PORTABLE LIGHTS AMERICAN TRADE ORGANIZATION (PLATO), a new trade association, has been established to serve the interests of companies that manufacture and sell flashlights, lanterns, headlamps and other portable lighting tools. One of its primary functions will be to help ensure the accurate and transparent use of industry standards, such as the recently enacted ANSI/NEMA FL 1 standards, which introduced definitions and testing methods for flashlight basic performance, as well as associated marking.
Charter members include ASP Dorcy, Coast, Coleman, Energizer, GoLight, Streamlight and Surefire.
For more information, visit www.plato-usa.org or email [email protected].
E-ONE has appointed Nassau Fire Apparatus of West Babylon, NY, and Patriot Fire LLC of Trappe, MD, as dealers. Nassau Fire Apparatus represents E-ONE throughout all of Long Island and Patriot Fire’s territory includes Delaware and Maryland.
MSA has announced that four members of the Adams Area Fire District in Pennsylvania are the recipients of the 2011 Fireslayer of the Year Award for their rescue of Mike Rupert, MSA’s product group manager for First Responder Products, from a fiery crash last May. Chief Al Minjock, Lieutenants Talo Capuzzi and Doug Mellinger, and Firefighter Jeff Leonberg received the award at a ceremony at the Fire Department Instructors Conference in Indianapolis, IN, in March.
Rupert was driving to work at MSA’s Cranberry Township headquarters when a pickup truck crossed the double yellow line and hit his vehicle head on. Rupert was trapped inside as the vehicle burst into flames. With burns over 80% of his body, doctors estimated his chance to survive as one in 10. Rupert beat the odds and is now rehabilitating.
Also, MSA has announced that it is discontinuing sales of Gascope and Explosimeter combustible gas indicators by the end of 2011, and potentially sooner due to material constraints. Users of combustible gas detectors should replace them with MSA ALTAIR 5 and 5IR multi-gas detectors.
PIERCE MANUFACTURING has signed an exclusive distribution and supply agreement to market and support the Bronto Skylift line of aerial platform devices throughout North America. Pierce will offer Bronto Skylift products, including the 165-foot RLP, on its line of Arrow XT, Impel, Quantum and Velocity custom chassis. Furthermore, the Pierce dealer network will provide service, parts inventory, training and support for new and existing Bronto Skylift customers.
METALCRAFT MARINE INC. (MCM) and BRUNSWICK COMMERCIAL AND GOVERNMENT PRODUCTS (BCGP) have entered into a supply agreement to promote a series of high-performance aluminum boats. BCGP currently offers 16 models of commercialized Boston Whaler fiberglass boats and eight Impact rigid hull inflatable boats (RHIBs). Under the agreement with MCM, BCGP’s product offering will be expanded to include five aluminum models ranging from 28 to 45 feet. MCM designs and builds high-speed aluminum fire-rescue craft, patrol boats and specialty vessels ranging from 22 to 70 feet.
PELICAN PRODUCTS PTY. LTD has purchased the Australian-based custom packaging solutions provider Trimcast.
“As we continue to grow our global business both organically and through strategic acquisitions such as this, it’s important that we bring companies into our family of businesses that meet both our business goals and have a similar culture and outlook – Trimcast meets both those criteria,” said Lyndon Faulkner, president and CEO of Pelican. “We are extremely pleased to be working with them to offer our customers throughout Australasia, the enhanced capabilities that no other case company in the world can offer.”
SEAGRAVE FIRE APPARATUS has appointed two new dealers. Foley Fire Apparatus (a division of Foley Inc.) will represent the company for sales and service in New Jersey and the nine eastern counties of Pennsylvania. Utility Equipment Service, Inc. (UES) will represent Seagrave for sales and service in western/greater Tennessee.
ZIAMATIC CORP. has announced that Joshua Watkins and the Little Hocking, OH, Volunteer Fire Department are the winners of the Ziamatic EZ-LOC Giveaway. The giveaway took place at the 2011 Fire Department Instructor’s Conference in Indianapolis, IN, where attendees entered a drawing to win five new EZ-LOC self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) brackets, Model QM-EZL-F. The Little Hocking Volunteer Fire Department consists of 32 volunteers and serves a population of 5,400. The members plan to use the brackets to upgrade their 1997 front-line pumper, Unit 22.
COLE HERSEE CO. has been acquired by LITTELFUSE INC. The move is intended to position the combined company to better serve OEMs and aftermarket customers in the heavy vehicle sector. Cole Hersee offers electromechanical switches and electronic switching modules for trucks, off-road, utility, transit and emergency vehicles and boats. Littelfuse offers circuit protection products and solutions for portable and consumer electronics, automobiles, industrial equipment and telecom/datacom circuits.
CUSTOMFIRE APPARATUS INC. has appointed RedStorm Fire & Rescue Apparatus Inc. as its exclusive dealer in the mid-Atlantic region. RedStorm represents CustomFIRE with fire departments, municipalities and industrial customers in Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Delaware and Washington, DC.
