EAGLE EYE AUTUMN 2019
INSIDE • Terberg celebrates 150th anniversary • Female engineers thrive • Leading the fight for clean air
DENNIS-EAGLE.CO.UK
Contents 18-19
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Winning the contract in Blackpool has a deeper meaning – it’s a homecoming for our cabs
A design upgrade for the Kerbloader could save operators thousands of pounds
JG Pears declares our Terberg Toploader to be the best for animal byproducts
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20-21
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We’re leading the fight for clean air; how RCVs can help save lives
10-11 Not rules and regulations; health and safety’s about people
12-13 The best training comes from the people who make the trucks
14-15 Why Terberg’s electric bin lifts are getting even more popular
16-17 Female engineers are thriving at Dennis Eagle and we want more
Love food but hate waste? Here’s some simple advice to help you throw out less
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Introducing our first ever gritter-snowploughtipper truck ... and it’s won a Blue Peter badge for Dennis Eagle!
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Supplier focus - how one steel fabricator stays ahead of the game
23 Move over Lewis Hamilton, there’s a new star going around Silverstone
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24 Coming soon – the start of a new and exciting Aftermarket era in Scotland
EDITOR
FIND OUT MORE
Adele Pearl adele.pearl@dennis-eagle.co.uk
dennis-eagle.co.uk terbergmatec.co.uk
CONTACT US
Front cover: Our latest demonstration vehicle got a very special livery to mark the 150th anniversay of Terberg Group. The vehicle made its debut racing along the seafront at the National Refuse Championships in June.
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Why genuine parts will keep your vehicle running more efficiently
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Continued development of DE Connect brings more benefits to operators
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Dennis Eagle Ltd Heathcote Way, Heathcote Industrial Estate, Warwick, CV34 6TE
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The first Twin Packs ever go to Singapore. Here’s why
Foreword Hello and welcome to the Autumn 2019 edition of Eagle Eye. The year is flying by with important landmarks already reached and new developments just around the corner marking continued success for Dennis Eagle and Terberg Matec UK operations. Success doesn’t come automatically, of course, but is based on the hard work and ability of our different teams to deal with the many challenges that business throws at us. One of these is the uncertainty facing the UK as we prepare to leave the European Union. But rest assured, we have contingency plans in place, such as increasing stock levels and it is good to see our suppliers making similar plans, as illustrated by steel fabricator AET in this magazine. Success was something we had the very great pleasure of celebrating in May when Terberg reached the truly remarkable landmark of 150 years in business. How the world has changed in that time and the company which started as a blacksmith’s business in the Netherlands, has not only survived but thrived, to the point where today we are part of a group employing 2,700 people around the world. Within the company, we marked this achievement in a variety of ways. While celebrating our past, we kept one eye on the present, the challenges we currently face and the future world we want to leave the generations to come. And so we made the simple but significant gesture of giving all our staff long-lasting, reusable water cooler bottles, smartly designed to mark Terberg’s 150th anniversary. These have replaced the staggering mountain of plastic cups we realised we were getting through.
Of course, I thanked staff – past and present – on behalf of Terberg and I’d like to echo that again now. But I’d also like to take this opportunity to thank our customers and our suppliers too. We have developed some outstanding and enduring relationships based on working very well together. I hope you all know the important parts you have played in our success and how we value you. Thank you. Another landmark just around the corner is the relocation of our service centre in central Scotland from Falkirk to nearby Cumbernauld. It was 30 years ago that we opened the Falkirk depot and it has also thrived. Our Aftermarket services have grown beyond recognition in that time and to enable us to continue to develop them we needed bigger and more modern premises. So good luck to everyone at our new facility which is launching with a customer Open Day in September – you’ll find more details inside. There are other significant developments in the pipeline and the year ahead promises to be just as exciting as the last 12 months. Whenever I meet customers I’m asked about the eCollect which is progressing as planned and going through the myriad of trials and tests we put every new product through before releasing it to the market. Thank you for taking the time to read this edition of Eagle Eye. As ever, if you have any feedback we’d be delighted to hear it.
KEVIN ELSE Managing Director
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New fleet: Blackpool means business
Mention Blackpool and what comes to mind? Illuminations ... Tower ... Strictly? But away from the sequins and lights it’s a real town. On a damp February morning, with 150,000 people living there, the waste and recycling operation is like that of many other UK towns. But introduce 8.35 million adults plus their children – mainly visiting between April and November and all generating rubbish – and the shape and scale of the operation changes beyond recognition. Like everywhere else, Blackpool’s waste and recycling targets are getting tougher while budgets get tighter but the council must meet them, so now changes are afoot. It has brought waste management services back in-house after 15 years and set up an arms-length wholly-owned company – Enveco – to run them. This, it believes, will increase flexibility in the service it delivers and save around £1.5 million a year. And to put the plan into operation, Blackpool has bought a brand new fleet of 17 Dennis Eagle vehicles. The strategy is the brainchild of waste management consultant Mike Heath from the organisation iEse which helps public sector
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organisations improve standards while making savings. Mike had already helped Blackpool bring commercial waste collections back inhouse seven years ago. “When we looked at our outsourced operations, we realised that if we ran them in-house we’d have the opportunity to make efficiency savings,” said Mike. “And we could achieve these efficiencies without cutting services, so it was a win-win situation for the council.” And for the residents who, beyond the glamour of the glitter balls, the lights and the pleasure beach, face real challenges. Mike explained: “Like a lot of seaside towns, there are higher levels of retired people and higher levels of unemployment, especially among young people. There are wealthier areas and there are areas of very high deprivation, characterised by lots of houses of multiple occupation (HMOs). “Then there are the visitors who the town totally relies on. Some are day-trippers, others stay in one of the 3,000 hotels, inns and guest houses which provide around 90,000 rooms. Each group presents its own set of waste and recycling challenges.
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“And we now have visitors staying at AirBnBs which come under domestic collection regimes and create further challenges with widely differing volumes of waste and recycling to collect. “The older streets behind the glitzy, glamorous seafront are narrow and crowded so narrowbodied RCVs with rear-steer were ordered with this in mind.” The wealthier areas are easier to access and wide vehicles are more efficient there, as they are on the long seafront. But for visitors, the key is getting the specific recycling message across. “Obviously, they come from far and wide and are not used to our recycling regime,” explained Mike. “Keeping it simple is the key. We separate paper while other recycling streams – cans, glass and plastics – are mixed. Garden waste is collected with residual waste by the Twin Pack vehicles. “Blackpool is part of Lancashire Waste Partnership with 14 other local authorities. Recycling goes to waste transfer stations and very little waste goes to landfill but we still have some way to go to meet our targets.”
In Enveco’s smart new livery, the Dennis Eagle fleet will spearhead Blackpool’s recycling challenge
Blackpool Waste Services Limited (trading as ENVECO NW Environmental Services) ––– John Hawkin was appointed to the role of Managing Director after working in Blackpool for the past 13 years, latterly as Chief Operating Officer, which involved leading a broad range of services, including leisure services, parks and green spaces, school catering, Illuminations (operations), transport, building cleaning and waste policy. With over 25 years’ local government experience, John is passionate about delivering high quality services for residents and is determined to develop the new company into a model of best practice to meet the emerging waste management agenda, both locally and nationally. John is convinced the local authority trading company model (LATCo) brings the benefits of local partnerships, skills and accountability together with the freedom, flexibility and entrepreneurial spirit required to deliver great services.
