KME partners with GSF Slides
Published: 02 April, 2009
As one of the largest manufacturers of commercial and custom designed chassis in the USA, KME Fire Apparatus builds a full range of bodies designed to tackle all aspects of fire and rescue.
As one of the largest manufacturers of commercial and custom designed chassis in the USA, KME Fire Apparatus builds a full range of bodies designed to tackle all aspects of fire and rescue.
US brigades are not centralised by government, which is reflected in the varying chassis configurations seen throughout the country. Therefore unique, custom designed chassis are not the exception – they’re the rule – and overseas suppliers need to consider this difference.
One company who has managed to adapt is UK company GSF Slides, whose cold drawn steel slides are used throughout Europe’s emergency response industries. Andrew Yenser, Rescue Product Development manager at KME, explains why he decided to partner with GSF Slides. “It was the strength and quality of the GSF slides that caught our attention; both are qualities to which we build our apparatus.”
Indeed KME’s apparatus range is so extensive, from rescue vehicles to pumpers, that such a decision wouldn’t be taken lightly. “Prior to offering GSF products on our apparatus,” continues Andrew, “an evaluating committee at KME thoroughly reviewed the materials, mechanics, serviceability and availability of the slides. Approving new products by committee allow KME to ensure components meet both our safety and quality requirements. Currently the slides are being integrated onto our rescue trucks and then to the balance of our product lines. The first GSF product we will be using will be the slide and tilt rollers and we will be later adding the RA5 and RA7 slide assemblies to production.”
KME’s production is by no means simple; in addition to rescue vehicles, the company also custom manufacturers its own custom chassis, pumpers, tankers, aerials, and airport crash tenders. The rescue product group alone comes with 300 custom cab configurations, including a host of other specs.
This is where GSF Slides has really come into its own; apart from its ability to move heavy equipment directly to where its needed, its slides are easy to install and maintain. Andrew Yenser concludes, “One of the key benefits for us is that the installation of the product has been easy to integrate into our production. The strength and reliability of the GSF products allow us to offer an additional component to enhance the safety and efficiency which our customers require from our apparatus.”
Both KME (booth no. 8931, in the Lucas Oil Station) and GSF Slides (booth no. 8052) will be delighted to see you at the FDIC show at Indianapolis between 22-25 April 2009.
