Oshkosh’s Pierce Security Vehicle Ranked in top 100 Technological Innovations for 2003

OSHKOSH, WI. – A Wisconsin Company that manufactures a state-of-the-art homeland security vehicle has its product named one of the top 100 technological innovations of 2003 by Popular Science magazine. The magazine's 16th Annual Best of What's New Awards honored Oshkosh Truck Corporation’s Pierce Manufacturing subsidiary with one of five awards in the Engineering category, describing the new command-and-communications vehicle as "the most technologically advanced disaster-response unit ever created."

The Pierce Mobile Command Post is manufactured in Appleton, WI, and Burlington, WI. Also recognized in the Engineering category where the 267 mile-per-hour Shanghai Transrapid maglev train and the 58-story Torre Mayor earthquake-proof skyscraper in Mexico City. All one hundred of this year's award winners are recognized in the December issue of Popular Science.

The Pierce Mobile Command Post is designed to help fire; police, military and emergency management personnel mount an effective, coordinated and sustained response to acts of terrorism and natural disasters. The vehicle acts as a self-contained communications center, which can coordinate communications between various responding agencies at an incident. It has its own modular telephone switching system, and a JPS radio/telephone interface unit that allows UHF - VHF communications. The system also features cellular, landline and satellite phone interoperability so command personnel can communicate with all other responders and agencies in real time.

The entire vehicle is also outfitted with a state-of-the-art Draeger vehicle filter system that creates a positive pressure inside the vehicle and uses a variety of filters to cleanse the air of contaminants, including chemical warfare agents, anthrax and tear gas. Recent purchasers of the Pierce Mobile Command Posts include Las Vegas Fire Rescue and the police department of Honolulu.

Pierce Manufacturing Inc., a subsidiary of Oshkosh Truck Corporation is a manufacturer of custom fire apparatus and homeland security vehicles in North America. Among the company's other homeland security vehicles are specialized HAZMAT and bomb response units, urban search and rescue vehicles and decontamination trucks.

"It is an incredible honor for Pierce to be recognized in this way," said Robert G. Bohn, chairman, president and chief executive officer of Oshkosh. "Our engineers and designers have created an important new tool for fire, emergency, military and law enforcement personnel. The technology in this vehicle will enable those first responders to acts of terrorism and major natural disasters to mitigate the effects of these events and save lives. It is technology put to its highest use."