireland.
Alan Haire, Director of Manvik, Dennis Eagle’s dealer in Northern Ireland, reported, “It was fantastic to return to OWL NI for this unique gathering of industry professionals. The strong turnout of customers, colleagues, and experts offered invaluable insights into the current landscape in Northern Ireland. This engagement not only enhances our understanding of how we can better support our customers but also emphasises the importance of open communication.”
Learning At Work Festival 2024
Learning at Work Festival (LAW Festival), organised by the Campaign for Learning, is an annual event in May that aims to highlight the importance and benefits of continual learning and development in the workplace. We take training incredibly seriously at Dennis Eagle and used LAW Festival as the inspiration for a three-week campaign connecting with our customers under the theme: Learning Power: Power to Connect, Power to Engage, and Power to Grow.
Over the three weeks, we shared exclusive content gathered
from conversations with various stakeholders around our business. We wanted to hear their perspectives on how their team and field of expertise influences better training and education across the board.
It was educational to listen to stories shared by teams in aftermarket, operational vehicle build process, customer service, health & safety, quality management and Investors in People. We also involved our partners, Autotech Training, with whom we deliver IMI-accredited training.
Lampton Services drives recycling education
Lampton Services Recycle's Open Day recently welcomed over 150 community members, including many families eager to learn about sustainable waste management. At the heart of this successful event was our valued supplier, Dennis Eagle, whose contributions significantly enhanced the educational experience and brought recycling to life for attendees.
Dennis Eagle made a remarkable impact by showcasing their converted educational refuse collection vehicle. This interactive exhibit allowed families to climb aboard and immerse themselves in the recycling journey. Inside the vehicle, visitors watched the London Borough of Hounslow’s ‘No Time to Waste’ campaign videos, providing insightful perspectives on waste reduction and sustainability. Children were thrilled to receive
mini high-vis vests and the engaging ‘Dennis to the Rescue’ activity packs, which they enthusiastically completed. The excitement didn't stop there; our friendly team answered a multitude of fantastic questions from curious young attendees. This hands-on experience not only made recycling tangible but also ignited an early passion for environmental responsibility among the youth.
Reflecting on the event, I commented, "We are incredibly grateful to Dennis Eagle for their outstanding support. Their interactive refuse collection vehicle was a star attraction that not only educated but also inspired our young visitors. Collaborations like this are vital in making recycling education accessible and engaging for our community."
In addition to Dennis Eagle's standout contributions,
Converted Dennis Eagle educational refuse collection vehicle opens up a whole new world.
our Materials Handling Facility (MHF) educational tours led by Dan Smyth, Director of Recycle & Sustainability, were another highlight. Visitors gained an in-depth understanding of the recycling process, witnessing firsthand how everyday waste is transformed into reusable materials through sorting and baling. The tours received fantastic feedback, with many attendees expressing a deeper appreciation for recycling practices.
The event was further enriched by our wonderful partners, who hosted interactive stands featuring recycling challenges, educational activities, and giveaways— all designed to promote sustainable practices in an engaging manner. Lampton’s Countryside team also captivated younger visitors with animal handling and craft sessions, emphasising the connection between
By Hailey Cluff, Head of Recycle at Lampton Services Recycle
environmental protection and wildlife preservation.
The Open Day's success was a testament to the collaborative efforts of the Lampton Recycle team, Dennis Eagle, and our dedicated community partners. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to Dennis Eagle for their invaluable support and commitment to environmental education. Their involvement not only elevated the event but also reinforced the importance of industry partnerships in fostering community engagement and sustainability.
As we continue our mission to promote environmental awareness and build stronger community connections, we look forward to hosting more events in collaboration with partners like Dennis Eagle. Together, we can inspire future generations to champion recycling and sustainability.
Patryk Potrapeluk
We speak to Patryk Potrapeluk, who will celebrate 10 years at Terberg Matec UK, in January.
From starting as an apprentice to his current role as Senior Workshop Engineer, he tells us about his love for the job.
Tell us about your journey at Terberg Matec UK?
