Edward Parkinson named Executive Director of FirstNet Authority The First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet Authority) Board announced recently that Edward Parkinson has been named Executive Director of the organisation. “After conducting a comprehensive and thorough search, we are pleased to announce the selection of Ed Parkinson to be the Executive Director of the FirstNet Authority,” said Edward Horowitz, Authority Board Chair. “Ed’s leadership has been instrumental to the success of FirstNet and he brings a passion and vision for the job that will ensure the organization continues to deliver for our nation’s first responders. “Speaking on behalf of the FirstNet Authority Board, I congratulate him on the selection and thank Jeff Bratcher for serving in key leadership duties during the search. We look forward to continuing our work together to fully realize the promise of FirstNet for all of public safety.” Mr. Parkinson was named Acting Executive Director in October 2018 and under his leadership, the organisation achieved several key milestones to advance the nationwide public safety broadband network, including the release of the FirstNet Authority Roadmap and the first set of investment opportunities for expanding and enhancing the network. “Ed has a deep understanding of FirstNet and public safety, as well as a commitment to driving innovation for our nation’s first responders,” said Authority Board Vice Chair Sheriff Richard Stanek.  “I look forward to continue working with Ed to advance public safety’s network.” Mr. Parkinson was one of the first employees to join in 2013, and since then he has served in a variety of leadership positions within the organization, including Executive Director of External Affairs.  Prior to joining the FirstNet Authority, he worked on the U.S. House Homeland Security Committee for then Chairman Peter T. King. During his time with the committee, Mr. Parkinson drafted the initial bill that began the effort to create FirstNet. “I am truly honored to be selected as the Executive Director,” said Mr. Parkinson. “I am proud of the work that we do every day to help public safety and am excited about the opportunity to continue leading the FirstNet Authority as we evolve the network to meet their communications needs.”

Sutphen Corporation announces new sales and service representative Sutphen Corporation, one of largest family-owned fire apparatus manufacturer in America, has announced the addition of Republic Fire Equipment as the official sales and service representative in the state of California. With over 60 years of fire industry experience, the Republic Fire Equipment team and owner Ken Creese bring extensive fire industry knowledge and unprecedented Sutphen product line expertise. “We are thrilled to join the Sutphen dealer network family,” said Creese. “With opportunities to grow the Sutphen brand throughout California, we look forward to starting our journey as the company’s official California dealer.” Located in Dana Point, California, Republic Fire Equipment will sell and service Sutphen apparatus throughout the state. “We are excited to welcome Republic Fire Equipment to the Sutphen dealer network family,” said Sutphen director of sales and marketing, Zach Rudy. “President Ken Creese brings an abundance of knowledge of the fire industry and the Sutphen product line that will impact the California marketplace.” Rudy continued by saying that the addition of Republic Fire Equipment now gives California customers another viable option for fire apparatus sales and service. Fourth-generation president of family-owned Sutphen Corporation, Drew Sutphen, said that Republic Fire Equipment will contribute greatly to the company’s mission and values. “The entire Sutphen team and family are excited to welcome Republic Fire Equipment as a dealer to our network,” Sutphen said. “We are confident in Ken and his abilities to grow our business while holding true to our mission of providing the safest, most reliable fire apparatus in the world.”

