Industry News 5/12

SPARTAN MOTORS INC. has announced the major building blocks of a global emergency response (ER) strategy.

“Emergency response is over one-third of our business and the second largest market we serve in North America,” said John Sztykiel, Spartan Motors president and CEO. “Emergency response is a growth market. Domestically, the demand for ER services continues to increase commensurate with the underlying demographic forces. Globally, the demand for ER services is about infrastructure. As economies continue to progress and develop, the demand for ER services increases.  Collectively, it is very much a growth market, so we are focused on expanding both our global presence and the scope of our domestic offerings.”

The company’s global strategy includes:

• Executing a shared strategic vision with the French company Gimaex. “Our plan is to align the Spartan and Gimaex organizations, when appropriate, to ensure future growth,” said Sztykiel.

• Collaborating with Renault to develop products for the North American market.

• Accelerating product development and continued investment. Examples include the Spartan R XO cab/chassis, a new class of aerial (Spartan’s Telstar) and Intelligent Pump Solutions (IPS).

• Global consolidation of brands. The Crimson Fire brand will be replaced with Spartan ERV and all emergency response products will be branded Spartan in all geographies.

Also, Dennis Schneider has been named president of Spartan Motors’ Emergency Response business. Schneider, who joined Spartan Motors in January as vice president, Crimson Fire, will oversee the business that designs, engineers and manufactures emergency response vehicles and cab/chassis in both the North American and global emergency response markets.

GLOBE MANUFACTURING has reached a milestone and is celebrating by giving back to fire departments in need. In honor of the company’s 125th anniversary, Globe has partnered with Dupont and the National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) to donate 125 sets of gear in 2012 to fire departments. Through this program, all-volunteer fire departments that serve a population of 25,000 or less and are in need of new gear can apply to receive up to 12 sets of Globe gear. Applications must be received by May 31, 2012, and awards will be announced monthly between July and December.

“All of us owe a huge debt of thanks to the volunteers who are the frontline of firefighting in communities across the country,” said Rob Freese, Globe senior vice president of marketing. “Working with these departments is incredibly gratifying, and we're so glad to be able to take this opportunity to improve the safety and performance of some of these volunteer fire departments with limited resources by providing their members with the most advanced turnout gear.”

Jeff Fackler, North American business segment leader for DuPont Protection Technologies, said, “DuPont is proud to participate in this important program with Globe and the National Volunteer Fire Council. Firefighters require and deserve innovative technologies with superior performance in order to do their jobs safely and effectively. Our goal is to protect more people from harm and that includes protecting those who protect us. This will allow us to protect more volunteer firefighters across the U.S. with our best technologies.”

NVFC Chairman Philip C. Stittleburg said, “We are very pleased to partner with Globe and Dupont for this incredible gear donation program. Globe is an extraordinary example of a company saying thank you to its customers by giving back. So many volunteer fire departments are struggling to provide adequate gear for their members because of financial constraints. Globe’s donation will go far to help these departments make sure their firefighters are ready when the call comes in.”

Volunteer fire departments that meet the criteria are encouraged to apply for up to 12 sets of gear for their members. The application process is being managed by the NVFC. Find criteria and apply at www.nvfc.org, and check Globe’s page on Facebook for ongoing updates.

FERRARA FIRE APPARATUS INC. has been awarded a contract by the FDNY for 13 additional 100-foot rear-mount aerial ladders. With this latest order, a total of 54 of FDNY aerials will carry the Ferrara nameplate.

“Of course, the only way we could actually prove our product was by putting them into service,” President and CEO Chris Ferrara said. “The feedback we’ve been getting from the department as a whole, along with the crews who work on these aerials, couldn’t be better. These aerial trucks meet all the standards FDNY has set for us: Tough, heavy-duty, dependable and easy for the firefighters to work with.”

METAL SHARK BOATS has named Tom Koch as Northeast regional sales representative, focusing on fire-rescue, law enforcement and commercial markets.

“We are very pleased to have Tom joining our team,” said Dean Jones, national sales manager. “His outstanding technical background and experience in the marine industry make him a quality-driven sales engineer who I am confident will contribute significantly to Metal Sharks’ continued growth in North America.”

SEAGRAVE FIRE APPARATUS has received an order for a dive-rescue unit from the Louisville Fire Department/Jefferson County Metro Government in Kentucky.

The Louisville Fire Department is situated on the Ohio River and protects many businesses, a large number of commercial and pleasure craft and the McAlpine Locks and Dam. The department uses a “task force” concept with an aerial ladder and pumper to respond with the rescue truck to water-related emergencies. The single-axle apparatus will be built on a Marauder II chassis with a 500-hp Cummins ISX engine. Delivery will take place in spring 2012.

5.11 TACTICAL has appointed Guy Burgstahler as chief marketing officer.

“We continue to invest in the 5.11 Tactical brand with the creation of the Chief Marketing Officer role,” CEO Tom Davin said. “Guy Burgstahler will further enhance our efforts to better serve public safety and military professionals around the world.”

Burgstahler’s previous positions include director of marketing at Circuit City, vice president of marketing at Pet Smart, vice president of marketing at Dick’s Sporting Goods and vice president of marketing at Tractor Supply Co.