I was part of a conversation not long ago about the number of fire apparatus manufacturers in 1980 vs. today. We rattled off names like Hahn, Mack, 3D, Luverne, Peter Pirsch, American LaFrance, and others that don’t exist anymore. 1980 doesn’t feel like that long ago to me, but it has been 44 years, and we’ve lost more than a few fire truck makers in that time. However, 50 years ago, we gained an apparatus manufacturer that has withstood the test of time by continually innovating, cultivating its employee atmosphere, and nurturing its dealer network—E-ONE. In March, it kicked off its 50th anniversary celebration with an event at its Ocala, Florida, headquarters, which highlighted its employees, dealers, and loyal customers.
- Podcast: Five Questions for E-ONE at its 50th Anniversary Kickoff
- E-ONE Celebrates 50 years in Business
- E-ONE Event Celebrates 50 Years of Fire Industry Leadership and Innovation
GARAGE START
Originally known as Emergency One, E-ONE was founded by Bob Wormser in 1974. He designed and manufactured the first modular extruded aluminum fire truck body in his garage, according to Chris McClung, vice president of sales, REV Fire Group. “It was a game changer for the fire industry at that time,” he says. “It has continued to be so for the last 50 years. This launched the company’s reputation for pioneering innovation and is still evidenced 50 years later in the fire apparatus we produce for fire departments around the world.”
Early on, Wormser moved the company’s operations to a small facility in downtown Ocala. It wasn’t long before he moved the company to an 82,000-square-foot production facility in 1978. In 1990, the company added an additional 65,000 square feet, the Welcome Center, and Delivery Center. And, the company added a facility in Hamburg, New York, in 2010 to serve its Northeast United States dealers and customers. What began as a 25-employee company has evolved into a company with more than 1,000 employees in two facilities.
HISTORY OF INNOVATION
From the beginning, E-ONE has innovated. “Let’s start with Bob Wormser’s manufacturing the first modular extruded aluminum fire truck and body, the first in the industry,” says McClung. “Also important is our first 110-foot welded extruded aluminum aerial with integral torque box chassis.” The preceding product arrived in 1981. McClung also counts E-ONE’s TITAN 4×4 Air Transportable (AT) aircraft rescue and firefighting (ARFF) vehicle, introduced in 2020, as one of the company’s most important innovations. “This reduced size aircraft firefighting rescue vehicle is designed to fit on a C-130 Hercules aircraft and be transported to military bases around the world,” he says. “It is used by both the U.S. military and the Canadian Department of National Defense.”
E-ONE has also introduced its own electric fire apparatus to the market, the Vector. “A fine example of the innovation E-ONE is known for is the Vector, the first North American style fully electric fire truck with the highest EV battery capacity,” says McClung. “The Vector can respond, pump, operate, and return all on electric. When fully charged, the Vector’s range is about 142 miles in a city and 100 miles on a highway before the range extender engine would kick in. That means crews could do about 12 typical emergency runs without the electric battery running out of charge.” He adds that the Mesa (AZ) Fire and Medical Department has the first Vector in operation, and Toronto (Canada) Fire Services will be receiving its Vector later this year. “The Vector is creating such a buzz, it was featured on the Emmyaward winning series ‘Jay Leno’s Garage’ in April,” McClung adds.
Other recent developments include the Industrial HP 100 Platform, which offers 4,000-gallon per-minute (gpm) pump rating and up to 3,000-gpm waterway flow. “This is the kind of weapon fire departments want and need in fighting huge industrial fires,” McClung says. E-ONE’s technology includes active air purification systems that kill 99% of pathogens to deliver better air quality and a safer cab environment for crews. In addition, AXIS™ Smart Truck Technology is a secure intelligent truck system engineered specifically for E-ONE emergency response vehicles. “AXIS Smart Truck Technology connects to the components used every day on emergency vehicles, providing streamlined operations, increased uptime, and improved vehicle health,” says McClung. “Fire departments receive operational insights, proactive reporting, real-time support, and extensive network capabilities.”
Additional innovations through the company’s first 50 years include the following:
- 1983: 95-foot platform and 135-foot ladder—both part of the modular line of aerials.
- 1984: the Hurricane chassis.
- 1994: the HP 75 ladder with a 500-pound tip load.
- 2001: the HP 95 Mid-Mount.
- 2007: the HP 100 Platform.
- 2011: the eMAX pumper.
- 2017: the Metro 100 Quint.
A CHALLENGE BUT A STRENGTH
Over the course of 50 years, companies experience many challenges. In recent memory, the recession of 2008 and the Pandemic of 2020 were two significant challenges. One challenge experienced by many McClung cites as a strength for E-ONE. “A challenge in the fire industry has been changes to the labor force and retention of good quality people,” he explains. “Fortunately, the culture of E-ONE is one of a strong sense of pride for the work that we do: designing and building one of the most iconic fire apparatus brands in the world. We have over 120 employees who have been with us 30+ years and nearly 60 who have been with us for 35+ years.” McClung adds that the company’s employees are the heart of its business. “One of the noteworthy aspects of our business is that we have nearly 60 employees who have dedicated more than 35 years of their lives to our business and to producing the top mission critical vehicles in the industry,” McClung says. “That shows our culture at E-ONE and the pride our employees feel at building one of the most iconic fire apparatus brands.”
THE FUTURE AND THE PAST
One of the best ways to plot a course for where you want to go is to look at where you are and where you came from. McClung says that since its first days in 1974, E-ONE has been leading the fire industry with innovation, and it has no plans to slow down. “We plan to continue that tradition for at least the next 50 years,” he says.
In addition, E-ONE goes to market with a network of 35 authorized dealers in North America. These dealer partners are the face of E-ONE to its joint customers in fire departments all around the world. “We are incredibly proud of our dealer network that we’ve built over the five decades and the long-standing trusted partnerships,” McClung says. “In fact, some dealers have sold E-ONE for over 40 years. We would not be celebrating 50 years of success without the dedication and service of those dealer partners,” McClung says.
Looking to the future, McClung says E-ONE remains committed to building the best quality fire apparatus to be used around the world. “Our tagline is ‘Delivering Strength Through Excellence,’ ” he says. “This is what E-ONE is renowned for—our innovation, our advanced engineering, our highly skilled team—all to build world-class heavy-duty fire trucks.” At it’s core, E-ONE is a global full-spectrum manufacturer of pumpers, tankers, aerial ladders and platforms, rescues, industrial fire apparatus, and ARFF apparatus. “No matter what type of fire apparatus a fire department needs, the future is to provide the highest quality apparatus in a timely manner,” McClung states. “Fire departments depend on E-ONE to deliver so that they can continue to protect their communities.”
Ultimately, McClung is proud of E-ONE’s legacy as a manufacturer during its 50 years in business. “We are proud of the legacy E-ONE has built—whether it is manufacturing rescue trucks, pumpers, or custom fire apparatus,” he says. “We continue to provide the latest product innovations and new technologies and help fire departments around the world serve and protect their communities.”
CHRIS Mc LOONE, editor in chief of Fire Apparatus & Emergency Equipment, is a 31-year veteran of the fire service currently serving as a safety officer and is a former assistant chief with Weldon Fire Company (Glenside, PA). He has served on past apparatus and equipment purchasing committees. He has also held engineering officer positions, where he was responsible for apparatus maintenance and inspection. He has been a writer and an editor for more than 30 years.
