You might see my title and say, what in the world is this guy talking about. Well, the off season in the baseball world is the time between the World Series and spring training.
In the fire service world, I like to think it is the time between FDIC, FRI, and the winter. Basically, between FDIC and FRI is when most of the apparatus manufacturers tout their new wares in apparatus.
One manufacturer decided to use the winter to announce two new ideas. One is an existing aircraft rescue and firefighting (ARFF) vehicle that will be marketed and sold in the United States, and the other is a concept vehicle.
Concept vehicles are not new in the fire apparatus industry. A few have been shown a few years back. The Rosenbauer concept vehicle is known as the concept fire truck (CFT). The result is an extremely compact and maneuverable emergency vehicle with a highly functional design, which sets new ergonomic benchmarks. This is a vehicle that can be easily and safely operated from ground level and no longer requires firefighters to “climb” into the cabin. Indeed, this is a truck that is more reminiscent of a command center than a firefighting vehicle. Moreover, it is a vehicle which, when on the move and in operation, is extremely efficient and only produces very limited exhaust and noise emissions.
The concept fire truck is a multipurpose emergency vehicle in every regard. There is room in its spacious compartments concept for the complete range of equipment that the fire services require for their various operations. It is a firefighting vehicle with a pump and tank on board, a rescue with hydraulic recovery equipment in the equipment compartments, a universal fire truck that can store a vast quantity of special equipment in its rear section, and an ambulance, which with just a few simple adjustments can be so converted as to allow the provision of initial medical treatment to injured people and their subsequent transport in a lying position.
At first look, it seems that it is a typical European boxy style type of apparatus used just about everywhere in Europe. However, Rosenbauer took a great deal of current ideas and future concerns and put them into a design that can be a multifunctional firefighting vehicle that takes ergonomics into consideration; meets stricter exhaust gas regulations; and can be used for firefighting, technical rescue, and transport if so configured.
The chassis, driver’s cab, and superstructure (with or without an integrated crew cabin) constitute a single unit. This provides decisive advantages with regard to vehicle dynamics and stability, as well as a low height in tandem with improved use of space and greater crew protection. The crew and driver cabins are merged to form a barrier-free compartment which can be modified for every operation.
I guess we will have to see if this designs works. If I know Rosenbauer and its engineers, the design is probably already being readied for a not too distant future rollout.
Also in the works is Rosenbauer’s new PANTHER ARFF design to be marketed and sold in the United States this year. The unit will be produced at the Wyoming, Minnesota, facility of Rosenbauer America.
The new PANTHER will be introduced at the annual conference of the ARFF Working Group held in Frisco, Texas. Performance of the PANTHER exceeds both NFPA and FAA requirements. The crew is protected in a newly designed, crash-tested cabin which exceeds the world’s most stringent safety requirements. The fire extinguishing technology is designed for high-performance, precision firefighting. The panorama deep-set windshield offers improved vision and safety. The environmentally friendly engine power system meets worldwide engine emission requirements. All-in-all, the new Rosenbauer PANTHER is a sleek, high-tech truck with totally integrated vehicle and fire extinguishing systems.
The PANTHER is Rosenbauer’s flagship ARFF vehicle and is known for top performance, safety, and ergonomics. Rosenbauer has vehicles operating in over 90 countries, and the Panther is one of the world’s most successful airport fire trucks. It is manufactured at facilities located in Wyoming, Minnesota, and Leonding, Austria. The sales rollout for the USA manufactured PANTHER is scheduled in 2017.
These are two cool vehicles that are on the horizon. I’m sure Rosenbauer is not done for new offerings for 2017. We will have to wait and see what else they have in store for the United States fire service.
