To Ballyclare Ltd The LHD Group, an internationally active group of companies with headquarters in Cologne, Germany, has announced the sale of its subsidiary, the LHD Group (United Kingdom) Ltd. in England to Ballyclare Ltd. The decision to sell the company was taken in a background in which greater priority in the sales activities of the LHD Group is being placed on the original European markets and in the growth markets of the Middle East and Asia. The sale involves only the activities on the English market. All of the international orders of the LHD Group which were previously processed through England remain within the company and with immediate effect will be managed through the headquarters of the LHD Group in Cologne. For more than 10 years, the name LHD has stood for full-service solutions and products involved in the fields of professional clothing. In the meantime, the LHD Group is among the leading system providers throughout the world for uniforms and service clothing, protective equipment, workwear and corporate fashion. The LHD Group, headquartered in Cologne (Germany), was founded in 2002. The internationally active company was created as a public private partnership between the German Federal State and the German forwarding company Hellmann Worldwide Logistics GmbH & Co. KG, and the US manufacturer Lion Apparel Inc. LHD Group is the leading provider of innovative, comprehensive solutions for corporate fashion, work wear and uniforms, as well as personal protective equipment. The range of services offered encompasses design consultancy and product development, procurement, logistics, distribution, tailoring, laundry, dry cleaning and repair. LHD Group counts amongst its customers big European carriers (road, rail and air), retailers, forwarders as well as armed and police forces, security personnel, customs officers, etc. The group’s annual turnover has increased year on year, both organically and by selective acquisitions. The group took over Swiss company jas AG in 2008 and added the international activities of Lion Apparel Inc. in Europe and Asia Pacific to the group in 2009.  www.lhd-group.com www.ballyclarelimited.com  

Chemical reaction involving hydrogen believed to have caused blast  An explosion at a chemical factory in central Japan on Thursday killed at least five workers and injured 12 others, authorities said. Investigators suspect chemical reaction involving hydrogen caused the blast at metal and chemical company Mitsubishi Materials Corp.’s Yokkaichi plant, about 220 miles west of Tokyo. The blast appeared to have occurred when plant workers were rinsing heat exchange equipment at the silicone plant during maintenance, according to a Mie prefectural police official, who spoke on condition of anonymity due to department rules. Police said five workers died. The dead and injured were all believed to be workers at the factory.

For petroleum refineries, says the US CSB US Chemical Safety Board to vote on draft regulatory report following Chevron refinery fire that endangered 19 workers and sent more than 15,000 residents to the hospital for medical attention. The CSB will convene a public meeting on January 15 at the City Council Chambers, Civic Center Campus, 440 Civic Center Plaza, Richmond, CA 94804. At the public meeting, the Board will consider and vote on the draft regulatory report of the August 6, 2012, fire at the Chevron refinery that endangered 19 workers and sent more than 15,000 residents to the hospital for medical attention. At the meeting, CSB staff will present to the Board the results of the second of three reports in the CSB’s investigation of this incident. Subject to a vote at the public meeting, the draft regulatory report will recommend that California “develop and implement a step-by-step plan to establish a more rigorous safety management regulatory framework for petroleum refineries in the state of California based on the principles of the ‘safety case’ framework in use in regulatory regimes such as those in the UK, Australia, and Norway.” The recommendation urges specific steps to accomplish this, including ensuring that workers are formally involved in the development of a safety case report for each covered facility. The report also urges California to work with industry in gathering refinery safety indicator data to be shared with the public. As detailed in the CSB draft report a safety case regime which would require companies to demonstrate to refinery industry regulators – through a written “safety case report” – how major hazards are to be controlled and risks reduced to “as low as reasonably practicable,” or ALARP. The CSB report notes that the safety case is more than a written document; rather, it represents a fundamental change by shifting the responsibility for continuous reductions in major accident risks from regulators to the company. To ensure that a facility’s safety goals and programs are accomplished, a safety case report generated by the company is rigorously reviewed, audited, and enforced by highly trained regulatory inspectors, whose technical training and experience are on par with the personnel employed by the companies they oversee, the draft report says.

