Heil & Hearty
Heil Europe is a force to be reckoned with in the manufacture of bodies for refuse collection vehicles. Andy Moore reviews the manufacturer's six products.
It's refreshing to hear of a home-grown manufacturer thriving in the UK. Heil Europe, located in Dunfermline, has fought off fierce competition by continually innovating and updating its product range.
Founded in 1973, the factory has been building refuse collection vehicle (RCV) bodies for domestic, municipal and industry waste collection for more than 30 years.
The Powertrak has a slide block track to compact material effectively.
The product range was previously sold through distributor Jack Allen, but is now retailed exclusively from Heil Europe, situated a stone's throw from the Firth of Forth.
"Jack Allen did such a good job of selling the vehicles that many customers thought the units were actually manufactured by the company," says plant director Bob Barr. "After failing to buy the company out in 1989, we decided to distribute the bodies ourselves. Since then we have followed a steep learning curve and have increased our share of the RCV market."
Adapted for the web from an article in Commercial Motor, September 2005
Click on a thumbnail to view a scan of the original press clipping.