Container Handling Equipment Manufacturers Association

The Container Handling Equipment Manufacturers Association was formed during the mid 1960s by a group of companies supplying refuse collection vehicles, skip and hook loaders, ejector trailers and static compactors to the waste industry.

CHEM members at that time recognised that there was a lack of co-ordination and communication between the manufacturers of waste container handling equipment and the container manufacturers. This situation resulted in a lack of compatibility between the two types of products, particularly in terms of size, design and dimensional standards. To overcome the problems and to ensure correct interfacing of the equipment to the container CHEM set about producing a series of CHEM standards which, for many years, have been widely accepted as industry standards.

CHEM is a voluntary association with a written constitution setting down criteria for membership and a code of conduct for members. For more details click on Constitution.

CHEM elects a chairman and vice-chairman at each annual general meeting in January. The chairmen of the technical committees are also elected at this meeting. Click on List of Officers and Technical Committees.