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TFFTs and HEWATTs Are State’s Newest Weapons Against Destructive Wildfires
Feb 2, 2009 Appleton WI — In an effort to generate awareness of California’s wildland firefighting capabilities, the California National Guard showcased their newest Pierce Manufacturing firefighting apparatus at an event held January 30 at McClellan Air Force Base near Sacramento, Calif. Built by Pierce Manufacturing, an Oshkosh Corporation Company (NYSE: OSK), the Pierce® Tactical Fire Fighting Truck (TFFT) and HEMTT-based Water Tender (HEWATT) apparatus are based on Oshkosh® military chassis. Three each of the TFFTs and HEWATTs have been deployed to the California National Guard’s 233 Engineer Fire Fighting Company.
The event, which showcased the California National Guard and its increased firefighting ability, featured vehicle displays, information booths, and opportunities for media interaction. Representatives from the California National Guard, local and regional fire agency representatives, CALFIRE, CAL-EMA, Oshkosh, Pierce, and the United States Forest Service were present. Representatives from Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger’s staff, as well as other elected officials, were on-hand to review the apparatus.
Purchased through contracts with the U.S. Army’s Product Manager for Heavy Tactical Vehicles, the TFFT and HEWATT vehicles will be operated by the California National Guard at the direction of Governor Schwarzenegger.
“We’re proud to help the California National Guard and the citizens of California fight the devastating wildfires that plague the state by providing extremely powerful and mobile wildland firefighting vehicles,” said Wilson Jones, Oshkosh Corporation executive vice president and president, Fire & Emergency. “The ability to respond to wildfires quickly and with more powerful fire apparatus is a top priority in California, and we’re excited that Pierce is the choice for the Army’s firefighters.”
Based on the Oshkosh HEMTT military transporter chassis, the TFFT is built to handle the most challenging terrain, with an 8 x 8 chassis configuration, all-wheel drive, and the ability to climb a 60 percent grade while fully loaded. The TFFT’s firefighting capabilities include room for six firefighters, a 1,000-gallon water tank, a 1,000 GPM pump, a twin-agent foam system, roof and bumper turrets, 1,000 feet of hose and storage for a wide range of equipment.
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The HEWATT also features an 8 x 8 all-wheel drive axle configuration. It is designed as a multi-purpose water distributor to support the TFFT, while providing supplementary fire suppression capabilities as well. Each HEWATT is equipped with a 2,500-gallon water tank, 500 gpm single-stage pump, 50 gallon foam cell and a front mounted bumper turret.
About Pierce Manufacturing
About Oshkosh Defense
Oshkosh Defense, a division of Oshkosh Corporation, is an industry-leading global designer and manufacturer of tactical military trucks and armored wheeled vehicles, delivering a full product line of conventional and hybrid vehicles, advanced armor options, proprietary suspensions and vehicles with payloads that can exceed 70 tons. Oshkosh Defense provides a global service and supply network including full life-cycle support and remanufacturing, and its vehicles are recognized the world over for superior performance, reliability and protection. For more information, visit www.oshkoshdefense.com.
About Oshkosh Corporation
Oshkosh Corporation (NYSE:OSK) 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®, BAI™, Oshkosh Specialty Vehicles, Frontline™, SMIT™, Geesink™, Norba™, Kiggen™, CON-E-CO®, London® and IMT®. The Oshkosh brands are valued worldwide in businesses where high quality, superior performance, rugged reliability and long-term value are paramount. For more information, log on to www.oshkoshcorporation.com
Photo caption: Wilson Jones, Oshkosh Corporation executive vice president and president, Fire & Emergency delivers remarks at California National Guard event.
Photo caption: A total of six Pierce® Tactical Fire Fighting Truck (TFFT) and HEMTT-based Water Tender (HEWATT) vehicles will be operated by the California National Guard at the direction of Governor Schwarzenegger.
Forward-looking Statements
This press release contains statements that the Company believes are "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All statements other than statements of historical fact, including statements regarding the Company's future financial position, business strategy, targets, projected sales, costs, earnings, capital spending and debt levels, and plans and objectives of management for future operations, are forward-looking statements. When used in this press release, words such as “may,” “should,” "expects," "intends," "estimates," "anticipates," or "believes" and similar expressions 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 consequences of the Company's financial leverage position, especially given turmoil in the credit markets, and the level of associated borrowing costs; the Company’s ability to maintain compliance with financial covenants in its credit agreement; the cyclical nature of the Company's access equipment, commercial and fire & emergency markets, especially during a global economic downturn and credit crisis; the Company’s ability to offset higher steel and raw material costs through other cost decreases or product selling price increases; risks related to reductions in government expenditures and the uncertainty of government contracts; risks associated with international operations and sales, including foreign currency fluctuations; and the Company's ability to turn around its Geesink Norba Group business. Additional information concerning these and other factors is contained in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
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