Adaro unveil their latest smart lighting solution in the L5POWER Adaro Tecnología S.A. is a Spanish company that has been developing innovative, intrinsically safe lighting solutions for over a century. Their core motivation is to provide the emergency services and mining industries the highest quality and most technologically advanced products available. It is this motivation that has lead to the development of Adaro’s latest flashlight, the L5POWER. Robust, reliable and lightweight the L5POWER incorporates a flashing red LED in the tail, to facilitate locating team members when visibility is limited. L5POWER is ATEX certified Zone 0 Gas and Zone 20 Dust, for use in hazardous areas and confined spaces. Powered by 4 x AAA Alkaline batteries, L5POWER features a white LED that has a light output of 150 lumens and a beam distance of 96 meters. The L5 POWER can be used as a helmet torch on Pacific Helmets branded firefighting and rescue helmets when fitted A107118 clip, which is sold separately. The new Adaro L5 POWER is available from Pac Fire Australia. Pac Fire was established in 2000 with the founding vision of supplying the highest quality Personal Protective Equipment & Clothing (PPE/C) to Australia’s emergency services. This core motivation has led Pac Fire to represent the standard for excellence in the PPE/C industry. Pac Fire’s success is closely tied to two fundamental principles of dependable quality and exceptional performance. Over the years, Pac Fire’s range has grown to include over 500 individual products sourced from iconic brands such as Pacific Helmets, Bristol Uniforms, Icebreaker, Kappler, Kestrel, BlowHard, OSW, Pok, Underwater Kinetics, Adaro, YDS, Meret, Responder Wipes, SC Products and more.

Code 3 introduce new Outliner running board lights Code 3 has introduced to the fire industry the Outliner Series of Running Board Lights that feature dual colours, multiple lengths and flexible application. Enhance driver- and passenger-side visibility with these powerful, SAE-rated warning lights. Paired with white, customers can choose from amber, red or blue colours. The Matrix-enabled lights offer 32 flash patterns including a steady-burn function for each colour. The LEDs can be dimmed to provide a driving light function or on-site indicator. The Outliners are available in 24-, 36-, 60- and 72-inch lengths, which can accommodate virtually any unit or platform in the fleet. Alternatively, the product can be mounted on push bumpers or tailgates to provide forward or rear warning. If mounting in this configuration, the flash pattern that mimics a traffic director would be particularly beneficial. Various brackets are available to make installation a snap. Like all Code 3 products, these running board lights have been designed and tested to exceed industry standards. With a durable, powder-coated aluminum housing and polycarbonate lenses, the IP67-certified Outliners are ready to get to work anywhere and anytime, under extreme environmental conditions. To top it off, the product is backed by a five-year, no-hassle warranty. Code 3 fully supports to the Slow Down, Move Over campaign by providing industry-leading lighting and emergency systems that keep public safety professionals safe. The safety solutions that Code 3 manufactures are built to effectively communicate warning. The types of flash patterns, luminosity, sync capability and technology built into Code 3 products are engineered to fit the specific safety need of the applications, the first responders and the communities they serve.

FeuerTrutz 2020 postponed until September 30-October 1 NürnbergMesse and FeuerTrutz Network have jointly decided to postpone FeuerTrutz 2020 from 24 and 25 June, following discussions with industry representatives. The tenth edition of the International Trade Fair with Congress for Preventive Fire Protection will be held on 30 September and 1 October 2020. A good three months before the scheduled date, the responsibles are thus reacting to shifts within the trade fair calendar, caused by the spread of the coronavirus, and are setting the course for a plannable event in autumn 2020. The postponement of FeuerTrutz is in connection with a change of date by the joint trade fairs FENSTERBAU FRONTALE and HOLZ-HANDWERK. In view of the increasing spread of the coronavirus, this trade fair duo has been postponed from March to June. The resulting logistical and organisational adjustments lead to the rescheduling of FeuerTrutz: FeuerTrutz 2020 will take place in the Exhibition Centre Nuremberg on 30 September and 1 October. This decision is also based on the close feedback of the organizers with customers and industry representatives. “Together with the exhibition advisory board and other industry representatives, we have come to the conclusion that a postponement to autumn and early communication best meet the requirements of exhibitors, visitors as well as congress and seminar participants. “Also with a view to the industry’s calendar: We are thus creating planning security and the best possible framework conditions for all participants for the diverse establishment and expansion of business relationships as well as the professional exchange on preventive fire protection. Ultimately, the trust of our customers and partners is crucial for us as organizers,” says Stefan Dittrich, Director FeuerTrutz, NürnbergMesse and André Gesellchen, Programme and Congress Director FeuerTrutz Network. “The FeuerTrutz trade fair with its Congress for preventive fire protection is the most important industry exhibition of the year for us. For this reason, we are pleased that the exhibition will take place in Nuremberg in autumn and will present our future-oriented fire protection solutions and services to the highly qualified national and international trade public.” Lothar Dombrowski, Management Central, South and South-West, svt Brandschutz GmbH “As participants of the first hour, we welcome the implementation now planned for autumn, as the fair has been a permanent fixture in Stöbich’s programme of events since its baptism by fire in 2011. As Europe’s most important trade fair, which is dedicated purely to the topic of preventive fire protection, FeuerTrutz is in our opinion a popular and much frequented meeting place for industry experts. We are looking forward to our participation and many visitors at the new date! “Olaf Grunenberg-Thiele, Head of Operative Marketing, Stöbich Holding GmbH & Co. KG 2021 FeuerTrutz takes place on 23 and 24 June.

