Heil celebrates 125th anniversary

The Heil Co., part of Environmental Solutions, a segment of Terex, is marking its 125th anniversary this year.

The manufacturer of refuse collection vehicles was established in 1901 by Julius P. Heil, a German immigrant and pioneer in electric welding, as the Heil Rail Joint Welding Co. in Milwaukee.

By 1906, Heil expanded from applying welding techniques to streetcar rails into manufacturing truck bodies and tanks. In the early 1900s, Heil built its first garbage truck bodies for the city of Milwaukee, and by the 1930s, Heil trucks were serving hundreds of U.S. cities, according to the company.

Over the decades, Heil, now headquartered in Fort Payne, Alabama, says it introduced numerous industry firsts, including an electrically welded compartmental tank, stainless steel milk tank truck (1927) and aluminum transport trucks for oil (1929). Heil manufactured military refueling equipment during World War II, earning multiple awards for excellence. Its postwar innovations included molded fiberglass transports (1955) and all-nickel trailers (1964).

Heil’s growth continued through strategic expansions and relocations, establishing its flagship manufacturing facility in Fort Payne in 1971. Today, as part of Terex’s

Environmental Solutions Group, the company says it serves customers in more than 150 countries with advanced refuse collection technologies, including the industry’s first all-electric automated side loader.

“For 125 years, Heil has stood for integrity, innovation and customer satisfaction,” says Pat Carroll, president of Environmental Solutions. “This milestone is not just a celebration of our past, it’s a commitment to shaping the future of sustainable waste collection.”

Heil says it remains focused on the future, with dedicated team members who are the backbone of its success, ensuring every product meets the highest standards of quality and reliability.

According to the company, innovation will continue to drive it forward, with Heil investing in technologies that help customers operate more efficiently and sustainably. These advancements, combined with its passionate workforce and skilled experts, position Heil to lead the industry for decades to come.