Spartan Chassis Announces First Ambulance Chassis Orders From Braun Industries
October 13 2009 - 9:45AM
PR Newswire (US)
Spartan's FurionRT Chassis Transforms Ambulance Market from
Commercial to Custom CHARLOTTE, Mich., Oct. 13
/PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Spartan Motors Chassis, Inc., a
subsidiary of Spartan Motors, Inc. (NASDAQ:SPAR), today announced
several new orders from OEM Braun Industries for its FurionRT
ambulance cab and chassis. Leading ambulance maker Braun is
providing 16 FurionRT ambulances to the Miami-Dade Fire Rescue
department and 11 FurionRT units to DeKalb County Fire & Rescue
in Georgia. The FurionRT (Rescue Transport) is the ambulance
industry's first-ever custom chassis. The FurionRT is a
purpose-built cab-and-chassis specifically designed for the
emergency-rescue industry, unlike a commercial chassis which is
just as likely to be used on a delivery or moving truck as on an
ambulance. "We're excited to partner with Braun to bring the next
generation of ambulance and rescue vehicle innovation to Miami-Dade
and DeKalb County," said Tom Gorman, chief operating officer of
Spartan Motors. "Together, we are offering fire departments
improved visibility, cab space, modernized styling and increased
weight carrying capacity for their ambulance and rescue vehicle
fleets, customized to meet each department's needs. We wish to
thank the Miami-Dade Fire Rescue Logistics Division for their key
assistance in developing the FurionRT and bringing it to the
market. We also would like to thank DeKalb County Fire & Rescue
for their role as another first adopter of the FurionRT." The
FurionRT cab-and-chassis is designed for maximum maneuverability
and reliable performance with unrivaled power and payload for the
Type I-Additional Duty ambulance market. The corrosion protected
94" steel tilt cab features four doors and superior, unobstructed
visibility. "Braun Industries is proud to have partnered with
Spartan on the Braun Super Chief/Spartan FurionRT project, and we
would like to thank both Miami Dade Fire Rescue and DeKalb County
Fire & Rescue for their recent purchases," said Braun Executive
Sales Manager, Chad Brown. "Braun values the pioneering spirit of
both Miami-Dade and DeKalb County on this forward-thinking project.
We have taken their input and suggestions for future builds to
continually improve the platform. The Braun Super Chief/Spartan
FurionRT combination provides a longer life expectancy along with
unsurpassed maneuverability and superior ride quality. These are
just a few of the many quality features that this custom ambulance
provides versus a traditional ambulance/rescue on a commercial
chassis." The FurionRT's signature spacious cab interiors securely
transport crew and equipment to the scene and during patient
transport. In addition, the custom ladder frame and rear air
suspension, with dump feature, provide a stable, comfortable ride
for patient and crew. The cab over engine design allows for greater
visibility and maneuverability and offers room for six crew members
and equipment. "As society changes, vehicles and services become
more customized for a singular purpose, and that's where Spartan
comes in. Our strategy is to transform a large commercial market by
breaking it into smaller market niches, where there is more room to
add value to a vehicle and benefit the end-user," said John
Sztykiel, president and CEO of Spartan Motors. "Thirty years ago,
we applied this strategy to the fire truck market with the first
enclosed cab and other innovations at a time when 95 percent of the
fire truck market rode on a commercial chassis. Today, more than 55
percent of the fire truck market is on a custom chassis, and
Spartan has played a significant role in this evolution. "Our
approach with the FurionRT is to replicate this strategy in the
ambulance market, but in a much shorter time span. These most
recent orders are a great step in the right direction. Miami-Dade,
the sixth largest fire department in the nation, now has 30 percent
of its ambulance fleet on a custom FurionRT chassis only a year
after the product's debut." About Braun Industries Braun
Industries, Inc. has built custom, hand-crafted ambulances since
1972. A recognized leader in ambulance design and construction,
Braun offers exclusives such as Braun SolidBody(tm) Construction,
the EZ Glide(tm) Sliding Door, the MasterTech(tm) III Multiplex
Electrical Control System and the VitalMax(tm) Lighting System.
Braun is a member of the National Truck Equipment Association
(NTEA), the Ambulance Manufacturers Division (AMD) and National
Fire Protection Agency (NFPA). The company is headquartered in a
115,000-square-foot facility housed on 13 acres in Van Wert, Ohio.
About Spartan Motors Chassis, Inc. Spartan Motors Chassis, Inc., a
subsidiary of Spartan Motors, Inc. (NASDAQ:SPAR), is a leading
developer and manufacturer of custom chassis for recreational
vehicles, fire trucks, ambulances and defense and specialty
vehicles. Spartan Motors (http://www.spartanmotors.com/) which also
manufactures emergency rescue vehicles under the brand names of
Crimson Fire, Crimson Fire Aerials and Road Rescue, reported sales
of $844.4 million in 2008 and is focused on becoming the premier
manufacturer of specialty vehicles and chassis in North America.
This release contains forward-looking statements, including,
without limitation, statements concerning our business, future
plans and objectives and the performance of our products. These
forward-looking statements involve certain risks and uncertainties
that ultimately may not prove to be accurate. Actual results and
future events could differ materially from those anticipated in
such statements. Technical complications may arise that could
prevent the prompt implementation of the plans outlined above. The
company cautions that these forward-looking statements are further
qualified by other factors including, but not limited to, those set
forth in the company's Annual Report on Form 10-K filing and other
filings with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission
(available at http://www.sec.gov/). Government contracts and
subcontracts typically involve long payment and purchase cycles,
competitive bidding, qualification requirements, delays or changes
in funding, extensive specification development and changes, price
negotiations and milestone requirements. An announced award of a
governmental contract is not equivalent to a finalized executed
contract and does not assure that orders will be issued and filled.
Government agencies also often retain some portion of fees payable
upon completion of a project and collection of contract fees may be
delayed for long periods, which can negatively impact both prime
contractors and subcontractors. The company undertakes no
obligation to publicly update or revise any statements in this
release, whether as a result of new information, future events or
otherwise, except as required by law. DATASOURCE: Spartan Motors
Chassis, Inc. CONTACT: Karen Hildebrant of Spartan Motors Chassis,
Inc., +1-517-543-6400 ext. 3111; Ryan McGrath or Jeff Lambert of
Lambert, Edwards & Associates, +1-616-233-0500 Web Site:
http://www.spartanmotors.com/
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