Drax Technology become a new Euralarm member Euralarm has welcomed Drax Technology as new member. The company will join the Fire Section of Euralarm which activities cover the technical and political trends and taking action to guide the developments. Together with a diverse number of stakeholders in Europe, the fire section collaborates on finding solutions for today’s challenges as well as tomorrow’s challenges for fire safety in a digitised world. Drax Technology will now benefit from Euralarm’s services in terms of representation towards European institutions and standardisation organisations. This includes the monitoring of legislative and standardisation issues relevant to the industry. Drax Technology will have access to the extended network of national associations and major companies in the electronic fire safety and security sectors, which form Euralarm’s members. The new membership will create opportunities for both sides, as it also strengthens the association. Drax Technology Drax are market leaders in the design and supply of solutions for the integration, monitoring, management and reporting of multiple alarm systems into a single and user-friendly graphical interface and cloud-based reporting dashboard. The company is highly specialised in integrating and centralising fire alarm panels from a variety of manufacturers to help users to meet the demands of managing both modern and complex sites, no matter their location. Drax have built positive relationships with market-leading manufacturers, yet remain an independent organisation with no obligatory ties, and are therefore able to create bespoke systems that are unique to the customer’s requirement. Drax Technology are committed to ensuring that their customer’s systems are future-proofed, with robust research and product development processes that ensure the highest level of protection for people and assets. Businesses that work with Drax are encouraged to utilise their data to improve their fire strategy; using custom reporting and trend-analysis to inform preventative maintenance practices, reduce response times and cost, as well as monitor performance through clear audit-trails. Insight into European markets Companies joining Euralarm get a unique insight into what is happening on other European markets and the opportunities that they might offer. They not only tap into the political expertise and understanding of the EU policy but can also make personal connections with technical and political experts and potential business partners. Being a member of Euralarm enables companies and associations to gain expertise on standardisation. Members have their voice heard in Brussels and can support and direct standardisation and legislative processes.    

Apollo sees continued demand for XPander wireless fire detectors Demand for XPander, the wireless solution from Apollo Fire Detectors, continues to grow year on year. Bruce Ball, UK sales manager at Apollo Fire Detectors says: “The increase in demand reflects the growing popularity of wireless systems, and greater confidence in the reliability of wireless technology. “In today’s world, wireless is the norm – from mobile phones, tablets and internet connection to even fire department personnel counting on their radios for responding to alarms and communicating on the scene. “Wireless fire alarm systems are fast becoming the solution of choice for many applications and we expect the demand of our XPander range to continue to grow. The enormous flexibility and endless combinations of wireless devices make them a sound choice not only for areas of architectural and structural sensitivity such as historic buildings but as a method of expanding and enhancing existing wired fire alarm systems in many different environments. “Wireless systems are also great solutions used for temporary structures such as marques at festivals and other events, or for temporary premises whilst under construction.” This was the case at TwentyTwo, a 62-storey building in Bishopsgate, London, where XPander was used to protect the construction management offices, marketing suites, changing rooms, and communal spaces for the workers in the building, whilst under construction. XPander proved to be a reliable temporary fire protection solution for these areas that was flexible enough to be moved easily when the project came to the final fit-out stage. XPander provides a wireless solution where individual detectors, manual call points, alarm devices and interfaces communicate with the Apollo addressable loop using radio signals. Each individual device is assigned an address which is recognised by the fire control panel in the same way as the address of any hard-wired device. For more information visit https://www.apollo-fire.co.uk/products/range/xpander.

