Talking Technical with Simon McCulloch

At Dennis Eagle, our Technical Sales team provides key support to both existing and new customers, and heading up this team is Simon McCulloch. Officially, he is our Technical Sales Manager, but to our sales team, he is our go-to product expert.

All agree it’s a role he fills exceptionally well.

Simon explains how he came into the industry.

“My dad was an engineer all his life and I always wanted to be a design engineer.”

“I went to college to study engineering and during this time I was invited along to my first ever job interview by a bin lift manufacturer when I was 18. Luckily, they offered me a job, which I grabbed with both hands, knowing that this would give me the opportunity to gain both the academic foundations and hands-on experience I needed to progress.

“It was clear that I had opportunities to develop and carve out a good career in this sector. During my 15 years at the company, I progressed through the business working in numerous departments including production, aftermarket, technical support, and design - focusing on electrical systems and software development. In 2010, I worked with a bin weighing company for two years before eventually joining Dennis Eagle in 2012.

“I’m now in the fortunate position of having a lot of experience from working in so many different roles. It has given me a degree of empathy for all the different departments within the company which has proved very useful.
“Fundamentally, I’m an engineer at heart. The amount of engineering that goes into our products is clear to see. Every day brings a new challenge which keeps the job exciting. There’s always something new, from cybersecurity to electrification.

“And I think what we achieve as a business – challenging the larger Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) – is absolutely fantastic.”

Outside of work, family and friends figure high on Simon’s agenda. He is married with a daughter and keeps fit by playing five-a-side football and cycling.

Following his favourite football team (Aston Villa) or socialising with friends is important to Simon, as well as touring on his motorbike. But even as a self-confessed petrolhead, he is adamant that the future of the industry has to be electric.

“Achieving sustainable waste collection is so important. Electrification is what this industry needs, with sustainable energy at source.

“We also need to help develop the skill sets of people within the industry and grow their knowledge about electric vehicles, just as they’ve always known about internal combustion engines.

“We work in a great industry, and it is one I hope to continue developing for many years to come.”