Enveco MD John Hawkin aims to deliver great services
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Our cabs make a triumphant return to the town where they are made
“It was about getting the best deal for Blackpool. The vehicles obviously had to be highlyrated but perhaps what really impressed everyone about Dennis Eagle’s package was the social value it contained which was outstanding.”
And one other group of residents causes a particular problem: seagulls! “We have wheeled bins for different waste and recycling streams but in some places – often at HMOs – we can’t accommodate bins, so we use hessian sacks,” explained Mike. “They are reusable and biodegradable but ultimately, they are more seagull-proof than other bags and help us avoid introducing more plastic. Keeping the town clean is vital in attracting visitors. “The big question, of course, is what we are going to do with food waste. At the moment we don’t collect it but we are preparing for legislation that is widely expected to be coming soon.” Of course, Blackpool is close to Dennis Eagle’s heart. We’ve been involved with the town for a long time and today, we employ 83 staff – 90% of whom live in the town – to produce 1,000 cabs a year. So did that help win the contract? “Obviously, we’re delighted to have that association but no, this was hard business,” says Mike. “It was about getting the best deal for Blackpool. The vehicles had to be highlyrated, of course, but perhaps what really impressed everyone about Dennis Eagle’s package was the social value it contained which was outstanding.” Among the different elements were Dennis Eagle’s commitment to the Living Wage, no
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zero-hours contracts and family-friendly flexible working. Dennis Eagle apprentices are paid higher than the national rate and we have had four in Blackpool who completed their NVQs at Blackpool & Fylde College before finding permanent positions with us. Two are now studying for degree level qualifications. We also adopted a ‘Buy Blackpool First’ principle using numerous local businesses throughout our supply chain. Our innovative ‘Dennis the Dustcart’ books not only support local primary schools but also help the local authority get behaviourchanging recycling messages across to both children and parents. Our commitment to community activities, such as charity fundraising, is already on the record and led by our staff in Blackpool who the company regularly supports with donations. And finally, our efforts to minimise our impact on the environment are also clear. In 2017, we invested in an eco-friendly new roof and low-energy lighting at our Blackpool plant to reduce our carbon footprint. The introduction of a shorter working week is not only family-friendly but makes us a better neighbour and improves our environmental credentials, as does our Cycle To Work scheme. So for Dennis Eagle, winning the Blackpool contract is different. It’s a home victory. Like Team GB winning gold medals at the 2012 London Olympics, it’s extra special.
“Keeping it simple is the key. We separate paper while other recycling streams – cans, glass and plastics – are mixed. Garden waste is collected with residual waste by the Twin Pack vehicles”
Cleanliness is vital to Blackpool and that requires a simple recycling regime that visitors can understand
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Leading the fight for clean air
Air pollution is a serious global health problem. In the EU, it reduces our average life expectancy by more than eight months and this will get worse if we don’t change our approach to atmospheric pollution. Dennis Eagle has for many years been prominent among those trying to reduce this, by developing cleaner, less-polluting vehicles including our emissions-free electric RCV - the eCollect. But now we’re going a step further by playing an important role in the plan to fight back and reduce air pollution throughout the UK. Last year we partnered with the OWL Clean Air Project to help sample and monitor air quality from waste collection routes across the UK. The data, with time and location, is transmitted by the DE Connect telematics system – which is factory-fitted to all our vehicles – to backoffice computers. These heatmap the levels of air pollution along the vehicle’s route.
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Our demonstration vehicle has been fitted with one of the first Shortform Air Quality Monitoring systems developed by CMS SupaTrak in conjunction with Earthsense. It is a small black box, 235 x 160 x 115mm and weighing 2kg, connected to an electrical supply and the DE Connect telematics system. And that demo vehicle is on the road, collecting data for local authorities wherever it travels and calling on them to join the project. Dennis Eagle’s Sales & Marketing Director Richard Taylor explained: “RCVs visit every household in the UK as well as other places people congregate, from shops and offices to schools and hospitals. And they go back again, every week or two, year-in, year-out. “This makes them uniquely well placed to sample and monitor air quality across the whole country without generating any additional journeys or incurring additional transport costs. And as the UK marketleader, providing vehicles to every corner of
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“At the moment, one-in-nine of us in the UK is predicted to die prematurely from air-pollutionrelated problems. That ought to be totally preventable. The waste and recycling industry can play a key role in changing this and I hope many others will follow Dennis Eagle’s example.” the country, we can play a significant role in gathering this data – the essential first step.” The Shortform Air Quality Monitor samples air every 15 seconds wherever the vehicle is and measures the amount of three key components threatening human health: nitrogen oxides (NO and NO2), low-level ozone (O3) and microscopic particles of different sizes, such as soot.
All three, when regularly breathed in, can cause respiratory and other health problems. Jason Airey, Managing Director of CMS Supatrak – Dennis Eagle’s telematics partner who developed the DE Connect platform with us – said: “Armed with this data, we can produce ‘heatmaps’ showing where and when air pollution is high. We can work out what we need to do to reduce air pollution and protect ourselves. “At the moment, one-in-nine of us in the UK is predicted to die from air-pollution-related problems. That ought to be totally preventable. The waste and recycling industry can play a key role in changing this and I hope many others will follow Dennis Eagle’s example.” Richard Taylor added: “The data generated by this project will be invaluable to local authorities who take part in the project. “They’ll be able to see where it’s safe to site schools in future or where to take special
preventative measures, such as banning or re-routing traffic at particular times. “And the Chair of OWL, Barry Sheerman MP, is also the Chair of the UK Parliamentary Advisory Council for Transport Safety, so what we learn from this project will go straight to the heart of the Government.”
The problems and the solutions In the EU, around 40% of air pollution comes from road transport systems which still heavily rely on petroleum-based fuels. Other systems burning coal, gas and oil are also major contributors. Those most at risk from air pollution include children, old people, asthma sufferers and, ironically, drivers.
By knowing where and when air pollution levels are highest we can take local planning decisions, such as introducing low or zero emission zones and restricting traffic at peak pedestrian times. By developing filtration systems for buildings and vehicles we can protect people in places with higher air pollution. And by developing software we can plan journeys to avoid sensitive areas at sensitive times. Our DE Connect telematics system includes a route planner program that enables operators to plan rounds avoiding such places as schools or hospitals at key times. (Read more about this on pages 26-27).
By developing vehicles powered by alternative fuel sources, such as Dennis Eagles’ allelectric eCollect, we can reduce air pollution from transport.
Nitrogen dioxide concentrations around the Midlands, with elevated concentrations measured on congested A-roads around Coventry and Birmingham in addition to some major motorway links.
The Air Quality Sensor is a compact and lightweight ambient air pollution sensor that accurately measures harmful gases and particle matter. The sensor provides detailed air quality measurements in real-time to help identify pollution hotspots at a localised level such as busy road junctions. Extensive networks can be easily deployed for citywide analysis and optimisation of pollution-lowering initiatives. Every unit is GPS enabled so can be used as a mobile sensor for whilst in a vehicle.
