Pierce and Ansul Form Strategic Marketing Alliance For Fire Fighting Foam Concentrates; Ansul Foam Concentrates Now Available Through Pierce Sales Network.

Business Editors

APPLETON, Wis.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug. 25, 2000

Pierce Manufacturing Inc., the leading U.S. manufacturer of custom fire apparatus, announced that it has entered a strategic marketing and technical alliance with Ansul Incorporated, a leading supplier of foam agents and hardware. Although each company will conduct independent product development, as part of this alliance the two companies will work together to optimize foam formulas and foam system technology to maximize performance. The two companies will pursue joint testing initiatives to support this development effort.

As part of the agreement, Pierce will sell a broad line of Ansul(R) firefighting foam concentrates through its worldwide sales and service network. The foam agents complement Pierce's broad line of foam systems for apparatus and will be co-branded.

"Pierce is advancing the use of foam systems and applications because of their effectiveness in suppressing fires, saving lives and property. Pierce already provides firefighters with Class A and B foam systems, industrial foam systems, compressed air foam systems, expertise and, now we've added foam concentrate," said John Randjelovic, president of Pierce. "This alliance further strengthens our position as a single-source supplier for the fire service. We're proud to be associated with Ansul -- a world leader in foams."

The environmentally responsible Ansul foam concentrates -- available for immediate sale through Pierce -- include:

- SILV-EX(R) Class A foam for structural and wildland fires

- ANSULITE(R) 3x3 low-viscosity foam for hydrocarbon and polar

solvent fires and spills

- ANSULITE 1% AFFF for hydrocarbon fire, including freeze

protection to -20F degrees.

Both Pierce and Ansul have modern test facilities for testing the effectiveness of foam and foam equipment. The Ansul facilities will also be used to offer training programs to firefighters for actual live-fire situations.

Ansul Incorporated, a brand of Tyco Fire & Security Services, is among the largest producers of firefighting foam agents. Ansul also manufactures and sells "special hazard" fire protection equipment, including portable and wheeled fire extinguishers, pre-engineered vehicle, restaurant and industrial systems, engineered detection and suppression systems, large hose-line units, various fire extinguishing agents, and hazardous spill control products. Headquartered in Marinette, Wis., the company is ISO 9001 certified.

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 training 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. Headquartered in Appleton, Wis., the company is ISO-9001 certified.