By Jamie Thompson
FireRescue1 News Editor

Photo Jamie Thompson  Pierce showcases its expanded PUC line.

INDIANAPOLIS — "Evolution" was the buzzword for Pierce at FDIC this year, with the manufacturer showcasing its expanded line of PUC including a top mount pumper, a 75-foot aluminum aerial ladder and a Contender PUC.

The manufacturer created a huge stir in the industry at the 2007 show with the launch of the PUC. But this year, there was nothing so revolutionary from any of the manufacturers.

Mike Wilbur, who serves on the FDNY apparatus purchasing committee, said from an apparatus standpoint, this year's FDIC paled in comparison to the 2007 conference and the big PUC launch.

"You would have to be deaf, dumb or blind not to think the PUC last year was pretty cool, innovative and state-of-the-art," he said.

"I saw a couple of other apparatus geeks this year and asked whether there was anything there I was missing and whether they'd been knocked out by anything — they said they hadn't either."

Wilbur, who runs Emergencyvehicleresponse.com, blamed the lack of any true innovations on the current state of the economy, and in turn the apparatus industry.

"With the market being how it is, these guys don't have a lot of extra dollars lying around to do R & D," he said.

"Nobody in this business will be willing or able to invest a lot of dollars any time soon. There are only four of five of them that are even making any money at the moment."

In terms of the new launches, Pierce saw the show as the chance to highlight its evolving PUC line, which now includes:

• Top Mount PUC, which places the pump operator off the street and in an elevated position, while reducing the wheelbase 3 to 4 feet and still maintaining all the PUC features. 
  
• 75-foot Aluminum Ladder PUC, which the company says features 22 percent more storage space and a wheelbase up to 5 inches shorter than traditional 75-foot aluminum ladders.
  
• Custom Contender PUC, which features a redesigned cab with more interior space for crew and equipment. 
  

E-One introduced Synergy, its new enclosed top-mount pumper design featuring up to 528 cubic feet of compartment storage on a compact wheelbase.

Charles Chilton, E-One vice-president of engineering and product development, said
Synergy’s design allows firefighters to arrive on the scene with more of their mission-critical equipment, while the shorter wheelbase makes getting to the scene "a bit easier."

Photo Jamie Thompson  E-One introduced Synergy at FDIC.

He added the side- and top-mount configurations provide unobstructed access to the pump panel, resulting in safer on-scene operations.

Crimson Fire added to its Star Series with two new pumpers on display at the show — a heavy-duty custom pumper and a rear-mount pumper/tanker — and also displayed the Star Series 100-foot rear-mount aerial platform and the Star Series Wildland/Initial Attack vehicle.

Jim Salmi, president of Crimson Fire, said the new trucks resulted from listening to fire chiefs and finding out their needs. The two new pumpers, Salmi said, both offer greater safety, more storage options and improved serviceability to fire departments.

Meanwhile, Spartan displayed the Furion, introduced in late 2007, as the third cab and chassis in the Michigan-based company's fire truck product lineup.

John Sztykiel, president and CEO of Spartan Motors, said the Furion is a major initiative for Spartan Chassis and Spartan Motors and marked its entry into the customized commercial chassis market.