Spartan Motors Chassis, Inc., 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.”
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.
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 (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.