02-21-2010, 07:19 PM (This post was last modified: 02-21-2010, 11:13 PM by tmcbride.)
[quote name='GA_Dave' date='18 February 2010 - 08:19 PM' timestamp='1266544761' post='364914']
ALLPierce aerials, both steel and aluminum, are built by Pierce at Pierce.
[/quote]
This is what Pierce wants you to believe but it is not the case. They are actually built about 60 miles away by Kewaunee Fabrications in Kewaunee, WI. Kewaunee is another Oshkosh company.
Damnit....you beat me to it. Kewaunee built aerials prior to being part of Oshkosh but now they can say they are built by Pierce since they are under the Oshkosh umbrella. At least ALF has the diginity to keep LTI a seperate brand despite owning it.
That website for Kewaunee Fabrications was updated in 2003. I was at Pierce in 2009 and aerials were being manufactured at the same facility where the rescues are built.
Damnit....you beat me to it. Kewaunee built aerials prior to being part of Oshkosh but now they can say they are built by Pierce since they are under the Oshkosh umbrella. At least ALF has the diginity to keep LTI a seperate brand despite owning it.
[/quote]
I'm not sure what happened there.An ALF salesman told me they were going to do away with all the brand names but LTI managed to be on every aerial up to the end(I say that because I haven't seen a new one since 2007).
[quote name='GA_Dave' date='21 February 2010 - 10:01 PM' timestamp='1266806497' post='365504']
That website for Kewaunee Fabrications was updated in 2003. I was at Pierce in 2009 and aerials were being manufactured at the same facility where the rescues are built.
[/quote]
Dave were the aerials made there or were the sections put together there? I know Pierce has done alot to streamline the process the last couple of years and they used to just put the sections together and do all the wiring and such but I haven't been out since 2006 so much may have changed.
To my knowledge, aerials are fabricated at Kewaunee and then shipped to the Pierce IPP plant, where they are assembled, piped, wired, etc. They are then mounted to turntables and lifted by crane onto the apparatus body, followed by initial testing. Build then continues....
(not sure if Kewaunee also does the aluminum ladders)
[quote name='b9208' date='21 February 2010 - 10:24 PM' timestamp='1266807873' post='365546']
To my knowledge, aerials are fabricated at Kewaunee and then shipped to the Pierce IPP plant, where they are assembled, piped, wired, etc. They are then mounted to turntables and lifted by crane onto the apparatus body, followed by initial testing. Build then continues....
(not sure if Kewaunee also does the aluminum ladders)
[/quote]
Up until the early to mid 90's, Smeal was the exclusive builder for Pierce aerials. Once the patent expired, Pierce built their own and then Smeal started producing actual apparatus.
Ed Saliba Jr.
1st Assistant Chief
City of New Kensington Bureau of Fire
I.S.O. Class 4 Department
On the "Ultimate Factories" episode that profiled Pierce, the aerials were built at a separate facility (drawing a blank on the name) and then brought to the "main" factory.
As for Smeal, I believe they still build aerials for Ferrara, do they not? (not intending to hijack....)
[quote name='AndyC3J' date='22 February 2010 - 01:58 AM' timestamp='1266817097' post='365610']
On the "Ultimate Factories" episode that profiled Pierce, the aerials were built at a separate facility (drawing a blank on the name) and then brought to the "main" factory.
As for Smeal, I believe they still build aerials for Ferrara, do they not? (not intending to hijack....)
Quote:To my knowledge, aerials are fabricated at Kewaunee and then shipped to the Pierce IPP plant, where they are assembled, piped, wired, etc. They are then mounted to turntables and lifted by crane onto the apparatus body, followed by initial testing. Build then continues....
Okay, you got me on a technicality. You are correct, the aerials are only assembled at Pierce, but they weren't really aerials until then, were they??? <img src='http://www.firepics.net/groupboards/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/rolleyes.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='' /> I'm pretty sure Pierce doesn't make the frame rails at IPP either.....
[quote name='GA_Dave' date='22 February 2010 - 10:09 AM' timestamp='1266850152' post='365657']
Okay, you got me on a technicality. You are correct, the aerials are only assembled at Pierce, but they weren't really aerials until then, were they??? <img src='http://www.firepics.net/groupboards/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/rolleyes.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='' /> I'm pretty sure Pierce doesn't make the frame rails at IPP either.....
