Classic Refuse Trucks ORBITAL / ORBIE

ORBITAL COLLECTION SYSTEMS
By Eric Voytko

Based in Washington, D.C., Orbital was not a manufacturer, but an importer and distributor of European rotary refuse bodies. Beginning around 1973, these were packaged with domestic truck chassis (International Harvester seems to have been their model of choice) and badged as "Orbie". It is unknown where the bodies were actually assembled to the American chassis. The first model was the Orbie 215G (or simply "G") which was a German-made KUKA Shark body. Later models were built in Italy by Achille Talenti Co. The smallest rotary in the line, the Orbie 850, came mounted on an OM-Fiat Zeta series truck, and was likely imported as a completed vehicle from Italy.

Orbie was advertised as a "total waste-collection system", which included materials and equipment, as well as uniforms, how-to manuals, communications support and computerized routing service, with no capital investment. In 1974, Orbital Systems acquired their body supplier Talenti. The Orbie was the last serious attempt to market the rotary drum refuse collector concept in the United States. They may have survived until the end of the decade.

The first Orbie model was the 215G, which is quite obviously a re-badged KUKA 215G body

Early-model Orbie 215G demonstrator on an International Harvester CO chassis

By 1975 the lineup consisted of the 850 (10,000 lbs payload), 202B (16,000 lbs), and 202A (24,000 lbs)

The 202 series, built in Italy by Talenti, replaced the 215G as the flagship model

The Orbie was sold as a complete unit, with the body mounted to chassis.
This 202A has had its International Cargostar badging removed (or airbrushed out) to establish brand identity

Cut-away drawing of the 202 body. The drum is driven by a hydro-motor at the front bearing

Dana Gregory photographed this 202A, a rare example of an Orbital body on a Ford C-series chassis.
This demonstrator's markings read "Orbital Collections Systems Inc., Hyattsville MD"

Th lighter Orbie 202B was sold on a single-axle IHC Cargostar

This 202 has an optional lift, capable of handling U.S.-style rear-load containers up to 6-yards
Orbie also sold the uniform and trash bags pictured here.

Orbie 202A on a 2-week trial in the Bronx for the New York City Department on Sanitation in 1975.
The 202 is also known to have been used in small numbers by Milwaukee and Philadelphia

An Orbie 600 scooter next to the 850, which was the smallest Orbie, shown here on a right-hand drive OM/Fiat cabover chassis

The 850 was probably assembled in Italy, with left-hand drive conversion done there, or after importation to the USA

An Orbie 600 Satellite Scooter discharging into a "mother" truck. These were also made in Italy by Piaggio, and called the Ape (Italian for "Bee").
First appearing in 1948, the Ape scooters are still in production to this day

Support materials such as hangers, and sacks made of paper (left) or plastic (right) were available

1974 Orbital trade advertisement

REFERENCES

Talenti page at Classic Refuse Trucks

KUKA album at Classic Refuse Trucks

Vintage Orbital Systems literature in PDF at the Classic Refuse Trucks Library

11/6/09 (Revised 1/3/21)