Pierce Manufacturing Inc., announced a new round of facility improvments across its Appleton manufacturing operations that builds upon a multi-year modernization initiative launched in 2022.
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. The company has invested $60 million already to support 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 workers.
“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.”
The newest investments in Appleton 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.
- Relocation of the manufacturing release line 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.
“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.”