I started at Terberg in January 2015, after going to Wigan & Leigh College to study Level 2 Mechanical Engineering. Then I got an apprenticeship offer at Terberg and started a Level 2 and Level 3 NVQ in Mechanical and Electrical Engineering. I did that for four years and was taken on as a full-time engineer on the workshop floor. I did that for a couple of years, and now I’m in my second year in a senior engineer role at Terberg.
What does your role entail?
On the production side, we mount the lifts onto trucks and program them, we inspect them and make sure they are ready and safe for customers to use and up to our high standards. On the refurb side, we carry out full repairs on damaged vehicles and make sure everything is working as it should. However, since I’ve become a senior engineer it’s taken me off the tools a little. Now, I provide technical support to all of the engineers, carry out quotes, and make sure the workshop is in line with health and safety standards. I’m the first point of contact for
engineers when they have any issues with tools or machinery.
Does your role also involve strategic decision-making?
My current position has allowed me to have more of an input on the environment I work in and look for ways to improve the workshop for everyone. For example, I was involved in gaining the ISO 14001 certification last year, which was important for us as we really care about our environmental impact. I find ways to make processes more time- and cost-efficient, allowing our engineers more capacity to concentrate on their important work. We had been spending a lot of time painting our own bin lift parts, so I found a powdercoating supplier to do it for us instead. This means we no longer have to take engineers off their jobs while we wait for parts to be sprayed and dried. It has also reduced the electricity being used and the amount of hazardous waste being created.
We’ve also reduced the use of a compressor, which will save electricity and eliminate trip hazards, while we’re installing motion sensors across the building so that the light turns on when someone is in a room and then automatically turns off when someone leaves. Again, that’s saving electricity for the company.
What do you enjoy most about your job?
I really enjoy working here. You want to work in a workplace where you can come in, be productive while having fun with your colleagues, and make it an enjoyable day rather than turning up every morning not wanting to be there. I like coming here and supporting all of the team and thinking of new ways to improve the workshop and the working day for all of the engineers, which ultimately improves customer service.
What’s your story outside of work?
I live in Leigh, just a 20-minute drive away. I’ve lived in the UK for 18 years after coming from Poland when I was 10. Outside of work, I’m busy with a three-month-old boy! So after work is mainly all about enjoying time with him and my family.
What do you look for when recruiting engineers?
We’re always looking for engineers who really enjoy what we do here – taking stuff apart and putting it back together better! We’re multiskilled engineers here, doing welding, fabrication, electrical, and mechanical, so we’re always looking for someone who’s willing to learn new skills.
Left to right, Ben Brame and Mark Lye
A look at Dennis Eagle’s partnership with East Suffolk Council and East Suffolk Services Ltd. coasts clean Keeping our
The Suffolk coast is one of the most beautiful areas of the UK, with the pretty towns of Southwold and Aldeburgh helping to attract over 12m tourists to the region every year. However, while 200 sqm of coastal roads may be charmingly bucolic, they can also be a challenge for East Suffolk Services’s refuse drivers.
The Council, working together with the LATCo East Suffolk Services Ltd, have provided a solution by using a 40-strong RCV fleet of Dennis Eagle’s narrow-body 6x2 rear-steer vehicles. Ten new trucks are arriving at the end of this year at East Suffolk Services depots in Lowestoft and Ufford, which have grown to employ 90 drivers.
“It’s a big area, and Dennis Eagle has been really great over the years helping us cover it,” says Ben Brame, Operations Manager at East Suffolk Services Ltd.
Steering in comfort
The coastal and country lanes can sometimes present a challenge for HGV drivers. “We had a lot of positive feedback from our drivers when we switched to the narrowbody rear steer vehicles,” says Mark Lye, Transport Manager at East Suffolk Services. “Our drivers say it makes their life
much easier and safer when accessing some roads and manoeuvring has become so much simpler. They love the vehicles.”
The vehicles are also all equipped with multiple safety systems, including a cyclist safety solution, which uses an LED warning sign and audible speaker to alert cyclists of potential hazards, anti-roll, which enhances fleet security and performance, tracking and 360-degree live cameras which enables operators to monitor the RCVs and encourages fuel-efficient driving.
