Heil Unveils New and Improved STARR System [5/9/2008]
The world’s most maneuverable full-size refuse collection vehicle has been updated to offer even better durability, easier maintenance, smoother operation and greater on-route and total business flexibility.
The STARR (Semi-Trailer Automated Rapid Rail®) System is the only automated semi-trailer refuse and recycling collection system. It consists of an automated Rapid Rail arm mounted on a truck tractor, and detachable, semi-trailer packer bodies. This arrangement gives the STARR a remarkable 42-foot curb-to-curb turning radius — 40 percent better than that of a standard straight-frame truck. As a result, the STARR easily maneuvers around cul-de-sacs, alleys and tight corners, all without risky backing.
The STARR’s design lets operators keep hauling long after other refuse collection vehicles would have to head to the disposal site. When a STARR body is full, the operator can simply detach it, hook up an empty one, and continue on the route. With no need for a transfer station, the full trailers can be parked at a facility yard, serving as “mini transfer trailers” until it is convenient to take them to the disposal site. At that time, two trailers can be attached to a standard truck tractor and pulled in tandem. As a result, haulers using the STARR make half as many trips to the landfill, for reduced fuel and tire costs, as well as less wear and tear on route trucks and automated assemblies. Plus, they can carry up to 18 tons of payload.
“The STARR System has built a devoted following throughout North America since we introduced it in 1995,” says Shannon Harrop, Heil director of product management. “The customers who use the STARR love its flexibility and the productivity it provides. As part of our Voice of Customer (VOC) design process, we met with many of these customers to learn what we could do to make the STARR even better. As a result, we have implemented the same improvements to the STARR’s
automated arm structure, electrical system and hydraulics that we introduced on the VOC- inspired update to our Rapid Rail continuous pack automated side loader last year.”
To strengthen the STARR’s automated arm, Heil engineers designed a tapered cross-section main lift beam to better match the stresses imposed on the backbone of the lift. The teeth on the arm’s grabber gears have been made 80 percent larger, to provide a significant improvement in durability.
The limit switches that formerly regulated the arm’s hydraulic controls have been replaced with proximity switches which require minimal maintenance. The Heil product design team also smoothed out the arm’s motion by replacing its original electric shift valve with a new “soft shift” valve metered by advanced controls.
The STARR was designed for easy maintenance. When the tractor or automated arm needs maintenance, the refuse packer can remain outside, creating a more favorable work environment for the technicians. Plus, because its tractors and trailers are interchangeable, downtime is reduced.
New Service Smart™ enhancements include moving the lift valve from a position on the arm itself to a more easily accessible location on the stationary track along which the arm travels. The previous coordinator board and impulse relays have been replaced with a PLC (programmable logic controller) which allows for more sophisticated electrical control and diagnostics.
Heil Modifies Half/Pack Front Loader [5/9/2008]
Working closely with The Curotto-Can™ company, Heil Environmental has updated its Half/Pack® front loaders to improve integration with the Curotto-Can automated system.
The Curotto-Can system consists of an extendable arm attached to a collection can. The system is mounted onto a front loader’s forks to enable haulers to utilize the refuse collection vehicle for automated refuse and recycling collection in addition to commercial collection. Although it has always been possible to use a Curotto-Can with Heil Half/Pack front loaders, the improvements will enhance the products’ performance. In addition, Heil has added the Curotto-Can to its price guide as a standard factory option, so customers can order it as part of a residential front loader package.
“We are very pleased to be working proactively with Heil for the benefit of our mutual customers,” says John Curotto, president and CEO, The Curotto-Can. “Our goal is to provide a seamless integration that will result in great delivered quality and a reliable, productive package to customers.”
In addition to minor structural changes, Heil optimized the performance of components within the Half/Pack front loader’s electrical and hydraulic control systems to enhance the Curotto-Can’s productivity and reliability.
“The Heil Half/Pack has been the industry standard in front loaders for more than two decades,” says Shannon Harrop, Heil director of product management. “Naturally, some of our customers use their Half/Packs for automated residential collection. For those customers, this collaboration will provide them with a more flexible and better-performing solution.”
Heil engineered a unique method to attach the Curotto-Can to the Half/Pack front loader’s forks. While other manufacturers permanently attach the required spacers to the fork’s bumper pads, which limits the vehicle to collect commercial containers no larger than 6 cubic yards, Heil’s unique design incorporates the spacers on the Curotto-Can itself. As a result, Half/Pack front loaders can still pick up
8-cubic-yard and 10-cubic-yard commercial containers, making the design more flexible and a better solution for mixed routes.
Half/Pack users also can dump the Curotto-Can automatically using Heil’s optional AutoLift™ function. The operator simply flips a switch, and the Half/Pack’s forks self-adjust to properly position the can throughout the dumping cycle.
The Curotto-Can is compatible with every model of Heil Half/Pack, including the lightweight Half/Pack Sierra Western U.S. front loader.
Heil "Call Central" Takes Next Step [5/9/2008]
Heil Environmental has further evolved its “Call Central” customer support team-based structure to provide even better, faster service to its customers. As part of the continuous improvement plans for the “Call Central” group, Heil has now further organized its customer support representatives into teams assigned to specific geographical sales regions and to key customer accounts.