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The human face of health and safety
Richard Young says health and safety is about people, not regulations and protocols
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Richard Young in his element with four-year-old Blithe on his shoulders and Quincy, aged five
Here is a happy man. His job, as their father, is to love them, nurture them, to help them grow up. And to keep them safe. For Richard Young, of course, that could be seen as a busman’s holiday because in work, he’s our Health and Safety Manager. “At its heart, it is about people – it isn’t just about numbers, regulations and protocols, which people sometimes think,” explained Richard. “For me, getting employees to take safety seriously could not be more important. Often you have to change hearts and minds but my job is to help make sure they go home in one piece to their families.” Families. The girls, four-year-old Blithe (on Richard’s shoulders) and Quincy, five, were born through a surrogate mother after Richard and his wife Maureen had unsuccessfully tried IVF treatment. It goes without saying, they are the apple of his eye. “I come from a family with three brothers,” explained Richard. “We grew up in a pretty rough corner of Birmingham but we all got on well and one brother even works with me here at Dennis Eagle. I always wanted a family and the girls are just wonderful. As is their surrogate mum who remains a close family friend.
In fact, his creative soul led him from school to train in the History of Art and Photography before starting work as a graphic designer for West Midlands Fire Service. So how on earth did he end up in health and safety? “Twenty-something years ago, I was a team leader at another company and went on a health and safety course,” he said. “I was one of the few that passed, so I was given that role and found it really interesting. It helps that society continues to take it more and more seriously as time progresses. “This is my nineteenth year with Dennis Eagle and I love the variety of the role – it’s never ending, dealing with different people and different tasks every day. “We have a very good culture here and it’s still getting better. Buy-in from the management team is crucial to that. And they realise that protecting people is also protecting the company so there’s no conflict of interests. “We introduced the interactive safety portal which is a much more thorough way of making sure staff receive and understand safety requirements. It’s broken into 17 animated
modules and is based on question and responses, so people have to pay attention. “I’m currently preparing a new, streamlined manual for Risk Assessment and Safe Systems of Work. It’s another major task but the intention is to harmonise existing documents with the introduction of several new ones that are primarily designed to protect our staff from injury and to make life simpler for everyone. “Also, ISO has developed an international standard – ISO 45001 – for occupational health and safety that will reduce workplace risks and create better, safer working conditions. And it will clearly demonstrate our commitment to the welfare of staff, suppliers and customers.” But Richard’s role isn’t just about responding to legislation but looking ahead to understand what the issues and needs of employees in every role. In this, Dennis Eagle has often been well ahead of the curve, which Richard says is down to managers throughout the company understanding that healthy, happy staff are most productive. “Perhaps the biggest challenge we face is not to become too risk averse,” he said. “Life’s a balancing act, and that applies at home too.”
“We live in Tamworth which is an 80 mile round trip and by the time I’ve got home and we’ve spent family time together, there’s not much time for anything else. But I couldn’t be happier!” And that’s saying a lot for a man who, until the girls came along, says he loved travelling, was a self-taught ‘smooth jazz’ saxophonist (“I have played publicly but I don’t have time to take it further ...”) and was a keen photographer (“I’ve had some commissions ...”).
Jazz saxophonist Richard entertains work mates
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Our approach to training
Customers all over the world benefit from courses run by Dennis Eagle’s trainers (L-R) Chris Chalk, Simon Wallace and Bob Hawkins, under the direction of HR and Training Manager Jen Booker (top right)
“We work hard to ensure needs are met when it comes to training,” said Jen. “We have a free digital learning hub that all delegates can use once a course is over, our trainers can travel to customer sites all over the world and no matter how big or small the need, we are just a phone call away.”
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Jen Booker HR & Training Manager
At Dennis Eagle we pride ourselves on designing products that are simple to use and easy to maintain. And who better to deliver training on the products than the company that designs and builds them? “We deliver upwards of 50 technical training courses each year across Dennis Eagle and customer sites,” explained HR and Training Manager Jen Booker. “As well as that, we deliver countless toolbox and operator sessions – in fact from January to May this year we produced more than 300 training certificates and it hasn’t slowed down!” With more than 20 years of technical and training expertise, Bob Hawkins understands the importance of drivers and crews being familiar with the vehicles they’re using. “When a customer receives a new vehicle, we can be on site the same day to deliver operator instruction – this is integral to enable crews to make full use of the functionality of the vehicles they’re working on,” said Bob. “We can even train customers on delivering vehicle instruction themselves, giving them full autonomy.” As well as new vehicle training, Dennis Eagle trainers can visit customer sites to deliver technical training, providing delegates with the skills needed to carry out maintenance, recognise faults and perform repairs safely and efficiently. Simon Wallace started his career at Dennis Eagle as a service engineer but has found his groove as a trainer. “Good communication and application of training is key as people learn in different ways,” said Simon. “Some take on the theory straight away, others must do it themselves before it sticks. With our combination of classroom learning and practical tasks on the vehicle, we don’t leave anyone behind.
“With modern vehicles, we find a lot of mechanics are familiar with the basic elements of chassis and engine but newer developments on bodies can throw up challenges, which we aim to help with during training. There’s a lot to learn on the diagnostics side of things but it helps enormously in repair and maintenance.” Current environmental, safety and efficiency standards mean that vehicles are better and safer than ever but the need for maintenance never really goes away. With this in mind, the training department doesn’t just deliver training to customers – they also plan many courses specifically aimed at Dennis Eagle employees. In the first six months of 2019, the technical trainers delivered over 150 days of training to internal engineers. This contributes to our highly skilled and well trained workforce working to maintain, service and repair customer’s vehicles. Dennis Eagle has an extensive HGV apprenticeship programme, training the next generation of service engineers. Chris Chalk has been a trainer for two-and-a-half years and has worked closely with the apprentices. Alongside their college work they have been trained on Dennis Eagle vehicles in workshops and in the factory, providing a holistic overview of the products they’ll be working on. “It’s great to see something that’s been learnt in a theoretical sense consolidate once someone’s hands are on a vehicle – that realisation of how all these smaller elements add up to create a fully functioning RCV,” said Chris. Whether it’s customers or employees, standard or bespoke courses, the training department aims for complete satisfaction.
dennis-eagle.co.uk/en/aftermarket/training
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Greener, cleaner, quieter. Electric bin lifts are the smarter choice for the future.
Terberg Matec UK have a long heritage when it comes to bin lift equipment and the introduction of the electric range of lifters some 8 years ago has proven to be a great step forward for the Group. Rob Colby (Director at Terberg Matec UK) commented – “The Omni range of lifters continue to be a popular choice for our customers. In a time where the environment is such an important discussion point, the addition of the electric bin lifts to our product range has simply enhanced the options available to the marketplace. We have seen a real shift in preferences with electric bin lift sales accounting for circa 30% of all lifts sold by Terberg Matec UK in 2018 and the trend has continued throughout 2019.”
Energy efficient The Omni Electric bin lift range typically saves 6-8% on diesel fuel with a similar reduction in NOX and CO2 emissions.
Noise reduction Rated at just 57db, the electric lifts are much quieter than conventionally powered lifts and packed with safety features.
