WHEN Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality needed to upgrade its existing fire-fighting fleet, they procured these tough fire-fighting machines right on their door step.
Locally built at Isuzu Motors South Africa’s Port Elizabeth truck plant, the Isuzu FXZ 26-360 6×4 fitted with an Allison 4430PR automatic transmission, was modified for its purpose a few kilometres away at Isuzu’s subsidiary, Kanu Commercial Body Builders in Markman Township.
Kanu designs and manufactures various commercial body constructions.
“The conversion included the truck being fitted with a 13 500-litre water tank, high pressure pump equipment, two hose reels, fire-fighting equipment and a host of other items,” said Kanu General Sales Manager Michael Corney.
He added that these trucks are able to extinguish fires in rough terrain and will help fire fighters access challenging areas.
Corney said while it was the first fire-fighting water truck of its kind supplied to the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality by Isuzu and Kanu Commercial Body Builders, it formed part of an ongoing supplier partnership with the local government of the city where Isuzu Motors South Africa’s bakkie and truck production plant is situated.
“We will continue to work with various departments within the municipality to advise on product solutions that are best suited for their needs,” Corney said.
Nelson Mandela Bay Municipal Spokesman Kupido Baron said that although the legislatively prescribed process was followed with this award, it remains pleasing to do business with a company based locally as it is in line with the municipality’s local economic development initiatives.
“The success of Isuzu Motors South Africa with this acquisition and the fact that these specialised vehicles are able to negotiate much tougher terrain than normal fire engines, will assist our brave firefighters in their continuous quest to keep our citizens and property safe,” Baron said.
Isuzu Motors South Africa holds the position of South Africa’s best-selling truck brand in the Medium Commercial and Heavy Commercial Vehicle segment for the past six years. The company offers a wide range of truck models in this market segment and is the leading brand for chassis/cab applications for application of a cargo body suited to the payload and task.