Ocala, Fla. - PRNewswire - As communities throughout the country experience budget constraints, many fire departments are turning to the E-ONE Factory Service Center to make their outdated fleet operate like new. Many departments have complemented new apparatus purchases with truck upgrades to meet their department needs within constrained budgets.
With mild upgrades such as new lighting, graphics and safety packages, to major upgrades such as a down to the frame overhaul available, the Factory Service Center can improve functionality, safety, update units to meet current NFPA standards and add years of service life to aging apparatus.
Customers like Hillsborough County Fire Rescue - Florida, Oklahoma City Fire Department - Oklahoma, and Fort Bragg Fire Department - North Carolina, have made these ultimate upgrades in an effort to add years of service to their maturing apparatus and save hundreds of thousands of dollars.
Beginning in October of 2008, E-ONE has delivered one refurbished pumper a month to Hillsborough County Fire Rescue, with various mild upgrades to increase safety, meet updated NFPA standards, and maintain the established service life of each unit. To date, E-ONE has delivered eleven refurbished pumpers to HCFR with approximately five more pumpers, one heavy rescue and a HP 75 to be completed in the coming months. The costs for the refurbishments range from $60,000-$85,000, versus approximately half a million dollars for their new pumper purchases.
“E-ONE’s Factory Service Center allows departments to stretch their budgets while receiving a finished product that operates like new,” said Billy Miles, Director of Customer Support. “Also, with downtime a chief concern for most departments, another advantage of the Factory Service Center is its ability to refurbish a unit in significantly less time than that required to build new apparatus.”
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, recently contracted the E-ONE Factory Service Center to restore six 19-year-old aerials which included removing and updating the aerial devices, replacing the bodies and replacing the chassis with the new Quest chassis. The aerials look and perform like new at a cost savings of over $100,000 per truck versus a new purchase.
“Given the current state of the economy, this upgrade allowed us to let our rig budget go further,” said Deputy Chief Cecal Clay. “We are extremely happy with the way the units turned out, they look brand new, you can’t even tell they’re 19-years-old.”
Another department realizing the value of an apparatus renovation versus purchasing new is the Fort Bragg Fire Department.
“For a number of years the Army has been limited by budget restraints and only able to make a few new fire apparatus purchases,” said Fire Chief Steve Blackburn. “Fort Bragg has been fortunate to have the option of refurbishing a Cyclone Pumper and a Titan ARFF Crash Rescue truck at a much lower cost than purchasing new. Both vehicles were returned in like-new condition extending their life cycle by at least 10 years and we have been very pleased with the experience and results.”
Wanting to extend the service life of the 1993 ARFF Titan 4x4 and the 2000 E-ONE custom pumper, Fort Bragg brought both units to E-ONE for a major overhaul with services including engine and transmission replacement, pump refurbishment, repainting and much more.
“The reception by Fort Bragg went so well that it has led to a pending order for a second ARFF unit as well as a pumper refurbishment order for neighboring departments,” said Alex Gombar, Manager of Factory Service and Sales.
For more information on the E-ONE Factory Service Center call 352-237-1122 or visit www.e-one.com.
About E-ONE
As a leading manufacturer of first responder vehicles, E-ONE engineers, manufactures and markets mission-critical vehicles including custom and commercial pumpers tankers, Water Master vacuum tankers, aerial ladders and platforms, command and communication apparatus, quick attack units, industrial trucks, and aircraft rescue firefighting vehicles. The company sells its products world-wide and is headquartered in Ocala, Florida. E-ONE is an ISO 9001 registered and CCC certified manufacturer. For more information, visit www.e-one.com.