Heil introduces a Common Body platform for its DuraPack Python and Half/Pack models

Heil, with corporate headquarters in Chattanooga, Tennessee, and a manufacturing facility in Payne, Alabama, has introduced its Common Body platform, an engineering advancement that brings together the DuraPack Python automated side loader (ASL) and Half/Pack front loader (FEL) into one unified design.

The company says the Common Body platform combines the durability and reliability of these models with a shared structure that simplifies fleet operations by reducing parts complexity and training time.

With more than 44 percent common components between the DuraPack Python and Half/Pack models, fleets benefit from streamlined parts management and reduced inventory requirements. By standardizing components, Heil, which is part of Environmental Solutions, a Terex brand, says it can respond faster and with more flexibility to its customers’ delivery needs and expectations, ensuring fleets stay on the road and operations run smoothly.

The Common Body platform features an ergonomic cab interface designed with driver feedback in mind. The system eliminates a minimum of 66 percent of in-cab buttons, creating a cleaner, more intuitive control layout, Heil says. Consistent controls across both vehicle types make it simple to switch between routes, while integrated diagnostics and a single display improve visibility and reduce service time.

Integrating 3rd Eye cameras and lights directly into the body delivers greater protection for these components, reducing maintenance, and ensures drivers have the visibility they need on the road, according to the company. Additionally, the Shur-Lock tailgate system is integrated into the tailgate bolster for improved reliability.

The 2026 DuraPack Python will be the first model built on the Common Body platform and is available for order now, with the Half/Pack model following in mid-2026. By uniting the strengths of DuraPack Python and Half/Pack, Heil says it will enhance operations and ensure the best total cost of collections for the future of waste collection.