Menu

Welcome

The Finest Supporting the Bravest!

The purpose of the Fire Mechanics Section is to promote standardization of fire apparatus and equipment preventative maintenance, improve safety standards and practices, promote workshops, conferences, and seminars related to the purposes of this Section, and to promote cost savings through standardization of building and equipment purchasing and maintenance.

RECENT FIRE MECHANIC NEWS

Posted: Jul 6, 2021

Sutphen Corporation to Build New Manufacturing Facility in Urbana, OH

URBANA, OH – Sutphen Corporation, the nation’s largest family-owned and operated fire apparatus manufacturer with headquarters in Dublin, OH, announced plans to combine its three Urbana manufacturing and service sites in a new 160,000-square-foot facility to be constructed at State Route 55 and Edgewood Avenue in Urbana.

With this plan, Sutphen will retain the three Urbana facilities’ 160 existing jobs and add 20 to 25 more positions at the new site.

“We are extremely proud to continue our growth as a business while remaining in Ohio and specifically in Urbana,” said Sutphen Corporation President Drew Sutphen, a fourth-generation family member.

“Having worked with the Urbana community for many years, we are confident that Urbana is the ideal place to facilitate expansion. Between its hardworking people and its business-friendly environment, we look forward to continuing our growth in Urbana for years to come.”

Todd Winnenberg, general manager of the three Urbana operations, said, “It’s truly an exciting time to be a part of Sutphen Corporation.  This move emphasizes the Sutphen family’s commitment to its employees by staying local and providing a great opportunity for area jobs.” 

The Champaign Economic Partnership (CEP), Sutphen leaders, and local, regional and state partners worked together to enable Sutphen to maintain and expand its operations and workforce in Champaign County, CEP Director Marcia Bailey said. Sutphen also considered a site in Pennsylvania and other locations in Ohio.

“I am grateful for everything our partners have done to help make this project come together and allow Sutphen to continue serving our community, now and well into the future, with a tradition of quality manufacturing, rewarding employment opportunities, and strong prospects for continued growth,” Bailey said.

Julie Sullivan, Executive Vice President of Regional Development for the Dayton Development Coalition, said, “We and our partners at JobsOhio welcome Sutphen’s plans to expand their manufacturing operations in Urbana. An Ohio company in its fifth generation of family leadership, the fire apparatus they make here take a piece of this state’s compassionate spirit to

first responders across the country, making sure critical life-saving equipment is safely produced in the U.S.”

The new building will be built northeast of the intersection of State Route 55 and Edgewood Avenue, on 55 acres of land that will provide Sutphen ample room for further expansion in the future.

Julie Sutphen Phelps, a fourth-generation family member, vice president of Sutphen Corporation and president of Sutphen’s Hilliard, OH, facility, said, “This expansion allows our family-owned business to continue to grow and expand within Urbana and the fire industry as a whole. While we continue to grow, we know that our apparatus quality, our individualized customer experience and our dedication to our mission and values will not falter.”

The new building is being designed to optimize workflow of fire apparatus manufacturing, from start to finish, and will combine the operations of Sutphen’s three current Urbana facilities – the Sutphen Service & Technical Division, 49 N. Ludlow Rd. Urbana; the Sutphen Urbana Chassis Division, 1701 W. County Line Rd., Urbana; and the Sutphen Urbana Pumper Division, 1653 W. County Line Rd., Urbana.

Ground will be broken in August or September and Sutphen officials anticipate moving into the new building in the fall of 2022.

Sutphen to Recruit at July 10 Career Fair

Sutphen Corporation will be at the Champaign County Career Fair, July 10, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., on the former Urbana University campus, to recruit for a wide range of current openings and future opportunities, for material handlers, assemblers, electricians, plumbers, fabricators and more.

The Sutphen b

Read more
Posted: Jul 6, 2021

Reyco Granning to Host FMCA Members for a Day of Insight

Mt. Vernon, MO – Reyco Granning is excited to host members of the FMCA (Family Motorcoach Association) at their manufacturing plant in Mt. Vernon, MO on Wednesday July 7. We are looking to gain the first-person impressions on our ComfortMaster technology while also offering a first-hand look at how a suspension is made. With a plant tour and lunch planned we’re hoping to host a fun and insightful day with some of the country’s most avid motorcoach enthusiasts.