First-class service
East Suffolk has a long-standing relationship with Dennis Eagle, with Ben Brame saying that drivers like the low-entry cabs, flat, unobstructed floors, and roomy interiors.
In addition to the design features, Ben Brame says Dennis Eagle’s customer service sets it apart. “The after-service is first class, and we’ve got a really good relationship with the team at Dennis,” he says. “Even though we’re a bit out on a limb in East Suffolk compared to some places, the afterservice care has been brilliant and the engineers in the backup service are reliable and knowledgeable. Honestly, the all-round product is great.”
The power of partnerships
Cox Management Services is reaping the benefits of having a relationship with Dennis Eagle after acquiring two new RCVs for
For 45 years, Cox Management Services has served Sussex and Surrey from its base near Gatwick Airport. With a reputation for quality service and always striving to improve, the business has recently committed to partnering with OEMs to optimise performance for its commercial waste customers.
Cox Management Services’ waste collection arm, The Recycling Partnership Limited (TRP), runs 21 RCVs. It has always used Dennis Eagle trucks alongside other suppliers, but with the delivery of two new vehicles in October its entire fleet is now standardised. “Previously, we had a mishmash of vehicles, sourced from a variety of different suppliers,” says Andrew Burgess, Transport
Manager at Cox Management Services. “But now we are making a commitment to operating a standardised fleet of vehicles, allowing us to partner with suppliers and develop long-standing working partnerships.”
All 21 trucks are made up of Dennis Eagle bodies, Terberg bin lifts, and Mercedes Econic chassis. “We run our own workshops, so standardising the fleet helps us with product knowledge and support, maintenance, and parts,” says Burgess. “Forming partnerships with the likes of Dennis Eagle and means they understand our business, and it gives us a direct link to manufacturers.”
Keeping everyone happy Partnering with Dennis Eagle is
both good news for TRP’s customers and its operatives. Its commercial customers are wide-ranging, from small independent businesses to large educational facilities. “The Dennis equipment works really well in the commercial sector, where they face quite a hard life compared to the municipal sector because of the nature of the waste composition,” says Andrew. “Our customers have complex waste problems and Dennis Eagle helps us to simplify those problems for them.”
Andrew says he’s received excellent feedback about the trucks from the operatives, and he was surprised to find that Dennis Eagle’s customer service even extends to taking onboard feedback from staff. “We’ve taken ideas from drivers and put them
Left to right.
Andrew Burgess and Dan Foden
partnerships direct for its fleet.
to Dennis for future development,” he says. “Having that relationship with the team at Dennis is great – I’m able to pick the phone up and have a conversation one-to-one with them, which is really helpful.”
Dan Foden, Regional Sales Manager at Dennis Eagle, said, “The decision by Cox Management Services to standardise its RCV fleet is something we’re seeing more and more. It’s testament to the work of the entire Dennis Eagle organisation that companies are turning to us as their primary partner, for the supply of a wide range of flexible vehicle specifications.”
NRG Riverside continues investment in its youthful spot hire fleet
The UK's largest municipal and specialist fleet hire company, NRG Riverside, is also one of Dennis Eagle’s largest customers. NRG recently placed an order for 139 vehicles from Dennis Eagle. They will be delivered to 15 of NRG’s UK sites between March and July 2025. The order is part of their flexi hire fleet renewal strategy, designed to allow NRG customers to request the exact hire vehicle they want. It’s worth noting the average age of a 26-tonne split lift via their flexi hire offering is just 2.6 years old.
“This year’s annual order with Dennis Eagle is our largest ever. It continues an investment and growth trajectory that results in NRG being able to provide a flexible fleet, sized and specified for customer demand. We pride ourselves on being able to say yes to every customer request, while offering vehicles with the lowest emissions, latest technology – particularly in terms of new regulations – and a low vehicle age profile,” says Chris Snelson, Fleet and Asset Director at NRG Riverside.
The 794 vehicle-strong, non-branded, NRG Riverside flexi hire fleet is predominantly RCVs, complemented by other modes including hooks, skips, tankers, sweepers and more recently, traffic management vehicles. From the latest 139 vehicle order, 69 are Dennis Eagle Elite+ chassis with Dennis Eagle Olympus bodies – mostly narrow – with the remainder being Dennis Eagle Body on Mercedes Econic chassis.
