APPLETON, WI—Pierce Manufacturing Inc., an Oshkosh Corporation company, announced the delivery of the 2,000th Pierce® Ultimate Configuration (PUC™) pumper. The PUC will be put into service in the same community where Pierce Manufacturing was established more than 100 years ago. The Appleton (WI) Fire Department’s new vehicle features a Velocity® custom chassis equipped with a Cummins L9 engine, TAK-4® Independent Front Suspension, a 750-gallon water tank, Husky 12 Foam System and 1,500-gpm PUC Pump. Additionally, a single-source agreement with Pierce Manufacturing was approved by the city of Appleton, Wisconsin, to secure a total of five new vehicles to be put into service with the Appleton Fire Department over the next four years.

Reaching the 2,000th PUC is a significant milestone for Pierce Manufacturing and represents the tremendous impact this apparatus has made on fire service capabilities across the country. Introduced in 2007, the PUC is an innovative solution to the many challenges shared by fire department leadership in regard to simplifying firefighters’ actions and reducing unnecessary risk.

“One of our most critical roles in the manufacturing of fire apparatus is to establish strong relationships with the men and women who perform life-saving fire service work each day,” said John Schultz, director of pumper and custom chassis products at Pierce Manufacturing. “The PUC was the outcome of listening and responding to an essential need, and we are proud to have led a dramatic change in the way apparatus can improve a firefighter’s ability to work safely and efficiently.”

By eliminating the pump house and moving the pump forward, the PUC reduces vehicular space used for fire suppression and maximizes space for equipment and access to preconnected hoses, without sacrificing firefighting capabilities. The technology is an ideal solution that allows fire departments the opportunity to design the vehicle around their unique needs, and not around the pump.

“Safety is our number one priority, and the new PUC brings the highest level of safety available for our firefighters, enabling them to concentrate on the emergency task at hand,” said Len Vander Wyst, fire chief for the city of Appleton Fire Department. “Thanks to the additional compartment space that is unique to the PUC, needed equipment will be available on the scene immediately, improving service capabilities and resulting in less down time and greater availability of our firefighting team.”

Additional benefits of the PUC include: a reduced wheelbase for increased maneuverability; as much as 500 cubic feet of storage space, which allows for more ergonomic and efficient placement of tools and supplies; and minimized downtime for servicing with easier access to valves, piping, and the pump from above the frame rails. The PUC is now available on Pierce Manufacturing pumpers, Read more

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