The ComfortMaster leaves all competitors behind with the industry-first nitrogen charged and sealed strut architecture.  The nitrogen strut integrates the functions of spring, shock absorber, king-pin, and upper control arm into one component making the unique construction light weight and efficient.  “The tidy packaging of the strut affords the highest possible wheel-cut angle allowed by today’s tire manufacturers; at a true 60-degrees vehicle maneuverability is simply unprecedented” said John Stuart, President.

Reyco Granning completed subjective and instrumented performance evaluation comparing the ComfortMaster to both legacy Reyco Granning products and the leading competitor product.  The on-vehicle evaluation clearly demonstrated a best-in-class ride and handling performance.  For example, on a key handling metric the lane change lateral acceleration was improved by 29%.  On a key ride metric, the vertical acceleration was improved by 32%.  “With some iterative tuning we were able to achieve the Holy Grail, improving handling without compromising ride” said John Hinz, VP Engineering.

The ComfortMaster is ready for your application and is Reyco Granning’s most thoroughly validated product to date including on-vehicle testing, lab testing, & field testing.  More information about Reyco Granning and the ComfortMaster suspension can be found at:  https://reycogranning.com/suspensions/comfortmaster/

###

About Reyco Granning

Reyco Granning, headquartered in Mt. Vernon, MO, designs and manufactures air ride, steel spring, and auxiliary suspension systems used by truck, trailer and specialty vehicle OEMs, including Fire & Rescue, RV and Bus markets. Reyco Granning is a suspension manufacturer with nearly 90 years of proven product quality, durability, and reliability. Visit us at www.reycogranning.com

Read more
Posted: Jul 6, 2021

Midland (TX) Fire Department Christens Station 5

The Midland (TX) Fire Department recently held the grand-opening ceremony for its Station 5.

Community and fire officials were on hand to celebrate.

Related Articles:
Midland (TX) Getting New Stations, Rigs
Midland County TX Buys Fire Apparatus for City
Concho Resources Donates Fire Apparatus to Midland (TX)

Posted: Jul 6, 2021

Enid (OK) Takes Delivery of Two New Pumpers

Enid (OK) Fire Department took delivery of two frontline pumpers last week, according to a newspaper article published by Enid News & Eagle.

The two fire trucks were built by Pierce Manufacturing and are expected to give the community 20 to 30 years of service, according to the article.

The fire engines are expected to be outfitted and placed in service this week with one assigned to Station 1 on Garriott and one to Station 3 at the intersection of 30th and Randolph, the paper reported.

Each truck cost $638,000 and the fire department originally had plan to buy only one, but after the COVID-19 pandemic, the department had funds to buy two trucks, the newspaper reported.

Read more
RSS
First13341335133613371339134113421343Last

Theme picker

Upcoming Events

Theme picker

Sponsors

Fire Mechanics Section Board

Chair

Posted: Oct 21, 2015

Chair

Elliot Courage
North Whatcom Fire & Rescue
Read more

Vice Chair

Posted: Oct 21, 2015

Vice Chair

Mike Smith 
Pierce County Fire District #5
Read more

Secretary

Posted: Oct 21, 2015

Secretary

Greg Bach
South Snohomish County Fire & Rescue
Read more

Director #1

Posted: Oct 21, 2015

Director #1

Doug Jones
South Kitsap Fire & Rescue
Read more

Director #2

Posted: Oct 21, 2015

Director #2

Paul Spencer 
Fire Fleet Maintenance LLC
Read more

Director #3

Posted: Oct 21, 2015

Director #3

Jim Morris
Mountain View Fire Department
Read more

Director #4

Posted: Oct 21, 2015

Director #4

Arnie Kuchta

Clark County Fire District 6

Read more

Director #6

Posted: Oct 21, 2015

Director #6

Brett Annear
Kitsap County Fire District 18
Read more

Director #5

Posted: Oct 21, 2015

Director #5

Jay Jacks
Camano Island Fire & Rescue
Read more

Legislative Representative

Posted: Oct 21, 2015

Legislative Representative

TBD
TBD
Read more

Immediate Past Chair

Posted: Oct 20, 2015

Immediate Past Chair

Brian Fortner
Graham Fire & Rescue

Read more
RSS

Theme picker

2020 CAR SHOW