Pierce Manufacturing Builds 10,000th Custom Fire Chassis
25 August 2000
Oshkosh Truck Subsidiary Hits Landmark Achievement In Fire Apparatus Manufacturing
APPLETON, Wis. - Pierce Manufacturing, North America's leading manufacturer of custom fire apparatus, will display its 10,000th custom chassis at Fire Rescue International August 25-28 in Dallas, Texas. The completion of its 10,000th chassis marks a significant milestone in the company's history."This is an unmatched achievement in the history of modern fire apparatus manufacturing. We've built 10,000 Pierce custom chassis since our introduction of the first modern cab-over design in 1979," said John Randjelovic, president of Pierce Manufacturing. "In addition, the influence of Pierce on the entire fire service means that virtually all fire fighters today are using more reliable and technologically advanced fire apparatus. We're a leader that has brought many new, innovative designs to the industry, including the original cab-over chassis, the tilt cab, ALL STEER(R) all-wheel steering and Command Zone(TM) multiplexed electronics systems."
The 10,000th chassis is a Dash(R) with a 100-foot platform and will be on display in the Pierce booth. After the show it will go to Tualatin Valley Fire and Rescue of Aloha, Ore. An award ceremony will take place at 4 p.m. Saturday where Tualatin Valley Fire Chief Jeffrey Johnson will receive a plaque commemorating the event.
"We're proud to be the customer of the 10,000th custom chassis and to commemorate this great milestone. But when we get back home, we'll just be glad to climb on board and go to work," said Johnson.
"Lots of people can build a truck to look like a fire truck, but few companies engineer a true fire engine designed specifically for the demands of the fire service. We annually quantify our equipment performance and Pierce has excellent performance," Johnson said. The department is nearing 100 percent Pierce apparatus.
Tualatin Valley is a regional service provider serving 10 cities in the Portland, Ore., area. The department protects 400,000 people in 275 square miles that consist of everything from high-rise buildings to wildlands.
Tualatin Valley is a top award winner in the International Fire Chief Award of Excellence 2000, an ISO Class II department and the 28th fire department in the world to be accredited by the Commission of Fire Accreditation International.
"For us at Pierce, it makes us proud that our apparatus are an integral part of such an excellent fire department, which is acknowledged as one of the country's finest," Randjelovic said.
Pierce manufactures seven custom fire chassis - more than any other fire apparatus manufacturer. The company's models are the Contender Series(R), Saber(R), Enforcer(R), Dash(R), Lance(R), Quantum(R) and Arrow. Pierce custom builds each apparatus to fit a department's individual need.
Pierce Manufacturing Inc. is the leading North American manufacturer of custom fire apparatus and a subsidiary of Oshkosh Truck Corporation . Products include custom and commercial pumpers, aerials, rescue trucks, wildland trucks, minipumpers and elliptical tankers. Pierce is the only fire apparatus manufacturer to design and integrate its own foam systems, and to have its own foam-testing center. The company is headquartered in Appleton, Wis., and is ISO-9001 certified.