Heil Environmental has introduced a new 20-cu.-yd. Half/Pack front loader on a single-axle chassis with a tag axle, far smaller than the standard 28-cu.-yd. Half/Pack. The smaller unit's wheelbase of 185 in. retains the 12-cu.-yd.hopper, curved body, patented clamp-on arms and interlaced subframe of the standard unit.
The 20-cu.-yd. version was developed in response to a request from Allied Waste Services, which needed a single-axle front loader for compliance with a number of city ordinances where tandem-axle vehicles are forbidden. According to Heil, it is more maneuverable and gentler on city streets than larger refuse vehicles.
The front loader can be used on manual, semi-automated or automated routes.