Pierce Manufacturing, an Oshkosh Corporation (NYSE:OSK) company, and the leading U.S. manufacturer of fire and emergency vehicles, is celebrating its 100th Anniversary in 2013. Pierce is kicking off its yearlong commemoration by launching a special website section located at www.piercemfg.com/100thAnniversary. The site features an interactive historical timeline, a 100thAnniversary video, a photo contest, limited edition merchandise, and upcoming events.
The Pierce 100th Anniversary website, along with social media posts, will provide information about the company’s history and centennial events, including a 100th Anniversary Open House celebration in Appleton, WI, on July 13, 2013. The website is also a venue where people can share special memories and photos.
“Pierce is a company with humble beginnings, a rich history, and an exciting future,” said Jim Johnson, Oshkosh Corporation executive vice president and president of the Fire & Emergency segment and Pierce Manufacturing. “It is significant that only a small fraction of companies from any industry achieve the 100-year milestone. On behalf of Pierce employees, and all those who preceded us, we pledge an unwavering level of commitment to firefighters, and boldness in our thinking, as we look ahead to the next one hundred years.”
Founded in 1913 by Humphrey and Dudley Pierce in Appleton, Pierce Manufacturing first built after-market bodies for Ford Model T chassis. In 1939, the company manufactured its first fire truck body and grew to 20 employees. In 1958, ushering in a new era of boom and platform vehicles, Pierce designed the first ever articulating aerial apparatus that was used to reach up and over tall obstructions. Pierce introduced its first custom chassis and body – the Arrow – in 1982, and that design changed the face of the modern fire industry.
More recent examples of Pierce innovations include industry firsts like the Dash® CF fire apparatus (that features an innovative cab-forward design), frontal airbags and the side roll protection systems, and the patented Pierce Ultimate Configuration (PUC) response vehicle. Other examples include Command Zone™ advanced electronics to enhance vehicle troubleshooting and reliability, and TAK-4® independent front suspension for unmatched vehicle maneuverability. Pierce engineers and manufactures its own Husky® foam and Hercules® compressed air foam systems that more effectively attack and suppress structural, wildland, automobile, and fuel fires. Every vehicle component is designed to help firefighters perform safely at their highest level.
“The more than 2,000 people who work for Pierce, including many families with multiple generations of service, are our backbone – and the reason for our longevity, success and growth,” added Johnson. “Pierce employees think of their work as more of a vocation than a job, and the average employee tenure is nearly 20 years. That speaks volumes.”
Pierce markets its products through the industry’s largest and most comprehensive dealer and service network. The company enjoys a nationwide web of dealerships with over 600 certified and factory-trained Service Brigade technicians and over 50 service centers. Pierce also offers custom training sessions for fire departments.