Nick Robinson (Commercial Operations Manager) went on to say - “We expect a typical saving in the region of 6% - 8% on diesel fuel usage. Clearly the knock-on effect of this is that CO2 emissions are also reduced which is a significant benefit of the electric lift range. On top of this, the lift is very quiet in operation being rated at just 57db, so there’s a substantial noise reduction too.”
Proven ‘Omni’ technology
The electric lifts are the same design as their hydraulic Omni range cousins with exactly the same structural & mechanical characteristics meaning that the already proven robust and reliable design features are still in place.
Mechanically robust with a smooth, twostage, soft-lift action to reduce stress and improve safety.
Bob Doust (Sales Director) was also highly enthused by the introduction of the electric lift variant and remains confident that the future is electric. Bob added -
‘Plug & play’ components
“With a large volume of Terberg electric lifts now operating in the field, we can confidently show the benefits over the standard hydraulic version which in short means that there are obvious and notable returns along with a very positive impact on the environment. Many of our customers have already placed repeat orders after reaping the rewards of electric lifters ”” For more information on the Terberg Matec UK electric bin lift range or to arrange a demonstration – please contact Terberg at sales@terberg.com and we will be pleased to assist.
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The electric lifts are light but pack a powerful performance with the same tried and tested design as their hydraulic Omni cousins.
Strong and robust
Vibration-resistant ‘plug and play’ components, bearing protection and contactless angle sensors mean minimal maintenance.
24v electrical power Run on 24v chassis electrical power with ‘bolt on, plug in and play’ system to reduce fitting time and costs.
Ideal for bin weighing All electric bin lifts are designed to work with Terberg’s popular bin weighing solution.
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Yes, engineering is for women
Brittany Spain Apprentice in Workshop Engineering - Terberg Matec UK Looking back, the first sign of Brittany’s future direction was when she was a little girl: “I loved playing with Lego,” she remembers. “I could never sit in an office – I like to be active and moving around. At college I did a welding and engineering course. I was the only girl when I joined but I didn’t mind and I thought I’d like to go into engineering. “When I joined Terberg Matec UK I was the first female apprentice but I get on just as well with men and women so it wasn’t a problem.” It’s fair to say Brittany’s arrival did present a few challenges at first. “Things like the personal protective clothing – they didn’t have any rigger gloves in my size – but they sorted it out and everything’s fine now.
I’ll start the Level 3 BTec Diploma in Engineering in September. “I work in Refurbishment in a team of six or seven. The others are all men but we get on fine and they just accept me for who I am. The vehicles that come in can be a bit mucky but you soon get used to the conditions. It’s very varied work – I do electrical, mechanical, hydraulic and even paint spraying in the workshop. “After my fourth year, I’ll be able to apply for a job with the company. It will be advertised externally too and I’ll have to have a proper interview but I’d like to think I have a future working here. “The apprenticeship route is a really good way of getting into engineering and there are more women following this path – it’s definitely changing. I’d say to any woman considering it, just have a go.”
“I’m now half-way through my four-year apprenticeship in Workshop Engineering.
This year, the Women’s Engineering Society (WES) celebrates 100 years of supporting women from the start of their engineering careers through to retirement.
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Women’s lives have changed immensely since 1919 but women still only make up 12% of the UK’s engineering workforce. Elizabeth Donnelly, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of WES, believes there are several reasons for that low figure, and education and careers advice are high on her list for change. She would like to see more employers going into schools and giving careers’ advice. “It’s the best way for girls and boys to understand the enormous potential within engineering and for employers to see what young people can do.”
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The drive to encourage more women into engineering is picking up momentum and WES is seeing far more young women interested in engineering. Its Top 50 Women in Engineering Awards this year highlighted current and former female apprentices who have achieved considerable success in their engineering careers. A spokesperson for WES said: “Dennis Eagle is an employer making a real difference and we welcome their proactive approach to recruiting female engineers.”
Charlie Craven Electrical Co-ordinator – Specialist Vehicles Charlie, 24, works alongside a team of electricians in Dennis Eagle’s Specialist Vehicles department. “They are all men but we get on very well, in fact we’re pals really,” she said. “I was recently promoted to the role which involves making sure deadlines are met and quality is maintained and generally looking after the team. “I also supervise some of the fitters too. There are 16 of them and some are much older and more experienced than me but it works well. “I think they respect me more because I am a woman in what was traditionally a man’s role. I’m also more approachable too – they can tell me things it would be difficult to say to a man.”
“ I think they respect me more because I am a woman in what was traditionally a man’s role.”
Charlie had wanted to join the Navy but after meeting her partner, she realised being away from home wasn’t for her. “I had an interview with Dennis Eagle and they rang me the same day to offer me the apprenticeship but I still wasn’t sure. Then one of my tutors said ‘Do you realise they’ve never had a female apprentice before?’ and that swayed it for me. “The others were pre-warned to be on their best behaviour because a woman was joining but I enjoy working with men and they see I can do just as much as they can.
“In my apprenticeship, I worked in each section of Specialist Vehicles. Then Dennis Eagle paid for me to get my HNC part-time and eventually made me an area co-ordinator. I really enjoy the job and who knows what it could lead to.
“It used to be daunting for women in engineering – blokes thought you shouldn’t be in that job. Occasionally you still come across it but I’ve found once they get to know you they accept you for who you are.”
Dr Karen Vithanage Software and Control Team Leader – Engineering Karen’s CV includes several of the most prestigious names in the automotive world, including time spent developing software for McLaren F1 racing cars.
“I joined in October to start this off. Dennis Eagle is a very good engineering company, where engineers in all disciplines get the opportunity to really use their skills.”
“This is a really exciting time to be an engineer in the automotive industry,” she said. “There is so much going on with the development of electric vehicles – we don’t know where it’s going to take us.
“Engineering is still often seen as a male occupation but there are numerous opportunities at all levels for both men and women in a very diverse range of disciplines. There is also a huge demand for engineers and it’s incredibly interesting.
“My role at Dennis Eagle is to head up a new software and controls team in recognition of the ever-increasing importance in software. I report directly to the Chief Engineer and we are working out the software strategy for Dennis Eagle for many years to come.
“I’d encourage anyone – male or female – to get into engineering. I did a Maths degree and then an MSc and a PhD in Control Engineering. And now my daughter is just going to start a Maths degree and she too is interested in becoming an engineer.”
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This great Kerbloader just got better
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As recycling targets increase, new waste streams develop and total segregation becomes essential, demand for the Terberg Kerbloader has soared. But just as it seemed it couldn’t get any more popular, something remarkable has happened – it’s got even better. Not only is the multi-stream vehicle more efficient than ever but our designers have also solved a widespread problem that has plagued the industry since the dawn of recycling: tyreshredding, caused by driving over glass tipped by the truck itself at waste transfer stations. Terberg Matec UK Managing Director Will Marzano explained: “Glass is usually tipped sideways from recycling vehicles but bottles have a habit of rolling under the wheels and get crushed as the vehicle drives away, damaging tyres in the process. “But our designers have gone to work on this and designed the vehicle so glass is now tipped at the rear and tipped backwards too, away from the truck. Then, as it drives off, there’s very little risk of running over glass. It could save operators thousands of pounds a year. “And that’s not all that’s new. Improvements to the compacting and ejecting system have enabled us to increase efficiency.