The new kit meets EN 469: 2005 and has been designed for hot climates Following the successful 2012 launch of its innovative firefighter professional motorcyclist standard PPE, Bristol is launching a new, lighter weight, version especially suited to the needs of fire and rescue services in hot and humid climates at Intersec, Dubai in January. With the same applications as the original two-piece ensemble, the latest derivation has been designed to provide first responder firefighter motorcyclists with both flame and physical protection. Considerably lighter in construction than the original design, this coat and trouser combination will provide EN469 Level 1 flame protection and will feature a water repellent finish with thermal protection. Fitted with CE marked removable body protection for knees, elbows and shoulders, the coat will also feature an optional backplate for added physical protection. With increasing interest being shown in rapid response teams for congested urban environments, this new suit will reduce substantially the intrinsic level of warmth which is a feature of the original which was designed for cool temperate and colder climates such as those experienced in Western, Central and Northern Europe. It will appeal to fire responders in the Gulf, Asia Pacific and some South American countries where enhanced heat dissipation in hot and humid conditions will be maximised. The new PPE will be launched at Bristol’s stand (No:3-802F) at Intersec, Dubai (19-21 January) and is expected to be of particular interest to civil defence forces across the Gulf States. Commenting on the new design, Paul Gibson, Bristol’s International Sales Manager said, “Motorcycle responders in tropical and equatorial climates are exposed to solar radiation and high levels of humidity and this new kit will help to minimise heat build-up in the suit when getting to and from fire incidents, especially in congested and heavily built-up urban areas”.

Department’s first aerial tiller for 60 years Pierce Manufacturing, an Oshkosh Corporation (NYSE:OSK) company, delivered a Pierce® Arrow XT™ 100-foot heavy-duty aerial tiller to the city of Charleston Fire Department (CFD) in Charleston, SC. The aerial tiller is the first to be purchased by the department in more than 60 years, and was placed into service in early December. Three Arrow XT pumpers, currently in production in Appleton, will join the fleet later this month. “Charleston is an old and historic city, with narrow streets that are challenging for aerial apparatus,” said Battalion Chief Joey Roberts of the CFD. “We’d gotten away from tillers, but decided to select this new Pierce due to our need for more compartment space and enhanced maneuverability. The firefighters are really excited about the new tiller, and they are looking forward to welcoming it to the department.” “As demonstrated by the Charleston Fire Department – and many others across the country – the aerial tiller is experiencing a resurgence in popularity in urban centers and communities with narrow streets,” said Jim Johnson, Oshkosh Corporation executive vice president and president, Fire & Emergency. “We’re proud to have been chosen by this renowned fire department to build this state-of-the art aerial tiller, as well as the three pumpers that are near completion.” Built on an Arrow XT single rear axle tractor, the aerial tiller features a 100-foot Heavy-Duty ladder, a Pierce-exclusive Detroit Diesel DD13 500 hp big block engine, seating for five firefighters, TAK-4® independent suspension, and a light tower located on top of the crew cab roof. The body features 500 cubic feet of body storage capacity. When fully equipped, the trailer will store 250-feet of ground ladders, and will be outfitted with hydraulic cord reels, a full complement of hydraulic tools (including a cutter and spreader), three rams, a full complement of rescue jacks, a cribbing kit, and a complete set of air-lifting bags. Pierce dealer, Spartan Fire & Emergency Apparatus of Roebuck, SC, provides local service and support. “We have a solid and professional working relationship with Spartan Fire,” added Chief Roberts. “After-the-sale support is very important – no matter what brand or type of apparatus – and Spartan definitely provides that to us.” The city of Charleston Fire Department (CFD) consists of 19 fire companies located throughout the city. The department operates 16 fire engine companies and three ladder companies, and provides service to more than 120,000 citizens across a service area totaling approximately 109 square miles.

More companies desire training in line with Western fire standards Mike Simmons, Assistant Chief at Kilgore Fire Department, joined his father and a Tyler-area fire-fighter for a two-week visit to Saudi Arabia last December in order to bring about two-dozen emergency responders up-to-speed on ropes rescue and hazardous materials procedures. “They normally work as operators at a petrochemical plant,” Simmons explained. Including members of Tasnee Petrochemical’s Emergency Response Team, “Their fulltime gig is operating the plant, and when emergencies happen they turn into fire-fighters. Of course, the American standard is very different from what they’re used to.” It was Simmons’ second trip after an initial excursion in October 2011. His father, also Michael Simmons, is the owner of the North Texas Fire Academy in Rockwall and has welcomed numerous Saudi Arabian trainees during the past several years. The three men travelled to Jubail on the Persian Gulf coast – often called ‘Industrial City,’ – where the chemical operators-turned-firefighters were eager students. “The training went well,” Simmons said. In addition to ropes rescue and Haz-Mat training aligned with National Fire Protection Association standards, the Texans also helped the trainee groups set up their bunker gear bags and helped establish a colour-coding system for equipment. “They successfully completed the tasks and were very excited about what they were able to do.” The various crews of emergency responders were also keen to learn the particulars of the mutual aid agreements, common in America, that ensure neigbouring departments can call on outside help if needed. The Jubail Area Mutual Aid Association (JAMA’A) is still developing. “They’re wanting help to build that thing and get that thing up-and-running,” Simmons said. “It’s starting to catch on and starting to build over there.”

