Industry News 4/15

SAFE FLEET has acquired ELKHART BRASS. Since 1902, Elkhart Brass has been a manufacturer of innovative firefighting and fire protection equipment. Elkhart Brass manufactures 2,000 products, including monitors, valves, nozzles, appliances and accessories used in virtually every aspect of firefighting. Elkhart products can be found in fire departments around the world, building systems and off-shore drilling sites, as well as in military, marine and industrial firefighting applications.

“We’re very excited to welcome Elkhart Brass into the Safe Fleet family. This acquisition supports our vision to build the leading global provider of safety solutions for fleet vehicles,” said John R. Knox, president and CEO of Safe Fleet. “The combination of Elkhart Brass with FRC and FoamPro will enable us to develop integrated systems of monitors, valves, foam proportioning and electronic controls for the global emergency market. In addition, Safe Fleet will have one of the largest direct sales forces in North America with over 20 individuals dedicated to serving the firefighting industry.”

Hans Ashbaugh, CEO and owner of Elkhart Brass, said, “Safe Fleet is an excellent home for Elkhart Brass, our employees, customers, partners and suppliers around the world. Although I am retiring in conjunction with the change of ownership to Safe Fleet, the remainder of the Elkhart management and organization will continue to run Elkhart Brass. For our valued employees, customers and suppliers, it is business as usual.”

The Elkhart Brass acquisition is the third for Safe Fleet, which was formed in September, 2013 when ROM Corp. and SMI Corp. merged.

BULLEX received two Manufacturing Leadership Awards in March. News of this award comes in the same month as BullEx celebrates the 10th anniversary of its founding. The Manufacturing Leadership Awards are presented by the Manufacturing Leadership Council, a group of expert judges with expansive knowledge in the manufacturing industry. The awards are intended to recognize world-class manufacturing companies worldwide that are shaping the future of global manufacturing. Past winners include IBM, Boeing and BMW.

In addition to winning in two categories, BullEx is also eligible for the High Achiever’s Award and the 2014 Manufacturer of the Year award, which will be announced at the MLA Awards Gala on June 4, 2015.

BullEx’s patented digital technology, as seen in both its Attack Firefighter Training System and BullsEye Fire Extinguisher Training System, won the award for New Product Leadership. The Attack system lets firefighters conduct hands-on training in outdated burn towers, acquired structures, and any other location where fire emergencies may occur. Similarly, the BullsEye allows firefighters and workplace safety programs to conduct hands-on extinguisher training in the community without the mess, danger, and environmental hazards of diesel fuel and dry chemical extinguishers.

As environmental burn restrictions have become tighter in recent years, many fire departments are left without the ability to regularly conduct live-burn training. The Attack system has proven invaluable to the hundreds of fire departments that have been able to resurrect hands-on training and supplement their live-burn training. Furthermore, recent research suggests a link between firefighters and cancer. The Attack enables firefighters to limit their exposure to dangerous carcinogens.

Additionally, BullEx’s Smart Class A technology won in the Sustainability Leadership Award category. This technology creates fire using both gas and wood, letting firefighters conduct repeatable evolutions with Class A materials. Smart Class A lets firefighters train using real heat and smoke as many times as necessary. The Smart Class A system includes an afterburner that cleans the smoke and hydrocarbon air before it is released from the training environment. This lets firefighters train without releasing toxic air into their community’s environment.

SMEAL FIRE APPARATUS CO. has announced that ATLANTIC COAST FIRE TRUCKS, the authorized sales and service dealer for Smeal, US Tanker and LTC apparatus in North Carolina, South Carolina and eastern Tennessee, has opened a new service facility in Denver, NC, northwest of Charlotte. The 7,500-square -foot facility provides fire apparatus service, including preventive maintenance programs, chassis service, including brake repair replacement, electrical and hydraulic system repairs, aerial and pump repairs.

 “Providing both exceptional, customized products and service is a long-standing priority for Smeal, and we’re very happy that Atlantic Coast Fire Trucks has made this commitment to expanding and enhancing service for our customers, including the City of Charlotte, where the entire fleet of front-line apparatus are Smeal brand,” said Jeff Wegner, Smeal’s vice president of sales.

GLOBE, DUPONT PROTECTION TECHNOLOGIES and the NATIONAL VOLUNTEER FIRE COUNCIL (NVFC) are partnering to help resource-constrained fire departments obtain needed turnout gear. The application period for the 2015 Globe Gear Giveaway program is now open and eligible departments can apply for four sets of CLASSIX turnout gear for their members. Thirteen department awards will be made, for a total of 52 sets of gear.

“We are very pleased to be partnering with Globe and DuPont Protection Technologies on this outstanding program to help better equip and prepare local volunteer fire departments,” said NVFC Chairman Philip C. Stittleburg. “Many volunteer departments are struggling to provide adequate protection to their firefighters, and this program has a significant impact on assisting those most in need. We thank Globe and DuPont Protection Technologies for giving back so generously to those who serve.”

