From modest beginnings as a general engineering company based in Wellington on New Zealand’s North Island around 60 years ago, Fraser Engineering Group (FEG) has grown into a leader in the innovative design and manufacture of fire and emergency rescue vehicles.
FEG-built vehicles are in operation around the greater Pacific region including the Cook Islands and Fiji, and around 600 at the frontline of fire and emergency response in Australia.
The company recently had one of its most technically advanced firefighting trucks on display at the annual AFAC exhibition in Sydney. AFAC is the Australian and New Zealand National Council for fire and emergency services.
Built for the South Australian Country Fire Service, crew member safety is a key priority, as is having a vehicle that is efficient and versatile to respond to various emergency situations.
The Fraser-equipped Isuzu FTS on show at AFAC, ready for work with the SA CFS. Image: David VileAlong with its New Zealand manufacturing facility the company also operates out of another site in Woodville in South Australia.
“Every component on the vehicle that we can we manufacture in-house,” said FEG general manager, Martin Simpson.
“That way we have control over our manufacturing destiny, we can deliver the vehicles faster and we have our systems in place to manufacture multiple vehicles at one time.
“Usually on our production line we can be running 20 vehicles of a particular type at a time, and our aim is to keep the highest quality and innovation – we can tailor-make systems and this truck here today represents what would be one of the safest and most advanced fire appliances in the world.”
The fire truck FEG had on display could best be described as a multi-purpose response vehicle, built to respond to fires and other emergencies on the rural-urban interface. Based on an Isuzu FTS 139-260 4×4 Crew Cab chassis the work gone into its design and manufacture, along with the list of features is extensive.
“It carries 2000 litres of water and runs two foam systems with 100 litres of Class A and 60 litres of Class B foam,” Martin explained.
“It runs a Darley 500 GVM pump, with both live and dead hose reels with electric hose systems we have patented and manufactured.
“On the side are 2 drop-down breathing apparatus sets and there is also a water monitor mounted on the bullbar which is controlled form inside via a joystick.”
Crew protection sprays are also fitted to the outside of the cab whilst the inside a breathing deluge system and drop-down, heat-retardant curtains are also fitted.
Providing a high level of protection to fire crews who may find themselves involved in ‘burn-overs’ (caught in the path of a bushfire) involves building a vehicle to withstand extreme conditions and therefore the process of taking a truck chassis in and rolling out a turn-key response vehicle is quite complex, as Martin explained.
“These are an advanced strip down – every electrical and fuel system on the truck is lagged and fire-proofed to ensure the truck does not stop in a burn over,” he said.
The CFS unit is a multi-purpose response vehicle and can carry 2000 litres of water for bushfire fighting. Image: David Vile“Every filter and air intake is flameproof, and we fit flame retardant barriers on the door seals. All the flame guards have been developed from burn overs and what has been learnt from burn overs – we have then incorporated all the systems to minimise any harmful effects to fire crews.
“Everything is developed with the customer; in this case we work with some very good engineering people from the CFS. Further to that a lot of our staff in South Australia are CFS volunteers so we are fortunate to have that understanding and experience and feedback in making our product better.”
Along with the building of vehicles, the company also provides a full maintenance and service backup.
“We provide a full turn-key service out of Adelaide, we will build the trucks, get them out and get them roadworthy and also do remote service on all fire appliances as well as ours. We provide a full support to fire authorities – and their vehicles over their working life,” he said.
With the company expanding, Martin was keen to point out how customer involvement is a key in building and developing new product.
“We continue to develop and build on feedback; continuous improvement is a big thing for us. Our customers can be direct as to how things can be improved and it’s how you respond to that to exceed their expectations.
“We have maintained a good solid workforce through the growth of the company, and we pride ourselves on the fact that our manufacturing team love what they do, and if you can build equipment to survive in the most hostile conditions, you are setting the benchmark.”
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