“Increasing quantities of cardboard are collected from homes thanks to the growth in online shopping. So we’ve given customers the option of three sizes of tailgate where the cardboard is loaded: compact, standard and extra-large, to suit their different needs.” “Operators tell us ‘it loads faster than anything else, it empties faster than anything else and we can get more in it,’ so we’re delighted.”
“It can pack more cardboard and more plastic than ever before and at least as much paper. And we’ve not only increased overall efficiency but added flexibility to help different operators achieve that too.” Other improvements mean all controls can now be operated from the cab itself, with the help of an HMI (Human Machine Interface) control screen. This means crews don’t have to get out at waste transfer stations, which improves safety. “The Kerbloader also now packs on the move and the payload has been improved by
using lighter materials without compromising strength or durability. Maximising payload by minimising weight has always been one of the key selling points of the Kerbloader. This is helped by the durable stainless, aluminium and composite body. In addition, the motor-driven compaction and ejection mechanism for cans is not only lighter than a multi-stage hydraulic cylinder but also faster and much easier to maintain. The new vehicle – which is still able to collect up to eight segregated recycling streams – was shown off at Letsrecycle Live! in May, where feedback was excellent. And it has continued to impress wherever the demo vehicle has gone on trial since then. Operations Supervisor Russell Broughton, who took the new vehicle on trial with Flintshire County Borough Council, said: “It holds a lot more, which gave us improved performance. The operation of the PTO system was much better. The noise levels were reduced and the discharge of the glass at the rear will clearly reduce tyre damage. Overall we couldn’t fault it and the crew enjoyed it too.” Will added: “Anyone wishing to trial the new vehicle just needs to get in touch with us on 01909 484000. Then they can see what all the fuss is about for themselves.”
The refined design of the new Kerbloader not only makes it more efficient and safer than ever before but also helps minimise wear and tear to provide significant operational savings.
- Increased payload - All controls operated from inside the cab - Improved compaction and ejection efficiency - Glass empties at rear to avoid tyre shredding - Three cardboard tailgate sizes available - Fastest packing and emptying on the market
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Love food, hate waste.
Every year in the UK, we waste 7.1 million tonnes of food. Of that, five million tonnes is edible, which would fill 540,000 bin lorries. Wasted food is a big problem for the environment, not to mention being a waste of money. If global food waste were a country, it would be the third biggest emitter of greenhouse gases, making it something we should all work to reduce.
0-5°c
From buying what we need to storing our food properly, there are loads of great ways to reduce how much food gets wasted. Here’s how to get started:
Chill the fridge out! Did you know that most fridges in the UK are too warm? 7 degrees is the average fridge temperature, but changing this to 0–5 degrees can make your food last up to three extra days. Our Chill The Fridge Out tool can help you work out how to change the temperature in your fridge – it’s a small change that makes a huge difference.
Don’t be Spoiled Rotten – try a #FridgeShelfie Our research shows that one in three people don’t take lists to go food shopping, ending up with duplicates. If you don’t like lists, try a #shelfie instead! Snap a pic of your fridge shelves (or the cupboard or freezer!) so you don’t forget what you’ve already got when you shop.
Freezy does it
Portion planning
You can safely freeze foods right up to their ‘use by’ date, which gives you more time to eat and enjoy your food. Whether you buy frozen, or freeze your leftovers for another day, making the most of your freezer space is a great way to make a difference. We recommend labelling your leftovers so you can see at a glance what food is available and when it was frozen – this will help you avoid any Unidentified Frozen Objects!
One quarter of the food we throw away is wasted because we cook, prepare, or serve too much. Try our Portion Planner to check what the perfect amount is. When it comes to dishing up, serve up less than you think you will eat – you can always go back for seconds, and if not you might end up with some leftovers you can freeze!
The average family of four can save as much as £70 per month by reducing their food waste. Everyone has the power to make a change, and we’re on hand with recipes, storage hacks, and tools to help you love food and hate waste.
Bread crusts, potato peels, broccoli stems… these commonly wasted bits of food are all edible! Before you chuck these valuable foods out of habit, try compleating your food. Crusts will make great bread crumbs, stems can be added to stir fries or soups, and you can mash your spuds with the skin on! Visit our website for more inspiration about compleating.
Setting your fridge temperature between 0°c to 5°c can make your food last up to three extra days!
Don’t just eat it – compleat it!
One quarter of the food we throw away is wasted because we cook, prepare, or serve too much!
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Here’s one we made earlier
“We were proud to be able to work together and create this vehicle and hope it will benefit other service providers in the future,” Gary Willmot
Back in the depths of winter, Dennis Eagle scored a double when we delivered our first ever gritter truck and in doing so, landed a debut appearance on the longrunning children’s TV show - Blue Peter. The Elite 6 was ordered by Doncaster Council which was initially attracted by the top-ranking safety aspects of the chassis. But it had grand designs for the versatile vehicle, planning to use it as a super-safe construction tipper by day then quickly turn it into a specialist grittercum-snow-plough whenever winter weather threatened to freeze the local road network. And it was the gritter that caught the imagination of the children’s TV show’s producers who duly dispatched intrepid presenter Lindsey Russell to South Yorkshire to film it in action. Lindsey promptly donned her hard hat and hi-vis vest to load rock salt in to the gritter hopper then braved the elements and got to work on Doncaster’s roads. Back in the depot she officially named the truck Blue Peter and it was given a special livery to mark its adoption by the ever-popular TV show which has been broadcast for more than 60 years. It was great recognition for the Elite 6 which, of course, was originally designed as a refuse collection vehicle. But credit must be paid to Doncaster Council’s Highways Operations Manager Gary Willmot who listened carefully to the attributes of the Elite 6 and understood its huge potential for other trucking activities in urban environments.
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He was looking for a multi-functional vehicle that could work on the extensive regeneration projects in Doncaster – from house-building and the expansion of Doncaster-Sheffield Airport to road improvement projects – and then perform highway heroics when everyone else had gone home to the snug, safety of their beds. He said: “When I saw the Dennis Eagle Elite 6 at the NEC’s Commercial Vehicle show it made me question ‘what do they currently provide? ... and could they adjust it to suit our needs?’ It was apparent that they could adapt a refuse collection vehicle to a tipper lorry but I needed more. “We needed to find a solution that would suit the varied works we provide in Doncaster. We were able to negotiate adaptations that met our specific needs, gave extra room for passengers and ensured the ongoing safety of our staff out on the highway.” And he found this in the Econ QCB system which allowed a range of different attachments to be added. Transformation from one role to another typically takes just 15 minutes. His collaborator at Dennis Eagle was sales support engineer Charlie Everitt, who helped develop the vehicle to meet Doncaster Council’s specific needs. “It was clear from the spec that they needed a vehicle that was robust enough to cope with the worst winter conditions, which the Elite 6 takes in its stride,” he explained.
