Havis Shields EMERGENCY LIGHTS  (17)

E-ONE award a Tradition ES pumper to Powesville, NC fire dept during FDIC E-ONE prize awarded at FDIC The seven anxious finalists stood at the front of the stage facing a large crowd of onlookers Friday afternoon in the E-ONE booth during FDIC 2009. After three weeks of canvassing for votes for E-ONE's ‘Tell Us Your Story' competition, the moment they had been waiting for had finally arrived. These seven finalists were chosen from more than 650 fire departments throughout the nation who entered the competition for a chance at winning a new E-ONE Tradition ES pumper, valued at over $170,000. Fire Chief David Powell's eyes swelled with tears as his department, Powesville Volunteer Fire Department in Powellsville, NC, was announced as the winner of E-ONE's 2009 ‘Tell Us Your Story' fire truck give away contest. "Winning this truck is a big relief for the guys in our department. A huge financial burden has been lifted off our shoulders and we can now focus on purchasing safety equipment like an extrication tool and turn out gear that our department cannot be without," said Chief David Powell. "E-ONE's ‘Tell Us Your Story' contest has done so much more than just given a fire truck to a department in need, E-ONE and its sponsors have raised awareness of the hardships of volunteer fire departments across the country." E-ONE launched the competition in January, after returning to private ownership in August 2008 through a management buyout and wanted its employees and the fire service to be a part of something momentous. "Not only did we want to give back to the industry in a big way, but we also wanted our employees to be a part of something meaningful," said Peter Guile, CEO of E-ONE. "Our employees are the driving force behind the success of the Tradition ES product line, we couldn't think of a better way to pay it forward than by offering our Tradition ES pumper as a prize to a fire department in need." While Powellsville VFD was clearly the winner with more than 7000 of the 16,000 votes, there were six other departments on the stage who were equally deserving: Hines VFD in Hines, Oregon; Gallatin Sunnyside VFD in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania; Oneida Volunteer Fire Department in Clay County, Kentucky; Weaverville Fire Department in Weaverville, California; Butte Falls Volunteer Fire Department in Jackson County, Oregon; and Five Points Volunteer Fire Department in Washington County, Florida. With more than 650 entries, it's clear that these seven departments along with many others throughout the nation are in dire need of updated apparatus and equipment. In his presentation to the winner, Guile appealed to members of the fire service by asking them to assist the six runners up or a department in need in their area. "Hopefully this competition will raise awareness of the plight of many volunteer fire departments throughout the nation," said Guile. "We ask that you join us in paying it forward, by considering donations for these departments with any surplus apparatus, hoses, air packs, turnout gear and anything else that might be helpful." So far, departments throughout North Carolina and the nation have done just that. Departments in Indiana, Wisconsin and several departments in North Carolina are offering to donate various lose equipment ranging from hoses, nozzles and air packs to go along with Powellsville's new Tradition ES. Other offers of equipment continue to be been made for the other finalists, from across the US. Not wanting the other six finalists to leave empty handed, Havis-Shields donated tripod scene lights to the Hines Volunteer Fire Department of Hines, OR, and Gallatin Sunnyside Volunteer Fire Department of Allegheny County, PA, who came in second and third respectively, and TFT donated air packs to all six of the runners up. E-ONE would again like to thank the generous sponsors, without whom this contest would not have been possible: International, Maudlin International, Hale, Class 1, Akron Brass, R.O.M., Federal Signal Safety and Security Systems, UPF, O-Fab, RealWheels, TFT and Havis-Shields.

Havis-Shield and LEDCO-CHARGEGUARD are to merge to create a complete, integrated product line New partnership of two industry leaders will enable customers to utilize a single provider for fleet and IT mobile workspace solutions Havis-Shields, the leading manufacturer of mission critical products designed for public safety fleet and fire vehicles, today announced a merger with LEDCO-CHARGEGUARD, a leading manufacturer of mobile computing solutions and vehicle power management systems. The merger of these two trusted industry leaders, will define the new mobile workspace. This partnership truly delivers on maximizing worker productivity. The combination of Havis-Shields and LEDCO-CHARGEGUARD creates a broad portfolio that better serves the mobile workspace by offering a complete line of products. This broad product portfolio includes emergency lighting, consoles, docking stations and security transport systems. For the first time ever, customers will be able to utilize a single provider for fleet and IT solutions requirements, reducing total cost of ownership and improving service and support. As part of the merger, current Havis-Shields president, Joe Bernert, will become the chairman and chief executive officer of the newly formed company. Michael Bernert, currently the vice president of sales and marketing for Havis-Shields, will become the president of the merged companies, and current LEDCO-CHARGEGUARD president, Mike Zani, will become the new company's chief operating officer. Havis-Shields' Joe Bernert said the merger is a win-win for both companies and will provide its respective customers with an expanded line of the most comfortable and safest solutions in the industry. "We think the merger of Havis-Shields and LEDCO-CHARGEGUARD will give us the opportunity to increase the level of service and the quality of products we provide to our customers." Michael Bernert further explained that "this merger will give our Fleet and IT sales channel partners access to both The merger will create a "one-stop shop" for mobile computing, fleet & vehicle power management solutions LEDCO-CHARGEGUARDS's industry leading docking products and Havis-Shields innovative mounting solutions." LEDCO-CHARGEGUARD's Mike Zani agreed, and said the merger will bring two industry leaders together to provide customers with a "one-stop shop" for all their mobile computing, mission critical fleet and vehicle power management solutions: "Havis-Shields is one of the most trusted names in public safety and mission critical equipment. That reputation, coupled with the perfect fit of LEDCO-CHARGEGUARD's respective product lines gives us the ability to quickly respond to customer needs with the best and most complete mobile workplace equipment in the market, all from one source," he said. The company headquarters will remain in Warminster, Pa., and the current LEDCO-CHARGEGUARD manufacturing and marketing offices will remain in the Detroit suburb of Plymouth, Mich. Joe Bernert said that each company will continue with a "business as usual" philosophy, and that current Havis-Shields and LEDCO-CHARGEGUARD customers will continue to work with their current company representatives for products and services. The merger will be announced officially at FDIC 2009.