Sealed garbage truck: a core piece of sanitation transportation equipment that is fully enclosed and prevents pollution.

I. Core Definition of Sealed Garbage Trucks Sealed garbage trucks (commonly known as "sealed compression garbage trucks") are specialized sanitation vehicles with "fully enclosed structure + garbage compression + leak-free transfer" as their core functions. Their core components include five modules: truck chassis, fully sealed compartment, hydraulic compression system, sealed door mechanism, and electrical control system. The rated load capacity ranges from 5 to 25 tons, and the compartment volume ranges from 8 to 30 cubic meters. Their core value lies in "fully sealed pollution prevention + efficient loading + long-distance transfer." Through the fully sealed compartment design (including top, side, and rear seals) and leak-proof structure, no leachate dripping, no odor diffusion, and no garbage scattering are achieved throughout the garbage transfer process. Simultaneously, the hydraulic compression system can compress the garbage volume to 1/3 to 1/2 of its original volume, improving loading efficiency. It is a key transfer equipment connecting community centralized collection points, garbage transfer stations, and end-of-life treatment plants, adapting to the needs of "environmentally friendly and large-scale" sanitation operations. II. Development History The industrial development of sealed garbage trucks began in the 1960s. Addressing the problems of traditional open garbage trucks, such as pollution and odor nuisance along the way, European and American countries introduced the first generation of simple sealed garbage trucks, the core of which was a basic seal achieved by adding a lid to the truck body. In the 1980s, upgrades in hydraulic compression technology and sealing materials drove industry innovation, transforming garbage trucks from "simple sealing" to an integrated design of "sealing + compression," increasing loading capacity by more than 50%. At the same time, German and Japanese companies developed double-sealed doors and leak-proof floor plates to solve the problem of leachate pollution. China achieved a breakthrough in domestic production in the late 1990s (e.g., Zoomlion and Hubei Chengli's first 8-ton sealed garbage truck). In the early 21st century, with the upgrading of urban environmental protection requirements and the increase in garbage generation, the industry entered a period of rapid development, with companies such as Fulongma, Aerospace Chenguang, and Sinotruk Wangpai gradually achieving large-scale production. In recent years, driven by the "dual-carbon strategy + strong environmental protection supervision", the company has made breakthroughs in core technologies such as new energy chassis (pure electric and hybrid), intelligent sealing monitoring, and integrated deodorization and sterilization. Its products are widely used in main roads of large and medium-sized cities, garbage transfer stations and other scenarios. China has become the world's largest producer and consumer, and exports to more than 40 countries in Southeast Asia, Europe and other regions. III. Core Characteristics Analysis

(I) Core Functional Characteristics

The core advantages of the sealed garbage truck are reflected in "fully enclosed pollution prevention + high-efficiency compression": In terms of environmental protection and sealing, it adopts a "triple sealing" design (sealed body of the truck + rubber seal of the door + seal of the leachate collection tank), with a leachate collection rate of 100%. There is no odor diffusion during operation and driving (the truck is equipped with an activated carbon deodorization device) and no garbage spillage, which complies with GB 18598-2019 "Pollution Control Standard for Municipal Solid Waste Landfills"; In terms of loading efficiency, the hydraulic compression system pressure can reach 12~18MPa, and the garbage compression ratio is 3:1~5:1, which increases the loading capacity by 60%~100% compared with ordinary sealed trucks, resulting in a larger single transfer volume and reduced transportation frequency; In terms of convenient operation, it supports the fully automated process of "one-click compression - sealing - unloading", with dual operation modes in the cab and on the ground. The daily transfer volume of a single truck can reach 80~150 tons, which is suitable for large-scale transfer needs. (II) Structural and Performance Characteristics The vehicle adopts an integrated design of "medium/heavy truck chassis + fully sealed compression box + hydraulic system". The chassis is mostly a special sanitation chassis (such as Dongfeng Tianjin, Foton Auman, Sinotruk Howo), with a load capacity of 5~25 tons and a maximum speed of 90km/h, meeting the needs of medium and long-distance transportation. The box material is Q690 grade high-strength alloy steel or stainless steel, which is CNC welded and integrally formed. The inner wall anti-corrosion coating is resistant to acid and alkali corrosion, and the service life is increased by 30% compared with ordinary steel plates. The compression system consists of a high-pressure hydraulic pump, multi-way valve, and compression push plate. The push plate thrust can reach 15~30 tons, and the compression process is smooth and shock-free. The safety protection system is complete, equipped with sealing door locking device, overload protection, leakage overflow alarm, fire prevention and flame retardant device, etc., with an operational safety factor of ≥1.5. (III) Scenario Adaptability Characteristics Diverse scenarios can be adapted through tonnage and functional differentiation: Medium-sized vehicles (5-12 tons) are suitable for short-distance transfers from urban main roads and community centralized collection points to transfer stations, with 8-15 cubic meter cargo compartments balancing flexibility and loading capacity; Heavy-duty vehicles (15-25 tons) are suitable for medium- and long-distance transfers from waste transfer stations to landfills/incineration plants, with 30 cubic meter large-capacity cargo compartments meeting the needs of large-scale transfers; In terms of special-purpose vehicles, food waste sealed vehicles are equipped with insulated sealed cargo compartments and solid-liquid separation devices to prevent leakage and deterioration; medical waste sealed vehicles adopt negative pressure sealing structures and disinfection devices, complying with medical waste transfer standards; New energy sealed vehicles (pure electric/hybrid) are suitable for zero-emission scenarios such as urban core areas and scenic spots. IV. Mainstream Production Processes

