Crimson Fire To Supply Fire Apparatus To Bomberos De Chile

BRANDON, S.D., March 11, 2011 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Crimson Fire, Inc., a Spartan Motors, Inc. (Nasdaq:SPAR) company, has been awarded a multi-year, international contract to build and deliver custom, high-performance fire apparatus for use by several fire departments throughout the country of Chile. The order marks the Brandon, SD-based manufacturer's entry into the South American Emergency Response market.

According to the tender awarded to Crimson, Bomberos de Chile has authorized initial production of five vehicles and could purchase as many as 30 units over the life of the contract. Additionally, the Santiago Fire Department has purchased a Transformer™ pumper as well as an industrial pumper with a Boomer™. The units are scheduled for fourth quarter 2011 delivery.

"Crimson is recognized for building some of the safest, most durable fire apparatus in the market as evidenced by Chile's order. This multi-year contract represents the first step of a defined strategy to expand Crimson's global presence. We value their confidence in our apparatus to protect the people in this region of South America," commented Dave Reid, Senior Vice President of Emergency Response Vehicles for Spartan Motors.

Raimundo Aranguiz of Ferexpo, S.A., the Crimson Fire dealership serving Chile, as well as Bill Doebler, Vice President of Crimson Fire Sales and Marketing, and Dave Ver Steeg, Director of Crimson Fire Engineering, teamed up to support the development of the order based on the unique needs of the multiple fire departments involved. The team began market, application and intelligence gathering more than a year before the tender was released to ensure compliance of the apparatus for efficient production and delivery.

"As a firefighter and an apparatus dealer, I have witnessed the growing need in the Chilean fire service for modern solutions. Crimson is a well-known brand that consistently delivers quality fire apparatus backed by exceptional customer service," Aranguiz said. "These departments can count on Ferexpo and Crimson Fire for personalized attention and satisfaction long after they receive their trucks."