Hot competition in the firing line
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• Competition for the UK fire appliance market has come from a new direction this year with the arrival of the first EmergencyOne (E-One) unit From the US. The Industrial Pumper was supplied by Stockton-on-Tees-based UK arm of Williams Fire and Hazard Control. It has been specified and built to meet the needs of chemicals giant ICI in its Teeside Emergency Services division. Built by E-One in Florida the vehicle is powered by a DDEC-controlled 60 Series Detroit Diesel rated at 430hp. It drives through an Allison five-speed auto transmission to a Rockwell rear axle.
Despite its 21-tonne GVW the E-One is allowed to run on the road as ICI has received dispensation from the Department of Transport for use as an emergency vehicle. It is designed to meet the needs of petrochemical and industrial plants. The unit can deliver up to 11,37014/min of water or foam from an open water supply. It is also fitted with a Patriot roof-mounted gun which can simultaneously deliver foam, dry powder or water or any combination of the three. The appliance can also power a trailer-mounted gun positioned at the opposite side of the fire. ICI manager George Ritchie says: "We are more than delighted with the machine. We benchmarked the best in the world, and settled on the E-One".
Williams has now been appointed as a sales and service outlet for the E-One product throughout Europe.
The fire prevention and fighting industry made its way to Manchester's G-Mex exhibition centre last week for Fire International 96.
In the LTK's domestic market fire fighting is big business for vehicle builders, with about 250 chassis a year putting on the red paint and flashing lights as tenders, water and foam carriers and elevating ladder trucks.
For a long time the specialist chassis and body builders have dominated this arena, but the truck boys seem to be muscling in for their slice of the market. Volvo is at the head of the mainstream truck builders making a reputation for its chassis, challenging market leaders Dennis. But the others are not far behind.
Leyland Daf is currently building a crew-cab for its recently launched 55 Series specifically for the fire service, and Scania was also keen to show its factory-built crew cab. However, this area is currently a moving target as fire departments are increasingly asking for larger crew sections, to carry more personnel. Talk at the show centred on nine and even 10-person cabs.
More than 10,000 visitors were expected at the four-day exhibition, and for those travelling long distances it was certainly a worthwhile journey. • Cormichael's giant airfield crash tenders never fail to impress and the latest model took prime position on the company's stand, which it shared with fellow Trinity Holdings firm Dennis. Dennis claims to have up to 40% of the UK fire chassis market, and 20% of the market in the Netherlands. And it was the latest Dutch sale that was generating interest at the show. Fitted with the company's huge XL 10-person cab the Rapier has raised new interest in an intermediate cab, between the XL and the standard Sabre body. Currently the XL is 400mm longer than a standard crew cab, to make room for the second row of seats. But Dennis engineers are working on o crew cab with a 200mm extension, to offer more dressing room for a single row of passengers.
• As the leading mainstream truck builder in the UK fire market, Volvo had a huge presence at the show. The company was keen to show that its own FL-based crew cab has as much room as the rest.
The supercharged FL6 is proving popular with the brigades, offering additional power for a fast response and greater water output. • Stoke-on-Trent based bodybuilder Excaiibur has put the latest Dennis Sabre chassis to good use with its own XL extended crew cab. Built for West Midlands Fire Brigade the truck is still in production, and has yet to be fully kitted out. It uses a 4.2m wheelbase and has tanks to carry 1,600 litres of water and 200 litres of foam • A Pinzgauer 6x6 rapid response unit, seen on the Saxon stand, will be making its mark on the Isle of Man.
Other all-wheel drive chassis at the show included an lveco Cargo 4x4 which Angloco had fitted with a Hiab crone and var. ied fire equipment and several Mercedes-Benz 1124AF chassis cowls.
Mercedes-Benz was also present in twowheel drive, with an 1124 destined for Norfolk Fire Brigade • ERF is making a big push into the fire market, according to sales manager Tony Sullings. The company reentered the UK fire sector just 18 months ago, and has already placed 18 chassis with brigades around the country.
The extra-low cab offered on the EC8 has been particularly popular with ladder and articulating work platform suppliers. For Simon the low-cab truck means it can fold away its giant S3263 Snorkel platform and still be within its set road height: on some chassis Simon has had to cut a slot in the cab roof, to allow for the platform arm when folded.
ERF has also supplied an odd looking Chinese-six fitted with a Clayton foam tank. The 6x2 is powered by a 275hp Cummins engine.