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“The high level of visibility and direct vision the cab provides is unrivalled and very attractive to urban truck operators in an increasing variety of niches, from waste management to construction and now winter road maintenance. They clearly saw the value of this in their construction and gritting activities.” The vehicle is powered by a Volvo 280bhp engine and is set up in 4x2 configuration featuring full air suspension on both the front and drive axles ensuring a smooth and efficient ride on difficult terrains for both the driver and up to three crew members. The ride height can also be raised at speeds up to 15kmph so off-road approach and departure angles aren’t compromised. The low-entry cab provides numerous safety features, most noticeably the low driver-seating position and panoramic windows that allow the driver and other road users – including cyclists – to clearly see each other. Understandably, the cab was awarded a five-star Direct Vision Standard rating last year, scoring higher than any of the top 40 cabs on the UK’s roads and making it fully compliant with the needs of Transport for London and meeting the CLOCS nationwide standard. And Charlie confirmed: “It was an exciting new project for Dennis Eagle – it’s the first time we’ve fitted a gritter, snow plough or demountable body to an Elite 6 chassis – but it seems to work beautifully and adds to the Elite 6’s growing reputation for flexibility and enhanced safety.”
Dennis Eagle and Grundon prove the right formula for Silverstone
The latest vehicle doing the rounds at Silverstone racing circuit may be low on thrills – and it will never be involved in any spills – but it played an essential role in the crowds’ enjoyment at the Formula 1 Rolex British Grand Prix. It is a Dennis Eagle Olympus refuse collection vehicle. The RCV, an Olympus OL16W body with a Beta 2 lip lift mounted on a DAF chassis, has been specifically bought for use at the Silverstone Circuit by Grundon Waste Management. Last year the company won a 10 year contract to provide waste services to the home of British motor racing and didn’t hesitate to order the new vehicle. “More than a million people will come through Silverstone’s gates every year,” explained Grundon’s Head of Sales Stephen Hill. “It hosts a variety of events throughout the year, including the British MotoGP, driving days, conferences and exhibitions.
“But on the Formula 1 Rolex British Grand Prix And when not needed, the rave can be lowered race day alone, there are more than 140,000 to 120cm to make manual loading easier. fans packed in and they generate more than 300 tonnes of waste. So the versatile Dennis “We’ve been working with Silverstone for Eagle Olympus vehicle is exactly what we need.” 20 years but this 10-year contract gives us the chance to make long-term plans for The Olympus is built from single-piece steel to sustainability as well as focusing on improving minimise body weight and maximise payload recycling – and we set the bar high,” added and volume. Stephen. It is easy to clean and maintain, making it ideal for collecting a variety of waste streams from around the complex including food, glass, paper, mixed recyclables and the huge volumes of general waste produced by a massive crowd intent on enjoying itself. Drivers simply switch off the compaction mechanism when collecting waste streams that don’t need it. And the body’s keeled floor directs waste liquid to a tank with front body sump for easy drainage to help prevent corrosion. The Beta 2 lip lift is safe, simple and reliable, lifting a variety of wheeled bins up to 500kg.
“By 11pm on the day of the Grand Prix, 90% of the waste will have been collected by Grundon and sent for recycling or reprocessing at our own facilities. “And our new Olympus vehicle will be in the thick of it, working really hard.”
“This 10-year contract gives us the chance to make long-term plans for sustainability as well as focusing on improving recycling– and we set the bar high”
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A new era in Scotland The existing staff from Falkirk will be moving to Dennis Eagle’s new service centre in Cumbernauld It’s not the end of an era but the start of an exciting new one: after 30 years, our service centre in Falkirk is all set to relocate to bigger and more modern premises – just down the road. The new Cumbernauld Service Centre, between Glasgow and Edinburgh, couldn’t be better placed, just off the M80 motorway. And the move will enable us to expand our services in Scotland; a larger facility with a bigger workshop, training facilities, conference rooms and a new warehouse that will carry even greater stock enabling a same-daydelivery service as well as a collection point. Aftermarket Director Geoff Rigg said: “I can remember the Falkirk Service Centre opening. It was a significant development at the time and it’s amazing how our aftermarket service has grown and matured in 30 years with Falkirk serving us well throughout that period. “But to take our services to a new level, we need newer and bigger premises and Cumbernauld will be the cornerstone of our aftermarket support in Scotland. “It’s an exciting opportunity and all about improving customer service, getting vehicles back on the road even quicker and providing better training facilities.
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“Our top class engineers from Falkirk will all be there and the location is excellent – it couldn’t be more accessible – and it’s the only site dedicated to the service, repair and maintenance of refuse collection vehicles in Scotland.” To mark the start of the new era, Dennis Eagle will be holding a Customer Open Day on Thursday 12th September 2019. There will be a selection of demonstration vehicles and our staff will be on hand to welcome guests and explain our products and services. And there will also be a reminder of just how far the industry has come in the last 30 years in the shape of an original 1989 RCV – a Dennis Eagle Phoenix 18 on a Dennis Delta chassis, carefully restored by Dennis Eagle.
“And our demonstration vehicles will be there, as you’d expect but by putting them alongside the Phoenix 18, we’re giving a nod of recognition to the 30 years we’ve enjoyed in Scotland. And it will also highlight many of the changes the industry has gone through...things we probably take for granted. I think it will be fascinating.” The address for the new Cumbernauld Service Centre is Unit 68, Westfield North Industrial Estate, Grayhills Road, Cumbernauld G68 9HQ.
Geoff added: “We’re contacting our customers personally to let them know what’s happening and we hope to see them at our open day. We want to share it with as many people in the Scottish waste management industry as possible. “We’re also extending an open invitation to any operators to come along. We’ll have plenty of staff on hand who can show guests what we have to offer, from first class vehicles to the best aftermarket support in the sector.
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On its way to be restored, an original 1989 Dennis Eagle Phoenix 18
Terberg Toploaders for superclean operations
Environmental protection and biosecurity are the cornerstones of JG Pears’ animal by-products operations and they’ve just bought two Terberg Toploaders with TL1280 lifts to ensure they can continue to go about their business in a safe, clean and wholesome manner. The business is based at three sites - Newark, Penistone and Market Harborough and is one the largest operators in the UK, collecting 10,000 tonnes of animal by-products each week. The material is taken to JG Pears’ processing plants to be turned into products from fertilisers to fats and even sustainable electricity from its own combined heat and power plant (CHP). But both environmental and public sensitivities mean the collection operations must be squeaky clean.
“They must also be safe and clean and meet the very strict standards laid down by several organisations within our industry. “This business has been built over the last 40 years or so by being as clean and green as possible. “There can be no leaks or spillages and the Toploader’s sealed body and safe, reliable TL1280 lift ensures that.” The body was designed with animal by-product collections in mind. There is no need for compactors or internal packing mechanisms as waste is dropped into the vehicle from above and forms a heap which uses gravity and normal road vibrations to spread it out. The roof hatch closes after tipping.
And the body is also made of non-corrosive aluminium for increased longevity and to make it lighter for better payload. “Not only is side-loading difficult in narrow spaces but a lot of collections from butchers’ shops may involve parking on the road and we can’t go blocking the pavement while we lift bins. “That would not only inconvenience the public but could lead to them walking into the road to get around the vehicle and we certainly don’t want that. “Considering all our needs, this was clearly the best vehicle on the market for us. It’s safe, it’s environmentally-friendly, it’s durable and it’s efficient. It’s everything we try to be.”