(I) Core Production Process (Mainstream Process)
The production of sealed garbage trucks is centered on "sealed structure manufacturing + compression system integration". Key processes include:
1) Chassis selection and modification: Selecting medium/heavy truck chassis according to load requirements, reinforcing the frame, installing hydraulic oil tanks, and adapting the power take-off (powered by the engine or electric motor);
2) Sealed truck body manufacturing: High-strength steel plates are CNC cut and bent, then robotically welded (weld pass rate ≥99.8%). After welding, acid pickling and phosphating, anti-corrosion spraying, and installation of triple sealing devices, leachate collection tanks, and sewage outlets are performed;
3) Compression and sealing system assembly: Installing hydraulic compression push plates, sealing doors, high-pressure hydraulic pumps, and other components, connecting hydraulic pipelines, and conducting sealing performance tests (leakage test duration ≥24 hours);
4) Complete machine assembly and debugging: Integrating the electronic control system, conducting compression cycle tests (≥1000 times), sealing performance testing, and driving performance testing, ultimately passing GB/T... 19001, sanitation equipment is certified for special use. This process is highly automated, and the production cycle for standard models is approximately 20-40 days. (II) Technological Upgrade Directions With the increasing demands for environmental protection and the upgrading of intelligent sanitation systems, the industry is accelerating technological innovation: First, lightweight manufacturing, using high-strength aluminum alloys and carbon fiber composite materials to produce the cargo box, reducing the overall vehicle weight by 12%~18% and reducing fuel/electricity consumption by 10%~15%; Second, intelligent upgrading, integrating real-time monitoring of sealing performance (such as leakage sensors), garbage compression density detection, remote scheduling, and operation trajectory tracking systems, with some high-end models achieving intelligent coordination of "automatic compression - full box alarm - route optimization"; Third, new energy transformation, developing pure electric (range 150~300km), hybrid (oil-electric/gas-electric), and hydrogen fuel cell chassis models, with pure electric models equipped with fast charging technology (fully charged in 1.5~2.5 hours) and large-capacity battery packs, suitable for medium and long-distance transportation; Fourth, environmental protection process upgrades, using water-based paint spraying and welding fume purification systems, reducing pollutant emissions during production by more than 65%, adding antibacterial and deodorizing coatings to the inner walls of the cargo box, and adopting an anti-clogging design for the leachate collection tank. (III) Core Component Manufacturing Process Key component technologies become core competitiveness: 1) Sealing System: The door adopts a dual structure of "air-filled rubber seal + mechanical compression," with a sealing gap ≤0.1mm, resistant to high and low temperatures (-30℃~60℃) and acid and alkali corrosion; 2) Hydraulic Compression System: The high-pressure hydraulic pump adopts precision casting + five-axis machining, with pressure fluctuation ≤±5%, and the compression push plate adopts wear-resistant lining, with a service life ≥50,000 cycles; 3) Electrical Control System: A dedicated controller (ECU) is developed, integrating a sealing safety interlock function (such as prohibiting driving if the sealed door is not locked), with a response time ≤0.2 seconds, supporting manual/automatic/remote control three-mode operation. V. Core Application Areas (I) Large-Scale Urban and Rural Sanitation Transfer (Traditional Core Area) More than 70% of the world's sealed garbage trucks are used for large-scale urban and rural sanitation transfer, making them core equipment in the "mid-range transfer" of garbage. In large and medium-sized cities, medium-sized sealed garbage trucks collect garbage from community collection points and commercial street bins along main roads, compress it, and then transfer it to garbage transfer stations, improving transfer efficiency. Heavy-duty sealed garbage trucks undertake long-distance transfers from transfer stations to landfills/incineration plants, with large-capacity compressed compartments reducing transport frequency and lowering logistics costs. In county and township scenarios, medium-sized sealed trucks are suitable for the "township collection - county transfer" model, and the fully sealed design prevents garbage from polluting rural roads and the environment along the way. (II) Special Waste Transfer (Important Application Scenarios) In the field of food waste transfer, dedicated sealed garbage trucks achieve integrated "sealed collection - insulated transfer - solid-liquid separation" of food waste, preventing leakage, deterioration, and odor, and are suitable for centralized transfer in catering enterprises and canteens; in the field of medical waste transfer, negative pressure sealed garbage