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Charleston-bannerPierce Manufacturing has secured an order from the Charleston Fire Department for its second Ascendant® 100’ Heavy-Duty Aerial Tower sold through Pierce dealer, Spartan Fire & Emergency Apparatus.

APPLETON, Wis. (August 6, 2020) – Pierce Manufacturing Inc., an Oshkosh Corporation (NYSE:OSK) company, announced that it has secured an order for an Ascendant® 100’ Heavy-Duty Aerial Tower built on an Arrow XT™ custom chassis. Sold through Pierce dealer Spartan Fire and Emergency Apparatus, Charleston’s second mid-mount tower order for the fire department follows a previous delivery of the same apparatus in September 2019.

“The Charleston Fire Department’s relationship with Spartan Fire and Emergency dates back to 1983 when we purchased our first Pierce engine,” said Joey Roberts, Assistant Fire Chief for Charleston Fire Department. “One attribute we look forward to most with the purchase of our second Ascendant Tower is having an identical apparatus to replace a remounted tower. Additionally, the overall length of the apparatus, storefront operation without extending the aerial, and low travel height work well when navigating Charleston’s narrow streets and low tree canopies.”

Since its introduction by Pierce in 2018, the 100’ Heavy-Duty Aerial Tower offers superior drivability, maneuverability, operator functionality, and serviceability. Other key features of Charleston Fire Department’s aerial tower include: 

  • Mid-mount platform configuration
  • Detroit DD13 525 HP Diesel Engine
  • Allison EVS 4500 Transmission
  • Total length of 42’ and low overall height of 10’ 10”
  • 45-degree cramp angle
  • Basket accessible from ground at full retraction
  • 50-degrees below grade scrub area
  • 20’ set back allows set-up in just 28’ of roadway
  • Integrated ground pads for rapid set-up
  • 254 cubic feet of compartmentation and 179’ of ground ladders
  • Side-roll protection 

The new Ascendant 100’ Heavy-Duty Aerial Tower provides Charleston Fire Department with an unmatched compact design and minimal set-up and space requirements.

“Our team is grateful to once again support the incredible work of the Charleston Fire Department with the selection of fire apparatus that we know will best meet their needs,” said Alan Axson, Sales Representative for Spartan Fire and Emergency Apparatus. “With many challenges to consider, we worked collaboratively to find the right apparatus designed for operation in tight and narrow confines. This new apparatus supports a growing fleet of Pierce apparatus within the department and adds to its strategic response capabilities.”

The Charleston Fire Department serves a growing, thriving, and historic port city. The department includes four battalions from 17 fire stations with 359 personnel that conduct nearly 20,000 service calls per year across a 134 square-mile radius. Known for its charming, historic architecture, cobblestone streets, and beautiful oak tree-lined neighborhoods, Charleston requires an apparatus that will maneuver easily through narrow roadways with a tight turning radius with minimal rear body swing.

To learn more about Pierce Manufacturing, Spartan Fire and Emergency Apparatus, or the Ascendant Class of Aerials, visit www.piercemfg.com for specs and images.

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Topics: Apparatus Orders


About Pierce Manufacturing
Pierce Manufacturing Inc., an Oshkosh Corporation [NYSE: OSK] business, is the leading North American manufacturer of custom fire apparatus. Products include custom and commercial pumpers, aerials, rescue trucks, wildland trucks, mini pumpers, and homeland security apparatus. In addition, Pierce designs its own foam systems and was the first company to introduce frontal airbags and the Side Roll Protection system to fire apparatus. To learn more about Pierce, visit www.piercemfg.com.

About Oshkosh Corporation

At Oshkosh (NYSE: OSK), we make innovative, mission-critical equipment to help everyday heroes advance communities around the world. Headquartered in Wisconsin, Oshkosh Corporation employs approximately 17,000 team members worldwide, all united behind a common purpose: to make a difference in people’s lives. Oshkosh products can be found in more than 150 countries under the brands of JLG®, Hinowa, Power Towers, Pierce®, MAXIMETAL, Oshkosh® Defense, McNeilus®, IMT®, Jerr-Dan®, Frontline™ Communications, Oshkosh® Airport Products, Oshkosh AeroTech™ and Pratt Miller. For more information, visit oshkoshcorp.com.

®, ™ All brand names referred to in this news release are trademarks of Oshkosh Corporation or its subsidiary companies.

Forward Looking Statements

This news release contains statements that the Company believes to be “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All statements other than statements of historical fact, including, without limitation, statements regarding the Company’s future financial position, business strategy, targets, projected sales, costs, earnings, capital expenditures, debt levels and cash flows, and plans and objectives of management for future operations, are forward-looking statements. When used in this news release, words such as “may,” “will,” “expect,” “intend,” “estimate,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “should,” “project” or “plan” or the negative thereof or variations thereon or similar terminology 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 Company's ability to successfully integrate the AeroTech acquisition and to realize the anticipated benefits associated with the same; the risks associated with international operations and sales, including compliance with the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act;  the Company’s ability to comply with complex laws and regulations applicable to U.S. government contractors; cybersecurity risks and costs of defending against, mitigating and responding to data security threats and breaches impacting the Company; the Company’s ability to successfully identify, complete and integrate other acquisitions and to realize the anticipated benefits associated with the same; and risks related to the Company’s ability to successfully execute on its strategic road map and meet its long-term financial goals. Additional information concerning these and other factors is contained in the Company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. All forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this news release. The Company assumes no obligation, and disclaims any obligation, to update information contained in this news release. Investors should be aware that the Company may not update such information until the Company’s next quarterly earnings conference call, if at all.

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