Pierce Develops New Husky Foam System for Industrial Firefighting.

Business Editors

APPLETON, Wis.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--July 19, 2000

Pierce Manufacturing Inc. has expanded its foam system line by engineering a new, highly effective Husky(R) foam system for the specific demands of industrial firefighting. The new Husky Industrial Foam System provides industrial firefighters with a powerful new weapon capable of discharging 5,000 gallons-per-minute (gpm) while using 6-percent foam concentrate to handle large-scale fire suppression at oil refineries, chemical plants, and petrochemical complexes. It offers a foam output range of 30 to 300 gpm.

"When Pierce engineers developed this new technology, it was obvious to us that the power of this system was ideally suited for industrial applications, where a smaller force needs a powerful, easy-to-us tool that can quickly scale their firefighting to meet each situation," said John Randjelovic, president of Pierce.

Pierce foam specialists engineered new technology that makes this system the most reliable, easy-to-use industrial foam system available.

The backbone of the system is a patent-pending, digitally controlled foam proportioning system that can respond rapidly and accurately to changes in water pressure and water flow. Regardless of changes in water pressure, it automatically provides consistent, reliable foam proportioning. Operation is a simple, five-step process.

The firefighters:

      1.  Engage water pump,

      2.  Open foam supply valve,

      3.  Engage foam pump,

      4.  Select foam percentage for each discharge with the turn of a
        control knob,

      5.  Fight fire.

The system simplifies clean-up operations after use as well. Each discharge outlet features its own metering valve, so the operator needs to flush only the discharge lines used. Stainless steel plumbing is standard for increased longevity and corrosion resistance.

For additional fire-suppression capability, Pierce(R) industrial foam pumpers can be equipped with the Hercules(R) compressed air foam system, and manual and remote-controlled deck monitors with capacities ranging from 1,000 to 5,000 gpm. They can also be equipped with a full line of aerial devices, including 75-foot and 100-foot aerial ladders, 85-foot and 100-foot platforms, a Sky-Boom(TM) elevated water boom and a Snozzle(R) elevated waterway.

Pierce Manufacturing Inc. is the leading North American manufacturer of custom fire apparatus and a subsidiary of Oshkosh Truck Corporation [NASDAQ: OTRKB]. Products include custom and commercial pumpers, aerials, rescue trucks, wildland trucks, minipumpers and elliptical tankers. The company designs and manufactures its own foam systems and has its own foam testing center. Pierce apparatus are backed by 24-hour-a-day, 7-day-a-week service, with the strongest support network dedicated exclusively to the fire service.

For more information, contact Kirsten Skyba, Vice President - Communications at 920.233.9621 or via e-mail at [e-mail].