APPLETON, Wis. (Aug 26, 2011) — Pierce Manufacturing, an Oshkosh Corporation (NYSE:OSK) company, today kicked off its exhibition at Fire Rescue International (FRI) by displaying a total of nine trucks and showcasing the new Dash® CF apparatus. Since its introduction in April of this year, the Dash CF has generated much excitement and broad appeal as evidenced by recent orders from diverse regions of North America. Leaders from departments such as the Cedar Hill Fire Department in Cedar Hill, Texas; the Bloomington Fire Department in Bloomington, Illinois; and Cranbrook Fire and Emergency Services in Cranbrook, British Columbia enthusiastically share their perspective on why the Dash CF apparatus is the best choice for their department.
“Our primary reason for choosing the Dash CF is the amount of room it provides the driver and officer,” said Cedar Hill Fire Chief, John Ballard. “The cab configuration opens space up and makes the cab more efficient. And we expect that the improved ergonomics and lower step-in height will translate to fewer firefighter injuries.” Cedar Hill Fire Department provides fire and emergency medical services in the southwest corner of Dallas County and responds annually to more than 5,000 alarms. Pierce dealer, Siddons-Martin Emergency Group of Houston, Texas, provides local service and support.
Lester Siron, Bloomington Fire Department Deputy Chief of Operations recalled, “We initially saw the Dash CF earlier this spring at FDIC, where our team examined and favorably evaluated its lower profile cab, open interior layout and enhanced safety features.” Siron continued, “In addition, we like the ease of maintenance advantages offered by its PUC configuration.” The Bloomington Fire Department provides fire and emergency services to the 12th most populated city in Illinois, and consists of five fire stations and 106 full-time, paid firefighter positions. Global Emergency Products of Aurora, Illinois provides local service and support.
Cranbrook’s Director of Fire & Emergency Services, Wayne Price, explained the appeal of the Dash CF for them: “The improved outward visibility, lower step-in height, and easy access for service are just a few of the features our team was drawn to when evaluating the Dash CF. Everything about this state-of-the-art truck adds up to enhanced safety and ease of maintenance.” Cranbrook Fire & Emergency Services provides emergency services to approximately 24,000 residents of Cranbrook and contract service areas within the Regional District of East Kootenay in British Columbia. Pierce dealer, Wholesale Fire & Rescue (HFE) of Calgary, Alberta, provides local service and support.
To showcase and experience the vehicle’s capabilities, four Dash CF apparatus are presently on a ride-and-drive demonstration tour with Pierce dealers across North America Fire departments are urged to check with their local Pierce dealer, or visit the Official Tour Schedule, for upcoming dates and locations. In addition, visitors to the Pierce website can experience a 360-degree interactive online tour of the Dash CF apparatus.
The Dash CF apparatus features an innovative tilting cab-forward design that repositions the engine rearward and down low between the frame rails, with an open interior configuration that helps firefighters better prepare for the unexpected situations they face when arriving on scene. The vehicle design dramatically increases driver and officer interior cab space, improves visibility and serviceability, and sets a new benchmark for heavy-duty construction — all in a compact easy to maneuver wheelbase.
The Dash CF is available in a broad range of pumper, rescue pumper, rescue and tanker configurations, as well as with the 2010 EPA compliant Detroit Diesel DD13 big block engine that delivers up to 500 horsepower and near zero emissions.
About Pierce Manufacturing
Pierce Manufacturing Inc., an Oshkosh Corporation [NYSE: OSK] company, is the leading North American manufacturer of custom fire apparatus. Products include custom and commercial pumpers, aerials, rescue trucks, wildland trucks, minipumpers, elliptical tankers, and homeland security apparatus. In addition, Pierce designs its own foam systems and was the first company to introduce frontal airbags and the Side Roll Protection system to fire apparatus. To learn more about Pierce, visit www.piercemfg.com
About Oshkosh Corporation
Oshkosh Corporation is a leading designer, manufacturer and marketer of a broad range of specialty access equipment, commercial, fire & emergency and military vehicles and vehicle bodies. Oshkosh Corporation manufactures, distributes and services products under the brands of Oshkosh®, JLG®, Pierce®, McNeilus®, Medtec®, Jerr-Dan®, Oshkosh Specialty Vehicles, Frontlineâ„¢, SMITâ„¢, CON-E-CO®, London® and IMT®. Oshkosh products are valued worldwide in businesses where high quality, superior performance, rugged reliability and long-term value are paramount. For more information, visit www.oshkoshcorporation.com.
®, TM All brand names referred to in this news release are trademarks of Oshkosh Corporation or its subsidiary companies.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains statements that the Company believes to be “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All statements other than statements of historical fact, including, without limitation, statements regarding the Company’s future financial position, business strategy, targets, projected sales, costs, earnings, capital expenditures, debt levels and cash flows, and plans and objectives of management for future operations, are forward-looking statements. When used in this press release, words such as “may,” “will,” “expect,” “intend,” “estimate,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “should,” “project” or “plan” or the negative thereof or variations thereon or similar terminology are generally intended to identify forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to risks, uncertainties, assumptions and other factors, some of which are beyond the Company’s control, which could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. These factors include the expected level and timing of U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) procurement of products and services and funding thereof; risks related to reductions in government expenditures in light of U.S. defense budget pressures and an uncertain DoD tactical wheeled vehicle strategy; the cyclical nature of the Company’s access equipment, commercial and fire & emergency markets, especially during periods of global economic weakness, tight credit markets and lower municipal spending; the Company’s ability to produce vehicles under the FMTV contract at targeted margins; the duration of the ongoing global economic weakness, which could lead to additional impairment charges related to many of the Company’s intangible assets and/or a slower recovery in the Company’s cyclical businesses than equity market expectations; the impact on revenues and margins of the decrease in M-ATV production rates; the potential for the U.S. government to competitively bid the Company’s Army and Marine Corps contracts; risks related to work stoppages and other labor matters, especially in light of the pending contract expiration for union employees at the Company’s Oshkosh defense facilities; the consequences of financial leverage, which could limit the Company’s ability to pursue various opportunities; increasing commodity and other raw material costs, particularly in a sustained economic recovery; the ability to pass on to customers price increases to offset higher input costs; risks related to costs and charges as a result of facilities consolidation and alignment, including that anticipated cost savings may not be achieved; risks related to the collectability of receivables, particularly for those businesses with exposure to construction markets; the cost of any warranty campaigns related to the Company’s products; risks related to production delays arising from supplier quality or production issues; risks associated with international operations and sales, including foreign currency fluctuations and compliance with the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act; the potential for disruptions or cost overruns in the Company’s global enterprise resource planning system implementation; the potential for increased costs relating to compliance with changes in laws and regulations; risks related to disruptions in the Company’s distribution networks; and the Company’s ability to successfully execute on its strategic road map and meet its long-term financial goals. Additional information concerning these and other factors is contained in the Company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. All forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this press release. The Company assumes no obligation, and disclaims any obligation, to update information contained in this press release. Investors should be aware that the Company may not update such information until the Company’s next quarterly earnings conference call, if at all.