Johnson Controls partners with public address/voice alarm (PA/VA) OEM To offer its customers a complete range of fire detection products, Johnson Controls is now partnering with a well-established Spanish manufacturer of public address and voice alarm (PA/VA) systems. The partnership allows Johnson Controls to offer its customers in Europe, Middle East and Africa all the fire detection products needed to protect commercial buildings and public facilities. All the PA/VA products will be sold under the Johnson Controls name. As part of the partnership, Johnson Controls is releasing two new PA/VA products: the NEO and the ONE PA/VA systems. NEO PA/VAsystem: This compact, all-in-one, cost-effective unit is the first and currently the only EN 54-16 certified system manufactured in Spain. NEO’s plug-and-play connectivity reduces time and costs while simplifying installation, maintenance and operation. The system offers four balanced inputs and balanced pre-amplified outputs with flexible amplifiers covering a range of 120W to 1,000W. NEO’s advanced event manager schedules events by time and date, provides phased evacuation with EVAC and Alerts in different zones with displays that offer easy programming of automatic events. It is ideal for medium to large building applications. ONE PA/VA system: ONE is a complete PA and voice evacuation system with an EN 54-4 battery charger integrated in a single device. It includes an innovative wall and rack design that allows it to be mounted based on the specifications of each project. ONE includes four balanced inputs and four balanced pre-amplified outputs with flexible amplifiers up to 500W. Two message players support up to 10 minutes of memory with a USB upload to an internal drive. It is ideal for small to medium sized building applications. “We decided to partner with this particular manufacturer because they allow us to offer high-quality PA/VA products that are easy to install, maintain and service at a competitive price,” said Peter Hauser, senior global product manager, Johnson Controls. “Johnson Controls EMEA customers now have access to all their fire detection equipment needs through a single source.” Johnson Controls PA/VA products offer protection for a wide range of commercial and institutional buildings and structures, including retail buildings, exhibition centers, corporate buildings, schools, universities, hospitals, shopping malls, logistic centers, sports centers, railway networks, tunnels and airports. For more information, go to http://www.johnsoncontrols.com/

Lowe & Fletcher expands into the US market with a new manufacturing facility The Lowe & Fletcher Group is investing in the USA with the opening of its new manufacturing facility in Norton Shores, Michigan. Until this investment, Lowe & Fletcher has served its global customer base via manufacturing sites in Europe. Nigel Ward, Managing Director of BLE Smoke and Fire Curtains, part of Lowe & Fletcher’s Fire Safety Division, said “BLE products are trusted throughout North and South America to deliver smoke and fire protection within a variety of buildings from hospitals, hotels and shopping malls to offices, warehouses and residential dwellings. BLE works closely with testing and certification bodies in all key markets and the new fire curtain manufacturing facility in Michigan further supports this. As a UL-approved manufacturing site, customers are assured that the new facility will deliver the product quality and performance that they rely on. The new manufacturing facility will produce the same range of high performance, trusted BLE fire protective curtains such as the popular FC240 Fire Curtain which is tested to UL10D – Fire Tests of Fire Protective Curtain Assemblies, UL1784 – Air Leakage Tests of Door Assemblies and Other Opening Protectives, UL864 – Control Units and Accessories for Fire Alarm Systems and UL723 – Test for Surface Burning Characteristics of Building Materials.” James Hollingsworth, Group Marketing Director of Lowe & Fletcher, added “The opening of this new facility is a big step forward for the Lowe & Fletcher Group in the USA and we are very excited by the new opportunities this brings. We’re looking forward to continually improving our service to customers across America whilst delivering the same quality standards they have come to trust.”