Classic Refuse Trucks LEACH

The End Of Leach Company,
and New Life with Labrie

Early production 2R-III models featuring the new curved body shell

    The first curved-shell rear loader from Leach was previewed at the Waste Expo show in 2002, a working prototype with 2-R tailgate. It was not until 2004 though, that the new 2R-III Packmaster was officially announced. This latest version of the famous 2-R featured a 3.5 cubic yard hopper the new FastPak system, a hydraulic system upgrade, first introduced on the 2R-II, that slashed cycle time to 24 seconds. The reason for the delay in the production of the 2R-III likely lay in the fact that Leach was in the process of being sold. It would be the last design to emerge from Oshkosh, where Leach had been building refuse bodies for seventy years.

    Family-owned since 1887, the Leach Company had begun to sell off its stock to Federal Signal Corporation in late 2002, completing the transfer early the following year. In July of 2004 came the sad news; The 500,000 square foot factory at Oshkosh would be shut down sometime in 2005. Leach rear loaders would in the future be built in Canada at Medicine Hat, Alberta. Federal Signal had also recently acquired Wittke, which was already building refuse bodies at that location. The loss of nearly 200 manufacturing jobs at Leach was yet another blow to an area already hard-hit by an evaporating Midwest manufacturing base. Feelings were bitter, both among employees and the City of Oshkosh, which had resolved never to buy Leach refuse equipment again.

    While such feelings were understandable, the only consolation lay in the fact that had Leach not sold to Federal Signal, the company would probably have disappeared altogether. The economic conditions around the turn of the century had wiped out Loadmaster and Dempster, and almost killed Pak-Mor and E-Z Pack. Maxon had survived, but was no longer building refuse equipment. There would be little to celebrate in Medicine Hat either. By 2005, Federal Signal had already had enough of the refuse body business, and sold off the Leach assets to Quebec-based Labrie Environmental. The sale was finalized on August, 4, 2006.

2R-III brochure from the short-lived Federal Signal era

Under Federal Signal, the old 2R-II was retained and sold alongside the new curved-shell 2R-III. The smaller Alpha-Beta-Delta series rear loaders were updated with similar curved bodywork to that of the 2R-III. The FL-104 front loader was discontinued, and was replaced by Wittke front loaders wearing Leach badges.

Since acquiring Leach, Labrie has discontinued the 2R-II, and the Alpha-Beta-Delta clones have wisely been pared down to a single model. They currently sell the high compaction 2R-III, and the mid-range Alpha-III. These two models are manufactured by Labrie at Saint-Nicolas, Quebec, but are still sold under the Leach brand name. A sales and service division is also located in Appleton, Wisconsin. The Wittke front loaders were also acquired by Labrie, but have reverted back to being Wittke brand, no longer wearing Leach badges. These two products compliment Labrie's existing side loader line.

A short-lived hybrid; Leach-badged Wittke front loader

2004 Alpha-III curved-shell rear loader

Above and below; CRT contributor Bruce Polit demonstrates a 20 cubic yard 2R-III he drives for the City of Chicago

Stable ownership by Labrie has been good for Leach, and they deserve credit for bringing the brand back from the ashes of Federal Signal, to a competitive position amongst the worlds premiere rear loaders. Cyril Gollnick would undoubtedly be pleased with how his groundbreaking design of 1959 has evolved. It is indeed a happy birthday for the vaunted 2R, and Classic Refuse Trucks wishes Leach and Labrie many more!

OTHER RELATED LEACH FEATURES AVAILABLE AT CRT:

Preserved Early Packmaster (CWR)

Preserved Early Packmaster (Ankeny Sanitation)

Preserved Middle Style Packmaster (Chris Piechert)

Preserved Refuse Getter (Tom Duckham)

Vintage Leach/Schorling 2-R Video Playlist at YouTube

10/4/09