With 20 years of experience in refuse collection industry maintenance, Marv Banowetz knows the importance of solid technical training. He was recently named technical training manager for Heil Environmental Industries Ltd. Banowetz spent 13 years at BFI, where he worked his way up from mechanic to general manager, and joined Heil in 1996.
As technical training manager, he is responsible for all aspects of Heil's technical training program from putting together curriculum and conducting classes to coordinating and dispatching Heil's mobile training centers and field service representatives.
Besides customized on-site training, Heil offers two mobile training centers and multi-day, hands-on technical training sessions in a dedicated facility, the Joseph F Heil Jr Institute of Technology.
Recently, the company updated the Heil Institute of Technology, located next to its manufacturing facility in Fort Payne AL. This training center now combines electrical and hydraulics labs in a shop setting that includes truck bays, so students can move back and forth between lab work and hands-on training on the refuse collection vehicles being studied.
All of the classes at the institute are focused on specific Heil refuse collection vehicles. Since Heil has added seven new products in the past year, there are several corresponding new classes, as well. Each class covers:
- Basic hydraulics and DC electronics
- Cycle times and unit operation
- In-depth hydraulic system operation
- PLC principles (as applicable)
- Preventive maintenance procedures
- Hands-on adjustments and pressure settings
Each course lasts from three to 3½ days. The full fee for any course is $200, including training aids, a certificate of course completion, and lunch each day. Students are responsible for travel, lodging and meals. For customers in the West to take advantage of factory training, the same courses are also often held in Phoenix AZ.
Technicians who complete the factory training course earn continuing education units (CEUs) from Chattanooga State Community College (2.8 CEUs per 3.5-day course). These credits are transferable to most technical colleges.
For more information about training, including a complete schedule of upcoming factory training sessions, and to register, go online to www.heil.com or phone toll-free 800-251-7258.