trucks are equipped with ultraviolet disinfection and negative pressure isolation devices to avoid virus transmission and comply with the requirements of the "Regulations on the Management of Medical Waste"; in the field of industrial waste transfer, corrosion-resistant sealed garbage trucks are suitable for corrosive waste such as chemical waste and electroplating waste, and the anti-corrosion coating and sealing structure of the truck body prevent environmental pollution; in high-end scenarios such as scenic spots and airports, new energy sealed garbage trucks achieve zero-emission and low-noise transfer, taking into account both environmental protection and scenario adaptability. (III) Emergency and Specialty Fields (Growth Drivers) In the field of emergency rescue, heavy-duty sealed garbage trucks are used for the large-scale transportation of garbage and medical waste after disasters such as earthquakes, floods, and epidemics. These trucks, equipped with large-capacity compartments, quickly clean up garbage in disaster areas and prevent the spread of pollution. In the field of large-scale event support (such as the Olympics and the World Expo), multiple sealed garbage trucks are deployed to achieve "fixed-point collection - centralized compression - rapid transfer," ensuring the cleanliness of the event area. In the military field, they are used for the centralized transfer of garbage in military camps and bases. The sealed design avoids exposing targets, and some models have off-road capabilities. In cold chain parks and food processing bases, specialized sealed trucks are used to transport food waste and kitchen waste. The heat insulation and anti-deterioration and anti-leakage designs meet food safety requirements. VI. Market Development Trends (I) Rapid Demand Growth and Significant Upgrades in High-End and Environmental Protection In 2024, China's production capacity of sealed garbage trucks was approximately 90,000 units, accounting for 78% of the global market, with a market size exceeding 22 billion yuan. The average annual compound growth rate is expected to remain at 9.0%~10.5% over the next five years. Among them, the demand for new energy (pure electric, hybrid), intelligent, and special-purpose vehicles is growing the fastest, with its share increasing from 35% in 2024 to over 60% in 2029. Currently, the import dependence of core components for high-end vehicles (such as high-pressure hydraulic pumps and imported seals) is about 20%, mainly relying on imports from Germany and Japan. Strong environmental protection regulations, increased waste generation, and the promotion of waste sorting are the core driving forces for demand. (II) Concentrated production capacity and regional cluster development Global sealed garbage truck production capacity is mainly concentrated in China (Zoomlion, Fulongma, Chengli Automobile, Sinotruk Wangpai), Germany (MAN), Japan (Isuzu), and other countries. Domestic production capacity is mainly distributed in industrial clusters such as Suizhou, Hubei (the capital of special-purpose vehicles), Jining, Shandong, Changsha, Hunan, and Foshan, Guangdong. Industry concentration continues to increase, with the top ten companies accounting for 65.3% of the total production capacity. Leading companies are building competitive barriers through the integration of the "chassis - sealed compartment - core components" industrial chain, while small and medium-sized enterprises are focusing on medium-sized models or niche specialized fields (such as sealed garbage trucks for kitchen waste). (III) Technological innovation drives green and intelligent development as the core direction. The "dual-carbon" strategy and strong environmental regulations are driving industry transformation, with new energy, intelligence, and sealing technology upgrades becoming core competitiveness. Policies require that the penetration rate of new energy vehicles for sanitation transport vehicles in first-tier cities reach 55% by 2025, forcing companies to increase R&D on pure electric and hydrogen fuel cell vehicles. In terms of intelligence, 5G + remote monitoring, AI sealing performance testing, and automatic compression optimization technology are gradually becoming widespread, and it is expected that the proportion of intelligent products will exceed 50% by 2027. In the medium to long term, the ultimate sealing performance, the maximization of compression efficiency, the clean energy form, and the unmanned operation process will reshape the industry landscape. (IV) Price Fluctuations and Strategic Layout The price of sealed garbage trucks is affected by multiple factors: upstream raw materials (high-strength steel plates saw an average price increase of 12% in 2024, and lithium batteries saw an 8% increase), medium and heavy-duty truck chassis (accounting for 40%~45% of costs), and high-pressure hydraulic components—price fluctuations directly impact production costs; downstream urban and rural sanitation procurement budgets, the enforcement of environmental policies, and the construction progress of garbage treatment facilities influence demand; environmental standards (National VI emission standards), new energy subsidy policies, and special vehicle access standards affect the supply structure. Due to its irreplaceable role in the mid-range transfer segment of sanitation, sealed garbage trucks have become a strategic sub-segment of the sanitation equipment industry. Companies are strengthening the R&D of core components such as high-pressure hydraulic systems and high-end sealing parts (e.g., Zoomlion's independently developed integrated sealing and compression system), new energy technology layout, and overseas market expansion. Simultaneously, they are developing integrated solutions of "vehicles + transfer services + leachate treatment" to enhance their bargaining power in the industry chain.