Pierce Manufacturing has launched the first phase of its new High Flow production line at its Appleton, Wisconsin facility.
The initiative forms part of a wider $150 million investment programme across sites in Wisconsin, Florida and Tennessee, aimed at expanding production capacity, improving quality and reducing fire apparatus lead times.
Operational efficiency
The High Flow Line introduces a redesigned production model centred on balanced workloads, enhanced in line quality control and integrated technology to improve safety, efficiency and consistency.
The company says “Phase I” is already delivering measurable improvements within the custom chassis assembly process, with further phases scheduled to transform remaining final assembly operations in the second half of 2026.
Leadership perspective on modern firefighting demands
Marty Bass, President of Pierce Manufacturing, said: “These investments reflect our continued focus on transforming how custom fire apparatus are built to meet the needs of modern firefighting.
“By integrating High Flow production principles with advanced technology and expanded facilities, we’re creating safer, more efficient work environments for our team members while accelerating lead time reductions for our customers.
“We’ve already reduced lead times by more than three months from their peak, and we expect this next phase will build on that momentum.”
“With High Flow, we’re embedding continuous improvement into every stage of production. This approach helps eliminate waste, simplify work and elevate customer quality while creating a more consistent, predictable manufacturing process that supports our teams and our customers.”
Technology integration and workforce safety enhancements
The new line incorporates digital work instructions, improved tooling, ergonomic workstations and advanced inspection technologies, supporting both operator safety and production consistency.
These developments build on recent investments at the Appleton campus, including automation, robotics, fabrication technologies and expanded paint capacity.
