PSTrax, a technology service organization that helps fire departments automate their apparatus, equipment, daily narcotics, and inventory checks, has launched a Critical Assets Module.

The Critical Assets Module is especially useful for high-dollar or grant funded items that periodically require tracking of costs, inspections, expirations, maintenance, movement and repair history—detailed information from manufacture to retirement. Customized to every department’s specs, the Critical Assets Module can be tailored for any frequency of check and offers a batch log option to group appropriate assets together instead of having to log or review each piece individually.

One emergency management organization is using the new module to track and recalibrate assets for nuclear power plants. Notes PSTrax co-founder Cliff Long, “The system can be used in many different ways—for inspections, cost-tracking, maintenance-tracking, budgeting, repair scheduling, compliance, grant-funding reporting requirements, audits, inventory and more.”

Long adds that items can be assigned to a vehicle, station or an area in a station (a training room, electronic storage, etc.), or individual (e.g., a captain’s phone or radio). He notes, “Anyone from station officers to a regulatory body can see where items are supposed to be the last time versus where they actually are. The Critical Assets Module makes sure that no assets, or inspections/maintenance of assets, get left out.”

Reviews address everything from irregularities to periodic verifications. For example, if a truck is supposed to have four radios, the department can set up a monthly truck check that ties into critical assets. When the check or inspection pops up, the department can verify based on individual item serial numbers to ensure everything is there and operating properly.

Typically, these items—which can include radios, computers, TICs and extrication tools and more—historically have been logged on Excel spreadsheets or routine paper checks, which are difficult to maintain and report findings. With the Critical Assets Module, any authorized user will be able to input and/or access information reliably and rapidly to create a robust snapshot literally at one’s fingertips.

More at www.pstrax.com.

VALPARAISO, IN—AMKUS Rescue Systems has received UL certification of compliance to NFPA 1936, 2015 edition, for its ION 2.0 battery-powered rescue tool family. The cutter, spreaders, combination tool and RAM passed an NFPA-designed series of difficult tests centering on safety and endurance that prove that the tools can live up to the challenging demands that a rescue worker will need. While the NFPA standard allows manufacturers to use test results completed on equivalent models of hydraulic line tools for portions of the battery tool compliance testing, AMKUS is unique in that 100 percent of the required NFPA tests were completed using the ION tools. This means that every component of the ION tools, including the electric motor, electronic circuitry, and the hydraulic pump, has been validated based on completing the full array of tests required of NFPA 1936, even the most demanding durability tests.

The ION tools all utilize the DEWALT FLEXVOLT™ battery platform. The 60-volt battery operates ION 2.0 tools and will power both 60-volt and 20-volt DEWALT tools. It is the only battery that automatically changes voltages when you change tools, so you can share batteries between ION tools and other tools like saws and drills.

ION 2.0 tools carry on the AMKUS tradition of rugged tools that are both balanced and backed by outstanding service and support. New ION 2.0 tools can be found in AMKUS’ FDIC International booth #3503. In addition, tool demonstrations will be presented at the FDIC Real Time Demo area on April 11 and 12. Contact your local AMKUS dealer for a local demonstration or for more information.

For more information, visit www.amkus.com.

District of Columbia Fire Department, Washington, D.C., Aerialscope. Capitol stainless steel full tilt cab and chassis; Cummins ISX12 500-hp engine; 95-foot Aerialscope.