The team structure enables representatives to develop a more thorough understanding of the accounts in their region or specific customer accounts, so they can provide more personalized service. Each team consists of a customer support team supervisor, several customer support personnel, and a field service technician who is based in a key geographic location.
Through Heil’s new contact management system, callers to the main toll-free “Call Central” Customer Support Hotline at 866-ASK-HEIL (866-275-4345) are automatically directed to an available member of their dedicated customer support team. At times when a specific customer support team is experiencing high call volume, callers will be offered three options every 30 seconds that utilize technology to better improve Heil’s response time and provide customers with greater convenience.
Heil has also created dedicated e-mail addresses which enable customers to send e-mail correspondence directly to their assigned customer support team. This will enable team members to respond to e-mail inquiries in a more efficient and timely manner.
“We are very excited about these upgrades to the `Call Central` Customer Support Center and the direct impact they will have on improving our overall service levels,” says Bill Shaw, manager of customer support. “We look forward to even bigger and better personal service and system refinements in the future, as we continue our efforts to provide world-class customer support to every one of our customers.”
Heil Hires Henson as Director of Operations [5/2/2008]
Heil Environmental has hired Anthony Henson as director of North American operations.
In this position, Henson is responsible for all manufacturing operations at Heil’s flagship production facilities in Fort Payne, Ala. His goals include further reducing customer lead times, continuing to build quality products and maintaining plant safety.
Henson has extensive leadership experience and has guided substantial operational improvements in multiple manufacturing facilities. Immediately prior to joining Heil, he was plant manager for Tier 1 automotive supplier Dura Automotive Systems in Lawrenceburg, Tenn. He previously served as plant manager for APM Manufacturing, vice president of operations for IDEX Corporation’s Class 1 Division and as director of operations for IDEX Corporation’s Hale Products Division.
“With Anthony’s team-building skills and leadership abilities, he will contribute to the continuous success and growth of Heil, while driving performance that exceeds our customers’ expectations,” says Randall Young, Heil vice president and chief supply chain officer.
Henson earned bachelor’s degrees in operations management and marketing from the University of North Alabama in Florence, Ala., and a master’s of business administration (MBA) from Webster University in Ocala, Fla. He has also received KAIZAN Facilitator training, Six Sigma Champion training, and Supplier Material and Resource Training (S.M.A.R.T.). He is certified as a Six Sigma Green Belt.
April 28 – Unprecedented Steel Price Increases Since January Drive Heil Price Increases [4/29/2008]
U.S. steel prices have continued their unprecedented rise with a 72% increase experienced since January, and a 107% increase expected from January to June YTD. Worldwide steel demand has led to these higher prices due to:
1) Fewer and larger companies are managing the steel processing capacity: The “Big 3” U.S. mills account for approximately 60% of today’s U.S. steel output.
2) Increased prices for the required raw materials: iron ore, coke, and coking coal.
3) Rising energy-related costs, such as petroleum and natural gas, used in processing and transporting these materials.
4) The continuing dramatic weakness in the U.S. dollar which has made foreign steel imports more expensive, and no longer an option for most U.S. manufacturing companies.
To read the full text of this announcement, click below.
Steel
Price Update
For additional information on the steel market, please access the files below:
Steel
Market Brochure
WASTEC Issue Bulletin 1-2008: Rising Materials Costs
Beaver Valley Truck Center Joins Heil Distributor Network [4/18/2008]
Beaver Valley Truck Center of Leetsdale, Pa., has been named an authorized distributor for Heil Environmental, Parts Central and Bayne Premium Lift Systems throughout northeastern Ohio, western Pennsylvania and northern West Virginia. As an authorized distributor, the company will sell and service Heil’s full line of refuse and recycling vehicles, Heil Certified OEM Parts, Parts Inc. Aftermarket Parts by Heil, and Bayne hydraulic cart lifters.
Located just outside of Pittsburgh, Beaver Valley Truck Center has provided service and support for trucks in the region since 1980. It is an authorized Galbreath distributor, as well as a parts and service dealer for International Truck and Engine Corp. and Mack Trucks.
“It is an honor to welcome Beaver Valley Truck Center to the Heil team,” says Bob McHugh, Heil director of North American sales. “Beaver Valley Truck Center is uniquely positioned to provide our mutual customers with reliable service and support for their refuse collection vehicles’ bodies and chassis, all in a single location.”
Although this is the company’s initial entry into selling refuse and recycling vehicles, Beaver Valley Truck Center has been servicing rear loaders, front loaders and side loaders for years, according to Jim August, president. They also added 22 years of Heil refuse and recycling equipment experience to the sales team by hiring industry veteran Ken Defino as sales manager.
August and his team considered several refuse collection vehicle manufacturers before choosing Heil.
“We felt Heil was the better fit because of the quality of its products,” August explains. “We need to sell the products that our customers want to buy and that will provide them with increased productivity and profitability.”
For more information about Beaver Valley Truck Center, visit www.bvtc-online.com, or call toll-free 800-487-8256.
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