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Pierce Manufacturing Expands Facilities and Integrates Advanced Technologies Across Operations as Part of $150 Million in Manufacturing Investments

Appleton Expansion PR_BannerNew upgrades enhance quality and efficiency to meet growing demand for Pierce fire apparatus and help drive down industry-wide extended lead times.

APPLETON, Wis. (December 18, 2025) – Pierce Manufacturing Inc., an Oshkosh Corporation (NYSE:OSK) business, announced a new round of major facility advancements across its Appleton, Wisconsin, manufacturing operations. Building on a multi-year modernization initiative launched in 2022, and the company’s long history of focusing on innovation and reinvestment, these strategic investments are designed to expand production capacity which will enable faster delivery of high-quality fire apparatus to fire departments. 

The advancements are part of more than $150 million Pierce is investing across manufacturing facilities in Wisconsin, Florida, and Tennessee to increase production levels and reduce industry-wide lead times. With approximately $60 million already invested, these newest additions build on steady progress to increase manufacturing capacity and strengthen Pierce’s long-term commitment to quality and innovation through continued workforce growth and the integration of advanced robotics and fabrication technologies. Pierce’s investments over the past several years have included expanding its manufacturing space by 28%, adding 500,000 square feet of facility space, and hiring 800 new American workers.

“These technologies reflect our dedication to continuous improvement and safety, as well as our commitment to delivering fire apparatus to firehouses faster while maintaining the same exceptional level of quality that defines our products,” said Mike Pack, Oshkosh Corporation’s Executive Vice President and President, Vocational. “We have already reduced lead times by over three months from their peak. With these sustained investments, we are continuing to work to return to pre-pandemic lead times."

Within Pierce’s production facility campus in Appleton, Wisconsin, new automation and precision technologies are reshaping fabrication and assembly processes. Each investment is designed to enhance quality, increase production flow, reduce manual touchpoints, and improve safety for team members. The newest investments include:

  • A Penta 30K laser, one of only two in the United States, capable of cutting up to two inches of steel with beveled edges that eliminates manual sanding, and an automated panel bender that performs multiple bends in a fraction of the time required by traditional presses.
  • A semi-automated folding machine that allows a single operator to perform complex bends safely and efficiently, automated rail welding systems that reduce welding time by up to two-thirds, and hand-held laser welding technology that delivers precise results with minimal material warpage.
  • Buffing robots and an AI-enabled sanding system, which prepares metal panels for paint with improved consistency and efficiency.
  • A 26,000 square foot paint facility expansion in Appleton that is nearing completion, featuring new advanced paint booths and curing ovens which boost capacity and ensure each fire truck receives a flawless finish.
  • Relocation of the manufacturing release line (MRL) to improve production flow and quality control, along with modernization of the parts facility to centralize warehousing. These expansions enabled the cab and chassis lines to be relocated and reformatted within a larger 224,000 square foot space, freeing critical manufacturing capacity and further enhancing efficiency and quality. 

“The investments across our operations reflect a unified focus on quality, efficiency, innovation and reducing lead times for critical fire apparatus for communities throughout the United States,” said Pack. “Every new machine, expansion, and workflow improvement enables us to deliver fire apparatus faster and with the exceptional craftsmanship customers expect from Pierce.”

With advanced automation, modernized facilities, and expanded teams, Pierce Manufacturing continues to set the standard for safety, performance, and innovation in fire apparatus manufacturing.

For more information on Pierce fire apparatus and facilities, visit www.piercemfg.com.
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Posted: Dec 18, 2025 8:30:00 AM by Pierce Mfg.

Topics: Business Updates

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, purpose-built vehicles and equipment to help everyday heroes advance communities around the world. Headquartered in Wisconsin, Oshkosh Corporation employs over 18,000 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®, Pierce®, MAXIMETAL, Oshkosh® S-Series™, McNeilus®, IMT®, Jerr-Dan®, Frontline™ Communications, Oshkosh® Airport Products, Oshkosh AeroTech™, Oshkosh® Defense 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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Registered Trademark of Pierce Manufacturing Inc. Appleton, WI, USA an Oshkosh Corporation Business