From a small garage to a 7000 square metre factory – the success of nozzle manufacturer POK is built on hard work and determination Alexandra Grandpierre, MD of POK, speaks to Fire Buyer about the history of the company and their vision for the future of the nozzle industry Can you please give us a brief history of the company?  My father, Bruno Grandpierre, created POK in 1976. He started working in a garage – a bit like you would expect from the typical start-up. Except here it was in the centre of Paris, crowded and terrible for even a small van to pick up the merchandise. My father worked during the day for an employer and at night and during the weekend for his business, until the day he could provide enough money for his family. After moving three times in order to expand, the business finally relocated to Nogent sur Seine and now covers 7000 square metres with four workshops. It is conveniently located one hour away from Paris by train. All our production is done in France. POK has become the largest manufacturer of fire-fighting equipment in France. The name POK comes from the Breton language and means kiss. It was the name that my father gave to his boat as a child and when creating the company, he chose it again as it was a strong and positive name. Everyone who knows the story of POK agrees that the company grew stronger after each problem that it encountered. Market pressures forced POK to innovate, creating completely new products or drastically reducing costs. That’s how we have a range of more than 3,600 products today. Today, POK exports 50% of its production outside of France and equips several different industries including fire & rescue and military. Our company ethos is: Reliability, technological advancement and innovation. My father, as President, is passionate about creating new products and comes into the development office with new ideas on a daily basis. He gets his ideas from talking to customers, reading about new technology, watching fire-fighters at work and brain storming with our technicians and sales team. Innovation has always been our biggest focus, whilst also maintaining the highest standards in quality and safety. This means precision, which is only possible to achieve with the most effective machinery. This is why the company invests in the best computer numerical control (CNC) machinery and a highly qualified assembly team. A standard nozzle, such as the Magikador 500, is composed of about 50 pieces and a technician needs about 30 minutes to assemble it. You can easily compare our work to the watch industry: it is extremely precise and you need the most dedicated people to put the pieces together. Can you tell us about your product range? Our product range comprises mostly nozzles, monitors, foam equipment and wyes and valves. We have a separate unit concentrating in building hose reels with hoses. We also make flow meters and we sell all types of accessories. We are very strong in foam equipment manufacture including: Foam generators, foam eductors, foam attachments and branch pipes, portable and mobile foam units and foam chambers. Which new technologies have been developed at POK? One of the biggest strengths and sources of pride at POK is its research and development team. Since its creation, POK never stopped investing in research and development. This department develops 2 new products per week. At the moment, POK is developing a revolutionary range of products in a new material. This new material is much lighter and stronger than before, unaffected by sea water and highly resistant to chemicals like emulsifiers, making it the perfect material for the navy. It is also 100% recyclable. Our dedicated department for remote control monitors is also focusing on creating new products – designers are always striving to develop technology that is lighter and smaller, yet more effective and safer. What investments has POK made recently? We recently invested in a test station with a motor pump reaching up to 20.000 L/min at 12 bar. We are planning to create another research lab for testing our nozzle with specific water measurements. We are indeed a family business with a passion for creating fire-fighting equipment. Our profit goes into reinvesting in the company and employee participation. This is what sets us apart – we are always looking to the long term. Our research team has 8 technicians and engineers, dedicated solely to developing new products. It is one of the best in Europe. How does POK ensure the highest quality of its products? We ensure quality in several ways. We work with foundries of aluminium of first fusion and heat treatment, also gun metal and stainless steel, and we spend a lot of time explaining to the foundries exactly what we need. Our range of the latest generation 24 CNC machines ensures precision to the hundredth. At each step, the products are controlled and then finally assembled by a qualified technician. Once a product is assembled, it is dynamically tested. We have world class monitoring and control dimensions after machining. We also have a dedicated metrology room. And we test each piece of equipment with water before we ship, ensuring that the POK label reflects quality. We make 90% of the couplings we assemble on our equipment to make sure it is of highest quality. What do you see for the future? The future of POK will be in producing equipment using the most advanced technology: Motorised monitors with hot spot detection, the entire range of products in new materials, lighter equipment and compact and high power monitors of more than 30,000 L/min. We have noticed that there is a growing demand for fire safety products. There is a multiplication of water points for hose reel connections, of installation of new extinguishing systems, and the creation of more rescue and relief centres within big industries. If I had two wishes for the future, the first would be to

