# Dennis Eagle

Dennis Eagle Limited is an English bin lorry manufacturer owned by Terberg Environmental.

## Overview

Before operations were merged with Terberg Environmental, Dennis Eagle employed a workforce of over 600 across its two manufacturing sites and service network, which included nine depots as well as mobile engineers based throughout the UK. Body and chassis assembly took place at the Warwick headquarters, with cabs built at the additional manufacturing facility in Blackpool. Producing over 1,000 refuse collection vehicles each year, the company also had an international network of distributors.
In addition to domestic success, Dennis Eagle vehicles are now used globally, with their refuse collection trucks being sold in markets such as Australia, New Zealand, and parts of Asia, reflecting their growing international presence.

## History

Dennis Brothers had made specialised vehicles for municipal authorities from the early 1920s though they were primarily builders of chassis for buses, fire engines and haulage lorries.
Eagle Engineering Company, agricultural and general engineers of Warwick, was incorporated in 1907. It made oil and petrol internal combustion stationary engines and some small agricultural equipment and provided municipalities with refuse vehicles and road sweepers and tower lorries at relatively inexpensive prices sometimes built on Dennis chassis. Soon after the start of the Great Depression Eagle turned from engines to building road trailers and semi-trailers for articulated vehicles. They also added an electrical and wireless department and produced Chakophone wireless sets until 1936. Ownership changed a number of times during the 1960s.
Dennis Eagle's history goes back to the autumn of 1971 when Hestair Group bought Yorkshire Vehicles Limited in Leeds and Eagle Engineering Co in Warwick. Six months later Hestair bought Dennis Motor Holdings and thereafter managed the businesses as the Vehicle Division of Hestair Engineering. Municipal bodies were made in Warwick by Hestair Eagle (incorporating Yorkshire Vehicles), municipal chassis were made by Dennis in Guildford, cabs were made in Blackpool.
Hestair set up a special Environmental Vehicles Division for its waste management activities. In 1985 Hestair moved municipal chassis manufacture from the Dennis plant at Guildford to a new 125,000 square foot plant on the Heathcote Industrial Estate at Warwick. They were joined there by Hestair Eagle's municipal bodies operations which moved across Warwick from Saltisford. The new Dennis Eagle plant was the largest refuse vehicle manufacturing site in Europe. In 1991 Shelvoke & Drewry's design rights were bought from the receiver.
Environmental Vehicles, Dennis Eagle, now represented around one-third of Hestair's Vehicle Division. Following more changes of parent company (Hestair to Trinity to Dennis Group to Mayflower) Dennis Eagle was sold in July 1999 to NatWest Equity Partners. In January 2004, Dennis Eagle was purchased by ABN Amro.
In 2007, Dennis Eagle was purchased by Ros Roca. Ros Roca and Terberg Environmental then merged in 2016, with Terberg holding the controlling interest. The various companies within the new group retained their trading names.
In 2019, Dennis Eagle introduced the eCollect, an all-electric refuse collection vehicle, aimed at reducing emissions and supporting sustainable waste management practices. The eCollect has since been adopted by multiple local authorities in the UK, making Dennis Eagle a leader in environmentally friendly waste solutions.
In 2021, Dennis Eagle entered the North American market as "Dennis Eagle US" with their new ProView chassis being built at a new facility in Summerville, South Carolina.
In 2024, Dennis Eagle sold a record breaking 151 new Elite+ vehicles to Birmingham City Council. These new vehicles aim to replace the councils outdated vehicles that are beyond their operational lifespan.

## Dennis Eagle UK products

| From | To | Name | Type | Significance |
| ? | ? | Pax (I to V) | Chassis | |
| ? | ? | Paxit (I to IV & Major) | Body | |
| ? | ? | Bulkmaster | Body | |
| 1988 | 1992 | Delta (Municipal) | Chassis | The Perkins Phaser 180 engine and partially synchromeshed Eaton gearbox and improved cab ergonomics reduced the physical demand on the driver while boosting the serviceable lifetime. |
| 1979 | 2001 | Phoenix | Body | Rear loading RCV featuring intermittent 'sweep-slide' packer. Most rode on the Dennis Delta chassis from 1979 to 1992, which used the joint cab design shared with Shelvoke & Drewry (whose corresponding version as known as the "P-type"). |
| 1992 | 2003 | Elite | Chassis | The UK's first low entry cab, replaces the Delta/Municipal chassis. |
| ? | ? | Beta 500 | Binlift | |
| 2001 | 2014 | Phoenix 2 | Body | Replacement for the Phoenix, although closely based on the Ex-Cell model. |
| 2003 | 2014 | Elite 2 | Chassis | |
| ? | Current | Beta 2 | Binlift | |
| 2010 | Current | Olympus | Body | A minor upgrade from the Phoenix 2 resulting from the merger with Ros Roca. Available in many sizes. |
| 2010 | Current | Olympus Twin Pack | Body | Two body compartments that can individually hold different types of waste. |
| 2010 | Current | Olympus Duo | Body | Two waste compartments. Essentially a smaller Olympus with a pod at the front. |
| 2010 | Current | Olympus Mini | Body | Compact version of the Olympus intended to be mounted on smaller chassis. |
| 2012 | Current | Olympus One Pass | Body | Three waste compartments. Essentially a smaller Olympus Twin Pack with a pod. |
| 2013 | 2021 | Elite 6 | Chassis | The name reflects its Euro 6 compliance. |
| 2019 | Current | eCollect | Chassis | World's first OEM Electric RCV. |
| 2021 | Current | Elite+ | Chassis | |

## Dennis Eagle Inc (North America) products

Dennis Eagle Inc, also known as Dennis Eagle US, began production of the ProView chassis at a new facility in Summerville, South Carolina in 2021. The plant manufactures ProView chassis for distributors in the US and Canada.
| From | To | Name | Type | Significance |
| 2021 | Current | ProView | Chassis | The ProView chassis is designed specifically for the North American market. Derived from the Elite 6, it offers unmatched driver visibility and safety, with a design fully tailored to meet American needs. This includes stronger chassis rails, a more powerful Cummins powertrain, and proudly sourced parts from American suppliers. |

## Dennis Eagle Australia products

Dennis Eagle produces chassis for the Australian market at its headquarters in Warwick, England. These are shipped to Australia are distributed and sold by Penske Australia & New Zealand.
| From | To | Name | Type | Significance |
| ? | 2022 | Elite 2 (Australia) | Chassis | |
| 2022 | Current | Elite 6 (Australia) | Chassis | |