[/quote]
I wasn't trying to catch you on a technicality GA Dave...No way would I mess with you or the many others on here with the apparatus knowledge you guys have. Was just mentioning it because I think some people may be confused with the way Pierce does it. The Pierce operation out there is really something to see. For those who havent had the opportunity to tour the plants and see the operation, if you get the chance its worth the trip.
Quote:I wasn't trying to catch you on a technicality GA Dave...
Hey, no harm, no foul. I think we were both trying to explain the same thing.
Quote:Up until the early to mid 90's, Smeal was the exclusive builder for Pierce aerials. Once the patent expired, Pierce built their own and then Smeal started producing actual apparatus.
Well, sort of. The relationship between Smeal and Pierce lasted from 1984 to 1993. Before that, Pierce used aerial units from LTI. Smeal built their first aerial ladder in 1963. Pierce offered three sizes of Smeal aerial ladders, 105', 75', and 55'. Smeal continued to build aerials for Smeal apparatus as they had retained exclusive rights to sales in their "home territory", the States of South Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas, and Iowa. Pierce platforms were built by Structural Fabrications, Inc (SFI) in Pennsylvania, a company they purchased in 1988. A few years later, the operation was relocated to Kewaunee Engineering in Wisconsin. Shortly after that, the Smeal/Pierce agreement ended and Kewaunee began to construct the aerial ladder sections for Pierce. This agreement between Pierce and Kewaunee gave Pierce strict control over the operation. Oaskosh purchased Pierce in 1996 and Kewaunee Engineering in 1999, changing the name to Kewaunee Fabrications.
After severing ties with Pierce in 1992, Smeal began to market their products across the Country.
When Richmond went to the Total Quint Concept and ordered bought the 31 pieces in 1998/99, we were at the factory many times. I watched the mechanics fabricate the aerials rails and rungs while we were there. They may not do this now but there surely did in 1998.
John Hinant Retired Member of Richmond VA Fire Bureau
October 25, 1858 - October 25, 2020 = 162 years old The sixth oldest paid, documented, Fire Department in the United States First established in 1782
"In God We Trust - All Others We Take For Granted"
[quote name='GA_Dave' date='22 February 2010 - 10:09 AM' timestamp='1266850152' post='365657']
Okay, you got me on a technicality. You are correct, the aerials are only assembled at Pierce, but they weren't really aerials until then, were they??? <img src='http://www.firepics.net/groupboards/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/rolleyes.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='' /> I'm pretty sure Pierce doesn't make the frame rails at IPP either.....
The Green Ridge Fire Company #1 Aston Twp Delaware County Pa has received a new Engine 63.The new engine is a 2010 Pierce Arrow XT pumper (Pierce Job # 22596)
Features include
1500 GPM Hale Mid Ship pump with 750 gallon water tank
400hp Cummins Engine
Harrison PTO Driven 8 KW generator
Hands Free SCBA brackets
Tire Protection System
Side Roll Protection System
Medium size body with full height compartments on the driver’s side
Ground ladders mounted low on passenger side
Rear hose bed carries 4 pre connected hand lines and 1200 feet of 5 inch
Hose bed as low as possible for safety
Sold by Glick Fire Equipment Co Salesman Curt Woerth
<!-- isHtml:1 --><!-- isHtml:1 -->Steve Skipton Firefighter
City of Goose Creek Fire Dept South Carolina
Past Chief Bellmawr Park Fire Co NJ
Never Forget 9-11-2001
PO David P. Lemange PAPD/Trans Hudson Railway 09/11/01
[quote name='camdenfirespfn' date='05 March 2010 - 03:16 PM' timestamp='1267819006' post='368168']
The Green Ridge Fire Company #1 Aston Twp Delaware County Pa has received a new Engine 63.The new engine is a 2010 Pierce Arrow XT pumper (Pierce Job # 22596)
Features include
1500 GPM Hale Mid Ship pump with 750 gallon water tank
400hp Cummins Engine
Harrison PTO Driven 8 KW generator
Hands Free SCBA brackets
Tire Protection System
Side Roll Protection System
Medium size body with full height compartments on the driver’s side
Ground ladders mounted low on passenger side
Rear hose bed carries 4 pre connected hand lines and 1200 feet of 5 inch
Hose bed as low as possible for safety
Sold by Glick Fire Equipment Co Salesman Curt Woerth
[/quote]
<!-- isHtml:1 --><!-- isHtml:1 -->Steve Skipton Firefighter
City of Goose Creek Fire Dept South Carolina
Past Chief Bellmawr Park Fire Co NJ
Never Forget 9-11-2001
PO David P. Lemange PAPD/Trans Hudson Railway 09/11/01