Rob Freese, Globe senior vice president of marketing, said, “At Globe, firefighter safety is not just our business – it’s our passion. We’re grateful for the service provided by volunteer firefighters across the country and glad that we can improve their safety and performance with the most advanced turnout gear.”

Lisa Roessler, North American marketing manager, DuPont Protection Technologies, said, “DuPont is proud to be working together with Globe to support the NVFC again this year on this much needed gear donation program. With our strong commitment to help protect our protectors we want to help ensure that they have the right gear to focus on their job and their communities. Working with Globe we can make the best for the best – 100% of Globe’s turnout gear is made with DuPont Nomex and Kevlar fibers providing proven protection and top performance.”

The Globe Gear Giveaway program was launched in 2012 to celebrate Globe’s 125th anniversary. To date, the program has provided 247 sets of new turnout gear to 43 departments.

To be eligible to apply for four sets of Globe gear, departments must meet the following requirements:

• Be all-volunteer or mostly volunteer (over 50%)

• Serve a population of 25,000 or less

• Be located in the U.S. or Canada and legally organized under state/province law

• Demonstrate a need for the gear

• Department or person applying must be a member of the NVFC

View full criteria at www.nvfc.org/globe-gear-donation. Globe is helping departments meet the membership criteria by providing the first 200 non-members to apply with a complimentary NVFC department membership.

CUMMINS INC. has announced details surrounding Connected Diagnostics, the first application within the Connected Solutions suite that has been designed to work seamlessly with leading telematics providers. Cummins Connected Solutions is an innovative group of products that utilize the connection of a Cummins electronic engine to a vehicle's on-board telematics system.

Connected Diagnostics gathers engine data to provide customers with immediate expert recommendations in response to engine fault information. Connected Diagnostics uses Cummins expert guidance to provide thorough recommendations so customers can make the most informed decision at the time of the notification. This will help maintain productivity and maximize uptime for customers.

“Cummins is excited to provide this service for our customers to help enable their success,” said John Malina, executive director of Connectivity and Data Integration Business. “We are committed to continuing our promise of providing exceptional customer support, and Connected Diagnostics is one more tool that allows us to deliver on this promise.”

Providing key information about an engine system fault in a short amount of time lets customers address potential issues before the mission is impacted. With Connected Diagnostics, the operator and the fleet manager will have information seconds after an urgent fault occurs to allow for time-critical mission management decisions to be made, thus reducing the potential for progressive damage to vital engine and emissions components and improving driver satisfaction.

STIHL INC. has been awarded the Governor’s Award for Excellence in the Virginia Fire Service Support-Private Sector, which recognizes a private-sector or nonprofit entity that has demonstrated exceptional dedication to the success of the fire services throughout the Commonwealth of Virginia. Product Manager Dan Pherson accepted the award on behalf of STIHL at the Virginia Fire & Rescue Conference on Feb. 21 at the Virginia Beach Convention Center.

PIERCE MANUFACTURING INC. reports that sales of its newest custom chassis – the Pierce Saber and Enforcer – have quickly reached, and are surpassing important milestones. In December 2014, the 100th custom apparatus was purchased by the Ormond Beach Fire Department in Florida. Introduced in March 2014, Pierce Saber and Enforcer orders now total more than 150 vehicles sold.

“Achieving these sales milestones 10 months from the launch of the new Saber and Enforcer chassis is a tremendous accomplishment, and we continue to see strong growth among departments large and small, from coast to coast,” said Jim Johnson, Oshkosh Corp. executive vice president and president, Fire & Emergency. “The new Saber and Enforcer are further proof positive that Pierce continues to deliver industry-leading performance, reliability and value across the widest range of custom chassis.”

Battalion Commander Nate Quartier of the Ormond Beach Fire Department said, “As with many fire departments, exercising fiscal responsibility is a top priority when making large purchases. The Pierce Saber pumper’s standard features allowed us to keep additional costs down without sacrificing the quality and durability of the materials. It’s a win-win for our department and our community.”

HURST JAWS OF LIFE has added THE RESCUE STORE to its distributor network. Based in Pennsylvania and owned by William Finley, The Rescue Store will carry Hurst’s 5,000-psi, 10,000-psi and eDRAULIC product lines. The distributor will also sell Vetter and Airshore products, members of the Hurst family of rescue brands.

“We are proud to partner with The Rescue Store, which specializes in rescue system sales, repairs and maintenance across Pennsylvania,” said Mike Canon, North American sales manager for Hurst. “This distributor serves more than two dozen counties across the commonwealth and we’re excited to add them to our network of rescue professionals.”