There is no need for an internal packing mechanism in the Toploader as gravity and road vibrations spread the load out
Many are from butchers’ shops in town centres, often with restricted access and the public close at hand. And these factors convinced the company it needed Terberg Toploaders. Group Logistics Manager Andrew Bostock explained: “We are keen to show that, when done properly, collecting animal by-products for processing into other useful products is a clean industry. “We’ve given these two new vehicles a very smart livery to make them clearly visible as they’re doing street collections where the public will be.
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Smarter, faster and friendlier A simple equation rules the UK’s service sector: tougher targets with tighter budgets requires more efficiency. In waste management, telematics is the key to improving efficiency, not only by getting the most out of whatever vehicles you have but also by changing practices and behaviours for smoother operations. And DE Connect, which is fitted to more RCVs than any other telematics system, is developing all the time with increased functionality to provide operators with evergreater efficiency. Now, three upgrade packages have been developed to make it easier for operators to choose the features they need to meet their goals. While the popular Waste Operator option remains, two new upgrades – Rounds Builder and Rounds Management – have been developed for operators who are ready to maximise the efficiency of their rounds.
“In fact we’ll plot them for you. We can factor in traffic volumes at different times to avoid jams. With one eye on vulnerable road users, we can avoid particular roads at peak pedestrian times and with air pollution or noise in mind, we can help you avoid schools, hospitals, care homes or any key areas during sensitive periods. “And we’ll pass the data on to whoever you want to have it. It’s a very cost-effective way of fine-tuning collection rounds.” The Rounds Management upgrade takes this a step further. For this, vehicles are fitted with an in-cab, seven-inch touch screen to enable real-time communication between the back office and drivers. Using the simple device, detailed digital records of rounds can be both given to drivers and updated by them on the round itself. “Rounds Management provides a digital record in real time, so when a bin is not presented at
a particular address, the driver simply records that event on the in-cab screen. And when a customer calls to ask why their bin wasn’t collected, the back office team can look at the digital record and answer immediately.” “Tacho Live automatically downloads data remotely and cuts out all that time-consuming drudgery of going to each vehicle, plugging in a memory stick, downloading the data, then taking it back to the office and uploading it. It is obviously more efficient.” As far as the uptake of telematics, there is a whole spectrum of operators ranging from those who have adopted the most advanced features to those who haven’t started. “Some drivers still go out with instructions on pieces of paper and fill in report sheets by hand. But DE Connect can bring those operations up to speed very quickly and efficiently and quickly make a major impact on their operational efficiency.
“Rounds Builder is a step up from the Waste Operator system,” explained Dennis Eagle’s Aftermarket Director Geoff Rigg. “In addition to all those standard features, it uses a web-based system to optimise rounds without having to go to a third party provider. “The key point is that DE Connect is designed to work with Dennis Eagle trucks and has been factory-fitted to every RCV since 2015. It is ready to collect and transmit all the data an operator could want, so operators with Dennis Eagle vehicles should never need to go to the additional expense of fitting another thirdparty system. “Rounds Builder uses the unique property reference number (UPRN) that every property in the UK has. Applying it to detailed maps with other DE Connect data enables highly efficient and flexible rounds to be plotted.
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Earlier this year, DE Connect won the ‘Made in The Midlands’ Digital Engineering/Technology Award as shown off by (L-R) General Manager Andy Hardwick, Aftermarket Director Geoff Rigg and Project Controller Kurtis Campbell
Waste Operator
Tacho Live Automatically uploads data remotely to cut out manual uploading
Advises drivers in real time of both good and poor driving
Avoids under and over-servicing vehicles by following OEM’s recommendations
Remote diagnosis minimises downtime by improving first time fix rate, part selection and speeding up repairs
A 7” touch screen mounted in the cab enables real-time communication between your back office and drivers.
“Our experience in helping customers introduce these new technologies, get the most out of them and update their working practices and behaviours is now very extensive. We can help operators avoid any misconceptions and show them how others have successfully overcome any reservations crews may have. This technology is coming to every fleet. It’s just a question of when.” In addition to the new upgrades, new features have been developed, such as the Intelligent Servicing system and added as standard to DE Connect. “A good example of inefficient working practices is where we found some operators were over-servicing their vehicles because they were using workshop schedules rather than the OEM’s recommendations,” said Geoff. “So we developed an Intelligent Servicing system to override this. It sends timely alerts telling Fleet Managers when servicing is needed based on the OEM’s guidelines.”
Reduces thefts by sending real-time alerts to selected people even when engine is switched off
Lift Data
Vehicle Tracking
Counting and location data helps you manage your operations
Rounds Management
In-cab Garmin Device
Fuel Loss Alerts
Ensures driver compliance and can be retro-fitted
Chassis + Body Diagnostics
OEM Service Alerts
Rounds Builder
Seat Belt Alerts
SDA1
Understand the efficiency of your rounds and check vehicles are on schedule or not
Web Based Round Builder Unique property reference numbers (UPRN) can be applied to detailed maps with other DE Connect data to plot the most efficient and flexible rounds while avoiding traffic and sensitive areas at key times.
Another new optional extra is the introduction of Near Field Communication tags. These were introduced after customer feedback identified a widespread problem of drivers completing their daily vehicle checks from the comfort of their cab, rather than taking the time to inspect it thoroughly. The tags use a short-range radio-frequency ID system which means drivers must actually go to different points of the vehicle where sensors are fitted in their pre-round checks before they can comment on the vehicle’s readiness for service. “And one that’s getting a lot of interest currently is the Tacho Live option,” added Geoff. “We offer several Driver ID systems including one that identifies the driver from the tachograph but an alternative to this is Tacho Live. It’s gaining interest because while tachos are not yet mandatory for domestic collections they could be soon, just as they are for trade collections.”
Geoff Rigg Aftermarket Director
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Genuine Parts. Genuine People.
