September 14, 2006

Ferrara Installation of 2007 EPA Engines Approved

HOLDEN, LA - Ferrara Fire Apparatus, Inc. today announced that Cummins, Inc. has approved the installation of its 2007 Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) certified lineup of ISM engines up to 500 horsepower.  This weekend at Fire Rescue International in Dallas, a large crowd is expected to view the Ferrara Inferno, featuring a Cummins 2007 ISM Series engine.

The new 2007 Inferno performed superbly during the testing.  Certified to an incredible ambient temperature of 130 degrees Fahrenheit, Ferrara’s installation resulted in bettering the water temperature requirement by 30 degrees and the charge air cooler requirement by over 20 degrees.

“The real challenge beyond the engine installation, however, was not compromising the comfort, ride and handling that the Inferno has become famous for,” said CEO Chris Ferrara.  “In the new Inferno we didn’t want to simply take room out of the cab to accommodate new emission equipment, so we increased the cab’s width.”  That change in cab width allows the driver and officer to maintain the same amount of hip and shoulder room, and increases the space available to personnel seated in the rear crew area. 

Working closely with its vendors, Ferrara engineers were able to create a vehicle with the same overall travel width, despite the increase in actual cab size.  The result of this cooperative effort is a fire apparatus that has the same great handling as previous model years, does not compromise valuable room for the driver and officer and provides more room for crew members.

In addition to maintaining handling and maneuverability, Ferrara and Cummins worked closely together to come up with an engine installation that would not detract from the Inferno’s many fire fighter- and service technician-friendly features.  The turbo air intake is still high above the front wheels, eliminating the possibility of aspirating water into the turbo.  There is still the same constant change of air in the engine compartment, reducing heat in the cab, through oversized grilles at the front and side of the cab.  The engine tunnel height remains low-profile, keeping the cab open for visual communication between crew members.  Also during the design process, Ferrara maintained its installation certification of the popular Complete Airbag Protection (CAP) system, which protects all occupants, whether they are seated in the front or rear of the cab.

The new engine emission requirements set forth by the EPA require particulate matter emissions be reduced by more than 90 per cent and nitrogen oxide emissions reduced by more than half and for all over the road engines manufactured in 2007.

Comfortably ahead of schedule for federally mandated installation of 2007 EPA-compliant engines, Ferrara stands ready to offer its customers engines from all three major engine manufacturers.

Ferrara Fire Apparatus is a leading manufacturer of custom fire and emergency vehicles, located in Louisiana, mid-way between New Orleans and Baton Rouge along Interstate 12.  The company is known for its history of safety innovations, including SmartWheel steering wheel, Independent Front Suspension, CAP, ECE-29R Crash Worthiness, oversized windows in the Inferno for better visibility and many, many others.