The Rescue Store services the following Pennsylvania counties: Allegheny, Armstrong, Beaver, Bedford, Blair, Butler, Cambria, Cameron, Clarion, Clearfield, Crawford, Elk, Erie, Fayette, Forest, Greene, Indiana, Jefferson, Lawrence, McKean, Mercer, Somerset, Venango, Warren, Washington and Westmoreland.

Also, Hurst has named Patti Plemmons as customer service manager. Plemmons brings 15 years of customer service, sales and marketing, product management and organizational training experience. Plemmons will oversee all customer service strategy and team members for Hurst.

“Patti’s experience and personality are exactly what we were looking for in this position,” said Bruce Johnston, director of marketing and product management. “We are confident she will exceed our expectations, and we can’t wait to see what her passion will add to our team.”

Plemmons comes to Hurst from Warren Rupp, another IDEX Corp. business unit; IDEX is Hurst’s parent company. Plemmons served as global customer service manager at Warren Rupp before becoming product manager for the Pumper Parts brand.

SMITHS DETECTION INC. (SDI) announces the transfer of RadSeeker manufacturing from Danbury, CT, to its U.S. headquarters in Edgewood, MD. The move is part of the company’s strategy to integrate its core technologies and centrally grow its product and engineering expertise. RadSeeker, a next-generation, hand-held radiation detection and identification device, is designed to meet specific Department of Homeland Security (DHS) mission requirements. Used by Customs and Border Protection (CBP), emergency responders and law enforcement agents around the world, the self-calibrating RadSeeker locates sources of radiological material and distinguishes nuclear threats from legitimately occurring radiation.

Terry Gibson, SDI’s president, said: “Manufacturing RadSeeker in Maryland underlines our commitment to remaining the world’s leading provider of advanced technologies to identify constantly evolving CBRNE threats and contraband. Our enhanced footprint in the Edgewood plant positions us to engage even more directly with key customers and to maintain their trust over the long term.”

VERIDIAN FIRE PROTECTIVE GEAR has announced that Kirk H. Owen has joined the company as greater Southwest regional sales manager. With over 30 years of fire service industry experience. he comes to Veridian after eight years with TenCate Protective Fabrics, where he was end use marketing manager for emergency response. Owen’s 30-year career with the Plano, TX, Fire Department culminated with his retirement as assistant chief. During that tenure, he was active in the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), serving on the Structural and Proximity Fire Fighting Protective Clothing and Equipment Technical Committee for 16 years, including 10 years as chairman.

“I am very excited to join the great group of people and represent the quality products at Veridian,” Owen said. “It gives me the opportunity to assist fire fighters with one of the most important decisions they make, selecting the protective clothing that is right for them.”

Rob Gilbertson, national sales manager, said, “Kirk’s wealth of experience and industry knowledge will be a great addition to Veridian. I am confident that Kirk will play a key role in providing our customers with the support and service that is a trademark of Veridian.”

SEAGRAVE now offers expanded warranty coverage on its full line of custom fire apparatus. The improved warranty terms include a two-year limited parts and labor and a lifetime limited structural warranty for all crossmembers in addition to the frame rails.

“Seagrave’s industry-leading warranties are a result of the company’s dedication to providing its customers with the best value in the fire apparatus industry,” said Chairman and CEO AJ Neiner. “The Seagrave two-year limited warranty and other warranty enhancements reflect the company’s commitment to deliver superior quality and dependability for our full line of custom chassis, bodies and aerial products. The quality apparatus that Seagrave consistently provides its customers is the result of decades of engineering and design experience coupled with our proven manufacturing expertise and methods, many of which are unique in the industry.”

UL FIREFIGHTER SAFETY RESEARCH INSTITUTE (FSRI) has released “Residential Attic and Exterior Fire Hazards,” an online course that serves as a culmination of the small-scale, full-scale and field experiments performed by UL as part of a research study funded by the Department of Homeland Security’s Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program. The purpose of this study is to increase firefighter safety and effectiveness by providing the fire service with scientific knowledge on the dynamics of attic and exterior fires and the influence of coordinated fire mitigation tactics from full-scale fire testing in realistic residential structures.

The interactive training takes learners through all of the details that went into the experiments, experiment results, and tactical considerations derived from the results. Experiments included 28 wall tests, three wall and eave tests, four full-scale attic tests and three field experiments. Field experiments were conducted in three acquired structures in Milwaukee, WI. Fires in these 1½- and 2½-story houses provided a real-world application of theories and tactics.

UL FSRI Director Steve Kerber said, “This training program brings science to the streets by providing a dozen tactical considerations to the fire service. Through the use of video, data and 3D drawings of the structures, firefighters are given information that directly relates to the fireground. For the scientifically inclined, there are also links to the detailed report as well as the data graphs and full experiment video.”

For more information, contact UL FSRI at [email protected].