“Our customers know exactly what they want, from weight range down to the type of bin lift and weighing technology. It is our job to provide the right fleet mix and to anticipate customer demand by analysing shifts in trends. For example, next year in anticipation of increasing recycling targets, we’ve further invested in the replacement and growth of Olympus Twin Pack RCV bodies - and this is reflected in the latest order,” said Amber Greenhalgh, Rental & Marketing Director at NRG Riverside.
“We are very happy with the complete package offered by Dennis Eagle, the support offered across the country and the pace at which new technologies are introduced. Moreover, the proposition of Dennis Eagle RCVs to the second life export market is really strong considering such a high turnover of end-of-contract-life vehicles,” said Chris.
Close collaboration delivers
ROLL OUT SMOOTH
Dennis Eagle supplies Epping Forest District Council’s new waste and recycling collection service.
When Epping Forest District Council (EFDC) decided to launch its own whollyowned waste and recycling service called Terra Verde Services Ltd (TVS), it awarded Specialist Fleet Services (SFS) an eight-year contract for the supply and maintenance of a new vehicle fleet.
Of the 52 new vehicles ordered, 30 were 26-tonne Dennis Eagle refuse trucks, the remainder being support vehicles including sweepers, tippers, and vans. The new vehicles were delivered to the depot at the council’s new environmental operations hub at North Weald Airfield throughout October ahead of the November 4th contract start. The depot provides storage, maintenance and fuelling for the new fleet, which can run on diesel or a carbon neutral alternative Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO).
Dennis Eagle Sales and Marketing Director, Richard Taylor, said, “It has been a pleasure to collaborate with SFS once more as they embark on their new contract with EFDC, providing this new fleet of Dennis Eagle vehicles. This partnership further enhances our long-standing relationship with SFS, which began in the early 1990s. Our dedicated training team has been on hand to support this seamless delivery, facilitating our comprehensive and robust “Train the Trainer” courses, which allow the teams to gain confidence in their new fleet and to enable them to get the job done once they are mobilised.”
We are delighted to have been able to have the entire fleet in place well in advance of the contract start date. The workshop was fully equipped and ready to go for the start date after a smooth roll out.
Crews have been attending special induction days run by TVS at the new environmental operations hub at North Weald Airfield where they have been able to familiarise themselves with the new vehicles, safety technology and bin lifting equipment, as well as undertake banksman training.
Bob Sweetland, Managing Director, SFS said “We are delighted to have
been able to have the entire fleet in place well in advance of the contract start date. The workshop was fully equipped and ready to go for the start date after a smooth roll out. We are proud to be maintaining the fleet to a high standard and to delivering an efficient fleet operation to Epping Forest District Council and TVS.”
Dennis Eagle heads
Sometimes the best relationships start by chance. Charlie Cogdill, General Manager and Branch Manager at Border International in New Mexico was scrolling through HGV dealers online and happened upon Dennis Eagle, a brand he admits he’d not previously heard of.
After a little bit of research, he saw a chance for Border International to diversify into municipal refuse waste collection in the city of Las Cruces and beyond. A call was put into Dennis Eagle, positive conversations were had, and now Border International is the proud owner of two ProView demo trucks.
“We do a lot of municipal business but the one area that we cannot currently service is the waste business because we don’t have a cab-over,” says Charlie. “There are only a couple of makers that do this in the US, but nothing that we
could do because they’re franchise dealers. So when I found Dennis Eagle it flicked a switch because our municipality customers have always found cab-over options limited.”
Delivering a unique service
Border International’s base is in Las Cruces, a city in southern New Mexico known for its rich history and beautiful desert landscapes. Located in the fertile Mesilla Valley along the Rio Grande, it’s the second-largest city in the state and serves as a gateway to the surrounding natural wonders, including the Organ Mountains and White Sands National Park.
