 
SOCIMA
Société De Construction Industrielle De Matériels
Putreaux, France
SOCIMA was the licensee in France for the Roto-Pac continuous-loading refuse truck. It is not known if these bodies were made in France, or imported from City Tank Corporation in the United States, but the latter seems most likely, since the SOCIMA models closely mirror the dimensions and styling of their American counterparts. Tilt-to-dump bodies were rated at 10,12,14 and 16m3 capacities. The first models probably went on sale in the mid-1950s, and had a narrow hopper and angular packer covers. Later, this changed to rounded covers with either a narrow or wide hopper, much like the USA versions.
The Roto-Pac escalator-compactor had struggled to find a wide market in America, being kept alive mostly on the strength of municipal orders from New York and Philadelphia. However, it was more at home in urban areas of Europe where continuous loaders had long dominated. Some features from American models were carried over, like the Roto-Can container system with bins ranging from 250 to 1,000 litres. Other features, like dustless shutters for small “Ochsner” type bins were distinctly European.
The SOCIMA Roto-Pac enjoyed a fairly long run in France, but by the late 1960s was facing stiff competition from the new SEMAT Superpac, with its revolving rake system which was continuous and could handle a much bulkier refuse stream. At the same time, City Tank lost its municipal Roto-Pac customers, and American production ceased in the early 1970s. SOCIMA models seem to have been phased-out at about the same time.
10/27/19
© 2019
All Rights Reserved
Logos shown are the trademarks of respective manufacturers
Photos from factory brochures/trade advertisements except as noted
|
| |