Genuinely Better. Genuine (adjective): possessing the claimed character, quality, or origin. What the dictionary doesn’t tell you is the benefits of using something that is genuine. But every fleet manager knows that when it comes to RCVs they need to be on the road, compliant, working to their full potential and able to go the distance – that is, functioning efficiently throughout their working life. The key to achieving this lies in maintaining the standards of the original equipment manufacturer. By using genuine spare parts which have already been tested and approved by the manufacturer, you are simply restoring that part of your vehicle to the same standard as when it left the factory. And at that point, we believe all Dennis Eagle and Terberg products are in optimum condition. Terberg Matec Parts & Workshop Manager Mick Bullock explained: “RCVs are very sophisticated vehicles, designed to the finest detail to make them as robust, efficient and reliable as possible. “In order to achieve that, each component is specified to make sure we know what is required of it. Then it is tested extensively and compared with alternative components to find the best for the job required of it. “It’s an exhaustive process but a simple principle: we choose the best parts ... those that are most productive, robust, most costeffective and most efficient. “So it begs the question that if we thought an alternative part was better for the vehicle’s reliability, performance or cost-effectiveness, why wouldn’t we use it in the first place?” Of course, other non-genuine parts are available from other sources and may be cheaper per unit cost but they were not chosen for a reason. Mick added: “All genuine spare parts are engineered and manufactured to our exacting standards. Our engineers determine the
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Mick Bullock, Terberg Matec UK’s Parts & Workshop Manager precise component specifications when they design a vehicle. “Consequently, we can be 100 per cent sure that genuine parts will be totally compatible with our bin lifts. And that’s the first benefit of using them. “We also monitor the performance of every component of our bin lifts, so, over time, we can be confident of how well they work. If something does under-achieve, we simply find a better alternative and in doing so, improve that product. And through this process we have proven that using genuine parts is a major factor in increasing vehicle reliability and longevity and reducing the risk of component failure.” Terberg and Dennis Eagle service centres carry extensive stocks of genuine parts and our highly trained field engineers only ever use them. Dennis Eagle customers also have immediate access to the industry’s leading spare parts resource: our Electronic Parts Catalogue (EPC). The EPC is an invaluable tool in helping customers to identify parts and order online immediately. It is simple to use: a customer can just type in their vehicle’s registration number and identify the parts they need
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diagrammatically to get both the part number and price before making their order for next day delivery. This process not only saves time and money but also enables us to maintain stock availability so we can ensure our customers are not disappointed. Of course, replacing parts that have worn out or been damaged is a two-step process. Identifying and obtaining the genuine part must be followed up by replacing it properly and to be totally confident of doing that requires well-trained engineers. “Again, it’s a simple principle to understand: the people that know best how to fix a vehicle ought to be the manufacturers and our engineers are not only very highly trained but work all day long on our products. They are specialists. “And if our customers are providing their own repair and maintenance service in house, we train their engineers very thoroughly and we’re always there in the background to provide a constant resource of expertise should they need it. “Our overall goal is to provide maximum efficiency for our customers by using the best parts fitted by the best engineers. Hence our campaign: Genuine parts. Genuine People. Genuinely better.”
Genuine parts from the vehicle manufacturer offer maximum efficiency
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Heart of steel
AET Sales Director Stephen Woollen with parts destined for a Dennis Eagle RCV that’s coming your way soon
Steel is at the heart of our business (RCVs are about 98% steel) and Sheffield is at the heart of the UK’s steel industry, so it is fitting that one of our leading steel fabricators is based in the Steel City. They’ve been making steel products in Sheffield for a very long time. Even in the 14th century, Londoner Geoffrey Chaucer knew Sheffield steel was revered and had one of his Canterbury Tales characters carry a ‘Sheffield thwitel’ – a knife made in Sheffield. So when Advanced Engineering Techniques (AET) set up there in 1989, it was able to take full advantage of the supply chains and skilled workforce on its doorstep. Today the fabricator operates across three sites with a total manufacturing space of around 80,000 square feet and the business prides itself on using the latest technologies available to ensure it remains at the forefront of the industry. “Our success is based on efficiency,” explained Sales Director Stephen Woollen. “When the recession started in 2008, AET had a turnover of £4.1 million and employed 76 people. In 2018 that had grown to in-excess of £15 million and employing 195. After such dramatic growth, our strategy going forward is to grow turnover without significant increases in staff numbers and factory space. This will be achieved through increased automation of manufacturing processes with the ultimate aim
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to increase productivity and efficiencies across the business. “We use an automated material handling system to support our fibre lasers which allows us to process steel through the night in a ‘lights-out’ scenario – effectively running unmanned. “In addition, the company has invested in three Panasonic Robotic Welding cells to give us increased capacity, improved consistency and reduced lead times.
to secure increased volumes from UK mills through our supply chains. As proud holders of the ‘Made in Sheffield’ accreditation, we are keen to support businesses at home as much as we can. “Environment is a big focus too. Steel fabrication is energy-hungry but we do all we can to reduce our energy costs and environmental impact. “We are looking at the possibility of covering our extensive roof areas with solar panels and have over recent times invested in biomass heating and LED lighting. Many of the senior managers drive electric vehicles and most of our forklift trucks are electric.
“Our key sectors of coach and bus, construction, road transport and aerial platforms are closely allied to refuse collection in terms of our manufacturing capabilities, so when Dennis Eagle first contacted us, we knew we could support their business going forward.” “And when it comes to doing business with Blue Chip companies like Dennis Eagle, we’re in a Now AET is one of our largest metal fabrication position to meet the exacting standards they suppliers, producing components including expect.” compactors, sweepers, bumpers and bin-lift frames. But what of the future? “The weak pound has been problematic in some areas of the business but consequently exports have been good – they account for 6-7% of what we produce but we want that to grow to 10% by the end of 2019,” added Stephen. “Previously, our steel tended to originate from mainland Europe and the Americas but as the impact of Brexit unfolds, we have managed
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“Environment is a big focus too. Steel fabrication is energyhungry but we do all we can to reduce our energy costs and environmental impact”
First Olympus Twin Packs for Singapore Five new Olympus Twin Packs have been ordered by Zenith Engineering, a long-standing distributor of Dennis Eagle products in Singapore. These are the first bodies of their kind to be supplied to Singapore and are destined for the operator 800 Super, an environmental services provider to both public and private sector customers in the region. Jerome Ang, Sales Manager at Zenith Engineering, explained: “In general, around 80 per cent of buildings in Singapore are high-rise tower blocks, with each floor having access to a centralised chute where waste and commingled recycling is deposited for
daily collection. The remaining buildings consist largely of single level dwellings using individual bins and it was for waste and recycling collection from these types of residences that 800 Super required new vehicles. “We have been importing Dennis Eagle products in kit form for over 10 years now and particularly like the quality of the vehicles and the skill that goes into designing and engineering them, along with the economies of scale that the company can provide. When the opportunity arose to supply 800 Super with new refuse collection vehicles, we looked at the various solutions Dennis Eagle could offer and opted for the Olympus Twin Pack bodies.
“These will enable 800 Super to collect waste and recycling more efficiently. Until now, they have been collecting recyclables and garden waste using two different vehicles but with the Twin Packs they will be able to collect these two waste streams at the same time with just one vehicle. The additional capacity the bodies provide will allow them to streamline their operations, increasing productivity and lowering fuel consumption by reducing the number of trips to the sorting facility.” All of which goes to show, the name and reputation of Dennis Eagle products continues to grow in increasingly diverse corners of the world.
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Genuine Parts, Genuine People
GENUINELY BETTER When it comes to your fleet, the genuine choice for parts is the only choice. Dennis Eagle approved parts are proven to deliver reliability you can depend on whilst maximising the performance and uptime of your fleet. Our expert team have the knowledge and experience to help you quickly find the right part, every time. From shackle pins to starter motors, we offer genuine replacements for every Dennis Eagle part.
Craig Pearson Dennis Eagle Genuine Parts Expert
Talk to a Genuine Parts expert today: 01926 458555 or visit: dennis-eagle.co.uk/genuineparts Dennis Eagle Ltd. Heathcote Industrial Estate, Warwick CV34 6TE
SECTOR LEADING PARTS AVAILABILITY | ORDER 24/7 12 MONTHS NO QUIBBLE WARRANTY
www.dennis-eagle.co.uk/genuineparts
01926 458 500
contact.us@dennis-eagle.co.uk
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