Until 1975, KUKA was the market leader of garbage trucks in Germany. However, in 1972, Schörling began building the 2-R Packmaster under license from Leach Company (USA) for the German market. Consequently, KUKA lost a lot of customers to Schörling between the years 1972 and 1975. KUKA knew that they had to build a new type of garbage truck in order to win back the customers they had lost. In 1975, they designed a garbage truck especially for the collection of bulky refuse, thus the KUKA 218 was born. This garbage truck has a similar method of compaction as used by the Heil Colectomatic MK-II/MK-III, utilizing a hinged hopper which was swung upwards by hydraulic cylinders on either side, and then swept clean by a pivoting packer plate. The 218 is also very similar in function and appearance to the Swiss-made Ochsner KS 2, except that the hopper on the Ochsner is raised vertically instead of pivoting. 
1/7/07 (revised 4/8/23) © 2007 All Rights Reserved Photos from factory brochures/advertisements except as noted Logos shown are the trademarks of respective manufacturers |