Finland-based manufacturer has expressed willingness to supply AMC The Aurangabad Municipal Corporation’s (AMC) will soon be acquiring a skylift aerial ladder platform thanks to Finland-based manufacturer. The skylift aerial ladder platform is a highly sophisticated fire-fighting vehicle with the ability to lift fire-fighters up to 42 meters from ground level. The vehicle is not manufactured in India and Finland-based companies are among the few manufacturers around the world. Shivaji Zanzan the AMC’s Chief Fire Officer explained in December that the civic body’s fire department is in its final stage of vehicle acquisition. "The supplier’s tender will be opened next week and placed before the general body," he said, adding that the AMC had earmarked a fund of Rs 8.5 crore for the purpose. Zanzan also said that the vehicle is likely to arrive in the current financial year. "We will most probably acquire it before summer," he added. Right now, the fire brigade operates with a small fleet of five vehicles, capable of dousing fire up to a height of 10 meters. However, the high-rise buildings have been growing rapidly around the city and creating a demand for vehicles that can deal with fire incidents happening in such buildings. Currently, vehicles are available only in cities such as Mumbai and Pune. The vehicle will be of great use in rescues from multi-storied buildings. "Besides, fire incidents, we can also use the vehicle for other emergencies. The AMC can also offer the vehicle to other nearby cities," Zanzan said, adding that it would be the first such vehicle in the region.

Akron Brass promotes former VP marketing to lead their Ohio facility Akron Brass Company, a global marketer and manufacturer of high performance fire-fighting equipment, is pleased to announce the appointment of David Durstine to the position of Vice President of Weldon and Akron Brass Global Products. Durstine, who most recently held the position of Vice President of marketing, will oversee day-to-day operations, engineering and sales of the Columbus, Ohio manufacturing facility. Weldon, a division of Akron Brass specialises in lighting and electronic solutions to the student transportation, emergency services and specialty vehicle markets. Joining the company in 2001, Durstine will continue to have global product line responsibility across all Akron Brass brands along with his new role. "David has brought product innovation and a strong focus on the customer to Akron Brass," stated Sean Tillinghast, President of Akron Brass. "His global awareness and successful leadership roles in sales and marketing will continue the advancement of Weldon’s value proposition. We are excited to appoint David to this position," continued Tillinghast. "The opportunity to lead Weldon is a great privilege," Durstine said. "I am looking forward to building upon an already established 40+ year old brand." Mr. Durstine earned a bachelor of arts in business administration from Muskingum University. For the past 12 years, he has been active with the Fire Apparatus Manufacturers’ Association (FAMA) and currently serving on their board of directors. He sits on the NFPA 1901 Standard for Fire Apparatus Committee and is a 15-year veteran volunteer fire-fighter with the Apple Creek Fire Department. David currently resides in Wooster with his wife Jamie and their 4 children. www.akronbrass.com

Continuing expansion of NEBOSH’s international offering NEBOSH Health and Safety at Work Qualification now available in French. The NEBOSH Health and Safety at Work qualification will be made available in French from January 2014 as part of the continuing expansion of NEBOSH’s international offering. French is spoken officially in over 33 countries and is the first language of around 110 million people worldwide. NEBOSH Chief Executive Teresa Budworth commented: “It’s important that NEBOSH respond to demand from people whose first language is not English. By expanding the language options available, we can spread the positive influence our qualifications have on health and safety management as widely as possible.” The NEBOSH Health and Safety at Work Qualification is an introductory qualification. It covers many areas such as risk assessment and control, work equipment, transport safety, electrical safety, fire safety, manual operations and hazardous substances. It provides a natural progression route to the NEBOSH International General Certificate qualification. As well as English and French, the NEBOSH Health and Safety at Work qualification can also be taken in Arabic, Russian, Mandarin and Spanish. www.nebosh.org.uk