Seagrave Fire Apparatus Acquired, New Owner Plans Growth
CLINTONVILLE, Wis., May 8, 2003 -- One of North America's leading manufacturers of fire and emergency services vehicles, Seagrave Fire Apparatus, has been acquired by automotive and fire service industry leader James Hebe of Portland, OR, and a group of private investors, managed through Ballamor Capital Management, Inc. ("Ballamor") of Wayne, PA, effective May 7, 2003. Seagrave, a division of FWD Corporation, based in Clintonville, WI, manufactures a full line of commercial and custom pumpers, rescue trucks, aerial ladders, tractor-drawn aerials and platforms for fire departments across North America. Among its customers are the largest fire departments in the country, including New York City, Los Angeles and Washington, D.C.
Hebe and Ballamor have acquired the assets of FWD Corporation, Seagrave Fire Apparatus, and its affiliates: Almonte Fire Trucks of Carleton Place, Ontario, Canada; Aerialscope Inc. of Richmond, VA; Seagrave Sales & Service of South Plainfield, NJ; and Seagrave West of Rancho Dominguez, CA. The businesses were acquired from the former owner, Corsta Corp.
"The Seagrave brand is an icon in the industry. Seagrave products have an untarnished and proven reputation for their quality, superior workmanship and 'bullet-proof' reliability," said James Hebe, who has been named president and chief executive officer of the new company, Seagrave Fire Apparatus, LLC. "Seagrave employees are certainly one of the company's strongest assets and I'm looking forward to joining this company. Together, with the already expansive product line and new products under development, we will continue to grow the company and further enhance its service to fire and emergency departments throughout North America." Hebe, former chairman and chief executive officer of American LaFrance and Freightliner LLC, has held numerous top leadership posts in the fire service and trucking industries during the past three decades.
Former president, chief executive officer and part owner, Jim Green, has agreed to serve on a consulting basis with the new company for a short period of time. According to Green, "Seagrave has made significant strides in recent years broadening its product lines and enhancing its manufacturing capabilities. Seagrave employees can be proud that they have made it one of the fastest growing companies in the fire apparatus industry today. I have tremendously enjoyed my years working with all the wonderful people associated with Seagrave. The future holds many great opportunities for Seagrave and Jim Hebe is an excellent individual to lead the company forward."
Seagrave Fire Apparatus, founded in 1881, is the oldest continuous manufacturer of fire apparatus in North America. The company employs 422 through its manufacturing facilities in the U.S. and Canada. Seagrave products are distributed and serviced by a dealer network with locations throughout the U.S. and Canada.
Ballamor, a registered investment advisor with in excess of $1.5 billion of dollars under management, was founded to provide both individual and institutional investors with innovative approaches to investing. Ballamor typically functions as the Chief Investment Officer for family offices, wealthy individuals, corporate and institutional clients.
James L. Hebe
Jim Hebe has a distinguished career in the truck manufacturing industry, having served in key leadership positions for more than 20 years. His ability to create, anticipate, and adapt to changing markets and business strategies has made him a highly respected leader in the industry.
Hebe has enjoyed a unique and unparalleled 28-year career in the truck industry, starting as a fire truck salesman for American LaFrance in 1971. Since then he has owned and operated a successful Kenworth truck dealership, including a full-service leasing company. He had senior sales and marketing responsibility for Kenworth Truck Company, a PACCAR Division. In 1989, he joined Freightliner LLC as executive vice president of sales and marketing, responsible for the company's overall sales, marketing, product planning and dealer operations.
He was promoted in 1992, where he achieved great success as the company's chairman, president and chief executive officer for almost a decade. Under his leadership, Freightliner became widely recognized as the truck manufacturing industry's most agile innovator and technological leader in truck design, manufacturing processes and customer support.
As CEO of Freightliner LLC and its subsidiary, American LaFrance, Hebe spurred the introduction of numerous, innovative new products; developed unprecedented around-the-clock customer support services; and nearly doubled Freightliner's distribution network throughout North America. His actions catapulted Freightliner to the forefront of the North American heavy-truck market, increasing the organization's market share and expanding its product line. By 2000, Freightliner had become the largest commercial vehicle manufacturer in North America.
A native of Liberty, Penn., Hebe graduated from Lycoming College in Williamsport, Penn., with a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science and business administration. He has been recognized by the Automotive News Hall of Fame, received the Stark's Automotive Executive of the Year award and is a past Automotive News Hall of Fame All-Star. He serves on the boards of Lycoming College, Roberson Transportation Companies and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.
Fact Sheet
Seagrave Fire Apparatus
Seagrave and Company was founded 1881 in Detroit, Michigan, by Fredric Seagrave, who was building sturdy ladders for use in orchards. Seagrave was prompted by local firefighters to develop a better way to transport firefighting ladders.
What started out as a ladder on two wheels, soon progressed into a horse- drawn carriage design that encompassed horse-drawn ladder wagons, chemical engines and hose reel carriages. In 1891, Seagrave Corporation was formed and manufacturing moved to Columbus, Ohio.
Seagrave Corporation was purchased in 1963 by FWD Corporation, a leading manufacturer of multi-drive, heavy-duty vehicles. Shortly afterward, Seagrave was relocated to FWD headquarters in Clintonville, Wisconsin, where product innovations and engineering continued to grow the product line and company reputation.
Today, Seagrave engineers and builds the industry's most respected full line of fire fighting and rescue vehicles, including ladder and platform aerials, tractor-drawn aerials, custom and commercial pumpers, pumper tankers and rescues. The Seagrave brand is the choice for some of our country's largest fire departments, including New York City, Los Angeles and Washington, D.C. Numerous communities, townships, villages and boroughs coast to coast also take pride in owning a Seagrave.
Seagrave is supported in manufacturing by two affiliates, including Almonte Fire Trucks (manufacturing pumpers, tankers, attack trucks and rescues) and Aerialscope (manufacturing mid-mounted platform aerials). Almonte is located in Carleton Place, Ontario. Aerialscope, previously located in Richmond, Virginia, is now integrated with Seagrave's Clintonville operations. As a totally integrated manufacturing operation, Seagrave also builds its own chassis, cabs and ladders -- a unique undertaking that helps maintain strict quality standards that go beyond most industry requirements.
Recent Accomplishments and Innovations
* Introduction of the Force 100' Ladder, utilizing "A" style outriggers
that remain in close proximity of the body.
* First Seagrave all aluminum custom pumper, the Flame.
* Low maintenance greaseless ladder providing superior durability with
field serviceable wear strips.
* The Specialist, a stainless steel or galvaneal walk around Rescue
* Re-introduction of the Seagrave commercial pumper -- offering a 15 year
structural warranty on the body
* Investment of a 4,000 watt million dollar laser-cutting machine and
automated metal forming equipment.
* Offered tractor drawn aerials with outriggers in the out and down
position as well as the "A" style, thus allowing the outrigger to be in
