Case study: A collaborative approach to new product introduction for Universal Wolf and Dennis Eagle

Dennis Eagle is Europe’s largest refuse collection vehicle manufacturer. It needed a sheet metal fabrication partner to bring the canopy for one of its recent vehicles to life. Responsible for protecting the operational systems that lift and empty the units, the canopy is a key piece of metalwork which sits at the rear of the vehicle.

As a world leader in the design and manufacture of refuse vehicles, Dennis Eagle needed a supplier who could deliver consistently high-quality products, when it needed them. It approached Universal Wolf to join the supply chain, having been impressed by both its expertise and its attitude to customer collaboration.

Refuse collection vehicle manufacturer Dennis Eagle partnered with Universal Wolf to fabricate the canopy that protects the operational systems that lift and empty the units / Picture: Dennis Eagle

Universal Wolf worked with Midlands-based Dennis Eagle on the canopy of its refuse vehicles, taking the product through its new product introduction process to ensure it would be fully optimised for cost-effective production and assembly. A collaborative approach to this process was key and ensured the teams at both Universal Wolf and Dennis Eagle were clear on the product build and requirements, and that the design was fully optimised for scalable manufacture.

Universal Wolf took a systematic and proactive approach to project management of the canopy product, ensuring all milestones were met and the project was delivered on time, to the customer’s exact specifications. All the components involved in the manufacture went through the industry-standard Production Part Approval Process (PPAP) prior to entering production. The standardised approval process helps to ensure fit, form and functionality in line with supplier requirements, throughout the manufacturing process.

The collaboration between Universal Wolf and Dennis Eagle enabled them to scale the manufacture of the refuse vehicle canopy to the requirements. The process from onboarding to delivery of the finished product was smooth, on time and met all product specifications. The high quality of the manufactured metalwork allows Dennis Eagle to send the product directly to the production line without a goods-in inspection. This strong relationship built on trust has led to an ongoing partnership with Europe’s largest refuse collection vehicle manufacturer.

The high quality of the metalwork allows Dennis Eagle to send the product directly to the production line without a goods-in inspection / Picture: Dennis Eagle

Find out more about Universal Wolf’s New Product Introduction process here.