Jack Allen group sets the pace with all-round product line up

The successful introduction of a new line in RCVs and the continuing development of other specialist products allows Jack Allen to offer customers the option of providing a "one-stop-shop" for a wide range of solutions in the waste and related sectors.


Jack Allen, a household name in the municipal vehicles market, has a long history of spotting trends and changing with the times.

The commitment of the group to modern management philosophy, while retaining the company’s traditional service-based relationship with its customers, is summed up in the “mission statement” on display on the reception area of the Aldridge base in the West Midlands.

The avowed aim of Jack Allen (Sales & Service) Ltd is “To provide our customers with products that meet or exceed their expectations and to support those products with the most efficient and effective after sales service in our industry.” Asked to give examples of how these two criteria were being met, Jonathan Allen, Managing Director, cited the successful introduction of new ranges of equipment, following the end of the group’s long standing relationship with Heil.

He told LAWE that in the first year of new arrangements with major US group OSHKOS, to supply its range of McNeilus RCVs to the British market through Jack Allen, orders topped in excess of 300, out of a market estimated at around 1,000 units per annum. The equipment, including RELs and FELs, exceeded expectations both in payload and in reduced cycle time, he said.

On the “key issue of service” Jonathan Allen said there was “total commitment” which included early start repairs to ensure that customers’ vehicles were back on the road. The company has also recently introduced GPS systems to improve the service provided by Jack Allen engineers out in the field.

While maintaining its commitment to the core business of refuse products, where a wide range of hoists is available, Jack Allen has been developing its activities across related fields.

On the roadsweepers front products range from the smallest pedestrian sweeper, the JA Madvac, to the heavy duty Powersweep.

The group now supplies JA Fuller gully tankers and combination jetters.

Specialist equipment supplied by Jack Allen ranges from airport to MOD equipment, with the latest addition being fire engines designed for airports.

The wide range of waste industry and environmental products available from the company, with the emphasis on meeting individual customer’s specifications, backs up the group’s “one-stop-shop” capability which JA terms its “Total Package Concept”.

The group’s ambitions do not stop there with another “very exciting development” likely to be announced at IWM Torbay, says Jonathan Allen.

New orders

Evidence of the acceptance of JA’s McNeilus products came in recent months with Biffa Waste Services Ltd’s decision to purchase its commercial RCV requirements from the company. A further eleven 43yd3 McNeilus FELs and one 32yd3 were ordered. Jack Allen reports that there has been a two-way relationship across the Atlantic, with the American manufacturer taking an interest in the JA Big Bite and Euro V hoists, which are stated to have provided vast improvements to the REL.

Sid Sadique, Biffa’s Group Fleet Engineer, said: “Our business is successful due to the high levels of service we provide to our customers. The FEL body, from McNeilus, is robust and simple and will inevitability provide reliability, in service and also low whole life operating costs.”

JA Swinglink RCVs have also been notching up the orders. UK Waste Management recently took delivery of nine more of these machines. All the RCV bodies were built on ERF chassis with LNG engines (supplied by ERF Manchester Ltd). Seven of the gas powered chassis are centre steer.

In the local authority sector, Stevenage BC has purchased one JA Swinglink 22 and two 27m3 all with Euro V hoist mounted to a Seddon Atkinson chassis, and Havant BC has purchased two JA Swinglink 22s in open back form, with drop down rave, both mounted to Seddon Atkinson Pacer chassis.


Action inspires action. Stay ahead of the curve with sustainability and energy newsletters from edie

Subscribe