With branches in other locations across New Mexico, as well as in El Paso, Texas, Border International covers two of the largest states in the US. While Charlie says Dennis Eagle hadn’t been on his radar, the manufacturer has enjoyed robust growth in the North American market over the last two years, and he was impressed with its
to the Border
Dennis Eagle is helping a New Mexico dealership diversify
customer service and offering from the start. “We do a lot of work for municipalities, but they’re typically not very satisfied with products because they don’t have great afterservice in the area,” says Charlie. “But we pride ourselves on really good after-service, as does Dennis Eagle, which you don’t get so much from a lot of US dealers.”
Modern and accessible
Border International has recently taken delivery of two ProViews to demo to municipalities, while it has also hired a dedicated Dennis Eagle salesperson, Pete Dorr.
“We’ve put a body on one of the trucks which means we’ve been able to do a couple of demos in New Mexico, allowing municipal customers we already work to take out the ProView on their working routes,” says Charlie. “People at the demos really like the product, and everything’s been really positive about the vehicle.”
The ProView is the only low-entry, high-visibility cab designed for safety-focused waste operators in the North American market, and Pete says it is this particular aspect that everyone’s been impressed by on demos. “Everyone’s loved the visibility and the openness of the cab, and the easy entry,” he says. “Any time I’ve talked to them about the dual steering and being able to walk straight across to the other side of the cab, they’ve loved those ideas. The response from drivers is very positive, they really like them, while one of the supervisors said the truck looked really modern. It looks good to be driving it.”
As Dennis Eagle expands across the US, New Mexico is the latest region to feel the love for the ProView. “I just happened to be looking at other dealers online, spotted Dennis Eagle, hit ‘contact me’, and that’s how we started down the path!” says Charlie.
Lowering the volume
Innovative new glass collection vehicles bring quieter neighbourhoods in Northern Ireland
Belfast-based dealer Manvik Plant & Hire Ltd. has sold four Dennis Eagle refuse collection vehicles (RCVs) to Ards & North Down Borough Council in Northern Ireland. Uniquely configured in the region, the trucks are handling more residential waste glass and operating much more quietly in rural neighbourhoods, since being put into operation in February this year.
All four of the 26-tonne Dennis Eagle chassis feature Terberg Matec’s Toploader® lift solution for the council’s domestic glass collection service. The trucks replace smaller 7.5 tonne counterparts that were in operation for five to six years previously and have a volume capacity of 11 tonnes compared to two. This means the number of tips has reduced from three to just one per day. The council has redesigned its routes for fewer journeys, increasing operational efficiency and reducing fuel consumption.
The Toploader system allows new, larger glass collection stillages to be used. The contents of the pod – domestic glass waste from household boxes, rather than bins – only need to be emptied into the main body of the vehicle once every 10 to 15 properties where they used to be transferred at each stop. This has resulted in a much quieter monthly service for residents, which has been well-received.
The vehicles have been further specified for flexibility. They are equipped with an additional OmniDEKA (E) electric bin lift at the back, enabling the truck to easily switch, when necessary, to trade glass collection mode where it collects from bars and restaurants. By shortening the body of the vehicle, space has been made for an extra pod on the front, in preparation for a clothing collection service that is planned for the future.
Jeff Shaw, Transport Manager, at Ards & North Down Borough Council, said, “The new Dennis Eagle vehicles have had a great start since being introduced earlier this year. We’ve received positive feedback from residents, drivers and crew. Residents tell us they no longer hear the glass collection truck coming from a long distance away! Crew comfort is paramount and we are delighted we have maintained Dennis Eagle vehicles, and their lowest entry cab credentials, on the Elite+ fleet.
“Not only have the larger vehicles saved us investment in purchasing additional vehicles, as waste volumes have increased; they are equipped for diverse future uses,” concluded Jeff.
Ards & North Down Borough Council has 40 Dennis Eagle refuse collection vehicles in total on its fleet.
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: Surrey Bin Lorries (below left) RUNNERS UP: (clockwise from below)
Aidan Hirst
Ollie
Vince Cole
Fin Burke
Reader competition:
For your chance to WIN a limited edition BIFFA OXFORD model RCV please send photos of unusual places where you have taken your copy of Eagle Eye, this could include holiday destinations, or at work, the more unusual the better! Send your entries to contact.us@dennis-eagle.co.uk