Pierce Manufacturing Inc., part of Oshkosh Corporation, has unveiled significant updates at its Appleton, Wisconsin, manufacturing facilities.
This development is part of a multi-year program that began in 2022, focusing on modernization and innovation to boost production capacity. As a result, fire departments can expect quicker delivery times for high-quality fire apparatus.
Pierce’s Investment Strategy
Latest upgrades aim to extend manufacturing capacity and reinforce Pierce's pledge to quality and innovation
These enhancements contribute to Pierce's commitment of over $150 million across its plants in Wisconsin, Florida, and Tennessee.
With $60 million already invested, the latest upgrades aim to extend manufacturing capacity and reinforce Pierce's pledge to quality and innovation. The company has increased its floor space by 28%, added 500,000 square feet, and expanded its workforce by 800 American employees.
Commitment to Quality
“These technologies reflect our dedication to continuous improvement and safety, as well as our commitment to delivering fire apparatus to firehouses faster while maintaining the same exceptional level of quality that defines our products,” commented Mike Pack, Oshkosh Corporation’s Executive Vice President and President, Vocational.
He added that lead times have been reduced by over three months from their peak, with efforts ongoing to return to pre-pandemic levels.
Technological Advancements
Pierce's Appleton campus is undergoing a transformation with advanced automation and precision technologies improving fabrication and assembly. This initiative aims to enhance quality, increase production flow, and improve team member safety.
Highlights of the newest investments include:
- A Penta 30K laser, one of only two in the US, that cuts up to two inches of steel with beveled edges, eliminating manual sanding, and an automated panel bender that enhances efficiency.
- Semi-automated folding machines and automated rail welding systems that expedite welding by up to two-thirds, along with laser welding technology providing precise results.
- Buffing robots and AI-enabled sanding systems prep metal panels for paint with improved consistency.
- A 26,000 square foot expansion of the paint facility in Appleton, nearing completion, includes new paint booths and curing ovens that ensure each fire truck features a flawless finish.
- A relocation of the manufacturing release line for optimized production flow and quality control, alongside a centralized warehousing facility for parts.
Future Outlook
Pack highlighted the comprehensive focus on efficiency, innovation, and shortening lead times across operations. “Every new machine, expansion, and workflow improvement enables us to deliver fire apparatus faster and with the exceptional craftsmanship customers expect from Pierce,” he said.
Through these investments in automation, facility modernization, and team growth, Pierce Manufacturing is paving the way for future advancements in safety, performance, and innovation in fire apparatus manufacturing.
Pierce Manufacturing Inc., an Oshkosh Corporation business, announced a new round of major facility advancements across its Appleton, Wisconsin, manufacturing operations.
Building on a multi-year modernization initiative launched in 2022, and the company’s long history of focusing on innovation and reinvestment, these strategic investments are designed to expand production capacity which will enable faster delivery of high-quality fire apparatus to fire departments.
Pierce’s long-term commitment to quality
The advancements are part of more than $150 million Pierce is investing across manufacturing facilities in Wisconsin, Florida, and Tennessee to increase production levels and reduce industry-wide lead times.
With approximately $60 million already invested, these newest additions build on steady progress to increase manufacturing capacity and strengthen Pierce’s long-term commitment to quality and innovation through continued workforce growth and the integration of advanced robotics and fabrication technologies.
Pierce’s investments over the past several years have included expanding its manufacturing space by 28%, adding 500,000 square feet of facility space, and hiring 800 new American workers.
Delivering fire apparatus to firehouses
“These technologies reflect our dedication to continuous improvement and safety, as well as our commitment to delivering fire apparatus to firehouses faster while maintaining the same exceptional level of quality that defines our products,” said Mike Pack, Oshkosh Corporation’s Executive Vice President and President, Vocational.
“We have already reduced lead times by over three months from their peak. With these sustained investments, we are continuing to work to return to pre-pandemic lead times."
Reshaping fabrication and assembly processes
Within Pierce’s production facility campus in Appleton, Wisconsin, new automation and precision technologies are reshaping fabrication and assembly processes.
Each investment is designed to enhance quality, increase production flow, reduce manual touchpoints, and improve safety for team members.
Newest investments
The newest investments include:
- A Penta 30K laser, one of only two in the United States, capable of cutting up to two inches of steel with beveled edges that eliminates manual sanding, and an automated panel bender that performs multiple bends in a fraction of the time required by traditional presses.
- A semi-automated folding machine that allows a single operator to perform complex bends safely and efficiently, automated rail welding systems that reduce welding time by up to two-thirds, and hand-held laser welding technology that delivers precise results with minimal material warpage.
- Buffing robots and an AI-enabled sanding system, which prepares metal panels for paint with improved consistency and efficiency.
- A 26,000 square foot paint facility expansion in Appleton that is nearing completion, featuring new advanced paint booths and curing ovens which boost capacity and ensure each fire truck receives a flawless finish.
- Relocation of the manufacturing release line (MRL) to improve production flow and quality control, along with modernization of the parts facility to centralize warehousing. These expansions enabled the cab and chassis lines to be relocated and reformatted within a larger 224,000 square foot space, freeing critical manufacturing capacity and further enhancing efficiency and quality.
Standard for safety, performance, and innovation in fire apparatus
“The investments across our operations reflect a unified focus on quality, efficiency, innovation and reducing lead times for critical fire apparatus for communities throughout the United States,” said Pack. “Every new machine, expansion, and workflow improvement enables us to deliver fire apparatus faster and with the exceptional craftsmanship customers expect from Pierce.”
With advanced automation, modernized facilities, and expanded teams, Pierce Manufacturing continues to set the standard for safety, performance, and innovation in fire apparatus manufacturing.
