Chongqing Huanyu Automobile Sales Company , http://www.huanyuauto.com
A news release at the end of April revealed that Oshkosh Corporation, the parent company of Pierce, Medtec, and Frontline Communications, has acquired Snozzle from Crash Rescue Equipment Services, Inc. You can find the announcement here and here. Excerpts from the articles highlight key details:
"Production of the Snozzle will be moved to the Oshkosh Fire & Emergency Campus in Wisconsin and will be phased in over the next 6 to 12 months."
"The SNOZZLE apparatus features a piercing nozzle designed to enter an aircraft’s passenger cabin, cargo area, or other structures for direct application of firefighting agents. Its lightweight, highly flexible extendable turret can function as an elevated water tower through a doorway or over a wing exit without putting firefighters at risk. The product's patented ability to deliver a full master stream at ground level allows for quick and effective cooling of burning aircraft tires and hot brakes. Additionally, it can reach down, at, or below grade to employ the 'seat of the fire' method on fuel spill fires."
"Robert Conley, President of Crash Rescue, said, 'We are very proud to have Oshkosh as the buyer of this critical ARFF technology. Grady North and Bob Relyea were instrumental in developing the market for this product within the ARFF industry, and we know they're proud to see it continue with a strong owner like Oshkosh. We wanted to be good stewards of the Snozzle by finding a great home for it. We decided to do this because we needed to focus our personnel and resources on our core business—remanufacturing. Our newly ISO 9001:2008 certified remanufacturing operation provides total remanufacturing of ARFF vehicles worldwide. Our intent is to grow and further concentrate on this critically needed service for military, industrial, and commercial customers. Crash Rescue has been proud to serve our customers, and we are extremely gratified to know that the SNOZZLE® will continue to save lives, property, and keep our firefighters safe.'"
Until now, the Snozzle was available to all manufacturers, primarily used in ARFF units. However, following Oshkosh’s acquisition, the product will now only be available through Oshkosh subsidiaries.
The Snozzle has also found its way into structural firefighting applications. Over the years, several departments have mounted the telescoping waterway on custom pumpers to handle a variety of emergencies.
For example, the Chicago Fire Department equipped a 1994 Oshkosh T3000 with a Snozzle for service at O'Hare Airport. Similarly, Miami International Airport had an E-ONE Titan 8x8 ARFF unit with a Snozzle since 2002. Another Oshkosh Striker 3000 with a Snozzle was deployed at Midway Airport in 2010.
Beyond airport use, the Snozzle has been integrated into standard fire apparatus. The Orange Fire Department in California had a 1994 Seagrave engine with a 50-foot Snozzle. LaGrange, Kentucky, also used a similar setup in 2000, featuring a 1,500-GPM pump and a 50-foot Snozzle. In Louisiana, the Marrero-Estelle Volunteer Fire Co. No. 1 added a 65-foot Snozzle to their E-ONE Cyclone II in 2008, complete with dual nozzles and a forward-facing camera.
With Oshkosh now owning the Snozzle, the future of this innovative tool looks secure, but its availability may change significantly moving forward.