No GSE market ever stands still, and that is certainly true for the vehicles that provide the critical aircraft rescue and fire-fighting (ARFF) capability required at all major airports
Leonding, Austria-based Rosenbauer is one of a limited number of the globally active suppliers of airport fire-fighting vehicles. It has made some significant changes over the last few years in response to shfting market demands, as the company’s head of global product management, Michael Kaiser, explains.
“We have reworked our major ARFF products, mainly the PANTHER. In 2013 we launched the PANTHER 6×6 S – a narrow version of the PANTHER. This product was added as new to the portfolio. Then, in 2015, we launched the reworked (fourth-generation) PANTHER 6×6 and 4×4 and then, last year, we launched the fourth generation of PANTHER 8×8.
“The highlights of these developments can be summarised in the statement: ‘Faster. Stronger. Safer’, meaning more performance (driving and pump performance) and increased engine performance.”
There is no shortage of demand for Rosenbauer’s key offerings. Indeed: “Demand for the PANTHER is steadily increasing,” Kaiser notes. “The overall world market seems to stay on a certain level but due to lot of improvements in the new model, we have managed to increase our market share. Up to now, we have delivered more than 1,600 trucks and most of them are still in service.”
Models other than the company’s 8×8 vehicle are also proving popular, and together they make for a rounded offering to the ARFF market. “There is the PANTHER 6×6 S – a smaller version of the PANTHER which can easily be used for fire-fighting outside the airports (but still stationed on an airport).
“For smaller airports (Fire CAT below 8), there is the option of the BUFFALO, which is an ARFF vehicle on a serial chassis. Besides these two, there is an RIV [rapid intervention vehicle] called Airwolf, produced at RB America.
“As an additional product, we also offer an Escape Stair: a vehicle with a flexible staircase which can be used to offer rapid access for emergency response forces to an aircraft and also for evacuating passengers in those cases when it is not urgent to use a aircraft’s integrated slides.
Changing demand patterns
At Rosenbauer, they have seen certain identifiable changes in the patterns of demand for ARFFs. For example, Kaiser points to increased demand for environmental friendly vehicles. “We also see increased demand for special extinguishing systems like Compressed Air Foam Systems (CAFS).
Rosenbauer is reacting to those trends. “We want to listen to customer requirements,” Kaiser says. “But we’re also trying to expand our technological leadership, always trying to make the fire-fighter’s life easier and safer.”
Jack Bermingham, ARFF product manager at Oshkosh, has also identified various ways in which demand for on-airport emergency fire-fighting vehicles is evolving. “A continued push in the industry for more technology is a trend we have seen throughout the ARFF industry since the beginning,” he says. “Fire-fighters always want to be on the cutting edge of technology in order to be more effective and keep the travelling public safe.”
Like Rosenbauer, Oshkosh too has been making changes to its product offering. Over the last year or so, for example, the manufacturer has introduced its new 8×8 Striker. This new vehicle is powered by twin Scania engines, each putting out up to 770 horsepower.
Says Bermingham: “This impressive power plant enables a fully loaded 8×8 even with a 65ft High-Reach Extendable Turret (HRET) to go from 0 to 50mph in 20 seconds. The new 8×8 has an identical cab to our existing 4×4 and 6×6 trucks that has been proven around the world.”
The Striker has proved its value over many years, and continues to do so, Bermingham declares. “The Striker has remained in high demand since the original launch of the truck. We have units at airports around the world ranging from 4x4s, 6x6s and 8x8s. Over 1,500 Strikers have been sold worldwide to date.
Changes have been made to other Oshkosh products as well. “We have recently made updates to our Stinger truck and have it available on the latest Ford chassis,” says Bermingham.
Plus: “The Snozzle HRET has continued in popularity around the world. We offer the 50ft version on 4×4, 6×6, and 8×8 vehicles and also offer the 65ft version on the 6×6 and 8×8. Both the 50ft and 65ft options are able to reach the upper deck on aircraft such as B747s and A380s, which expands the capabilities of fire-fighters compared to just a roof-mounted turret.”
Newly available technologies have supported the improvement of Oshkosh fire-fighting products. “Recent technological improvements include our ECO EFP, K-Factor, and Runway Ready systems,” explains Bermingham. “Our ECO EFP system allows fire-fighters to measure foam concentration without having to discharge foam or water from the vehicle. This is an integrated, on-board system that also stores historical data for three years.
“The innovative K-Factor system is used with the Oshkosh Snozzle. This system has a digital readout inside the Striker cab that gives an operator feedback on the positioning of the Snozzle piercing tip relative to the optimal angle to pierce through the intended object. In addition to providing a distance readout, this system makes piercing operations more efficient and easier in adverse conditions.”
Finally: “Our Runway Ready system is a telematics offering on our Strikers giving fire-fighters and maintenance personnel pertinent and updated information on their vehicles,” says Bermingham. “One major benefit of this system is the ability to look at truck readiness at a glance and see what state of readiness a fleet is in to respond to a call at a moment’s notice.”
