REV GROUP, INC. has acquired KOVATCH MOBILE EQUIPMENT CORP. (KME). Founded in 1946 and headquartered in Nesquehoning, Pennsylvania, KME has grown to more than 800 associates with company operations in Pennsylvania, Virginia, New York, and California. It produces a broad portfolio of specialty vehicle products, and markets them to fire-rescue, military, aviation, and industrial customers globally. KME’s products include fire apparatus, rescue vehicles, and fuel trucks, among others.

“Over a span of 70 years, our family and company associates have proudly served our customers,” states John Kovatch III, President & CEO of KME. “We are very proud of what our employees have accomplished over that time span and thank them for their hard work and dedication to outstanding customer service. REV Group has great expertise in the specialty vehicle industry and we look forward to even further growth with them in the years ahead,” he added. Concurrent with the transaction close, John Kovatch III will be leaving his position as KME’s President and CEO, however he will play an integral role during the transition phase as KME becomes part of the REV group. John will interact directly with Tim Sullivan, REV’s Group CEO.

“We are extremely excited to have KME join REV Group,” states Sullivan. “KME brings a tremendous brand, a talented group of employees, and a world-class product portfolio that adds to our capabilities to better serve our customers’ and dealers’ needs throughout the country.”

KME’s headquarters and its primary manufacturing operations will remain in Nesquehoning. This facility along with other KME facilities in Roanoke, Virginia; Ontario, California; Albany, New York; and Rockaway, New Jersey will continue to be an integral part of its operations.

Pierce Manufacturing, Inc. has received more than 60 orders for its Pierce® Ascendant™ 107-foot steel heavy-duty aerial ladder since its unveiling last year, making it the most popular new aerial apparatus in the company’s history. The Ascendant aerial passed all NFPA structural and stability testing requirements prior to its launch and, since that time, Pierce’s R&D team successfully completed three phases of a fatigue test that demonstrate the equivalent of 20 years of service life. Phase one included lifting a 750-pound tip load weight-plus the equivalent of 100 pounds of equipment-off the floor 60,000 times at full horizontal extension. Phase two repeated all steps in phase one for another 60,000 cycles, which substantiated there are no fatigue issues in the design. A third phase included 10,000 additional cycles with the load increased to 1,125 pounds plus the equivalent of 100 pounds of equipment. To put the 130,000 cycles into perspective, that’s simulating 17 uses at rated tip load per day, every day, for 20 years.

At FDIC International, Pierce introduced new Ascendant configurations, including the PUC™ configuration, Texas Chute Out body (side stack hosebed), and a no pump/no tank body configuration.

PAUL CONWAY SHIELDS announced the promotion of Lisa Le Strom to marketing director for the company’s four divisions: Fire, Law, Safety, and its Custom Shop. Strom will be responsible for developing and implementing an overall corporate marketing strategy, directly engaging and managing the marketing team, and translating the company’s business objectives into marketing strategies that drive revenue.

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