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Weldon Joins Annual Service Instruction Course

We are excited to announce that Weldon has confirmed their participation in our Annual Service Instruction Course. The event, set for October 23, 24 and 25, is a 3-day education session for dealers and customers seeking to learn more about servicing their Braun ambulance units.

Weldon has partnered with us in three consecutive classes providing an in-depth understanding of how the V-MUX system works. Their instruction has focused on  valuable tips to help strengthen a technician’s ability to quickly troubleshoot and repair the system, keeping downtime to a minimum.

Weldon’s participation is always well received and very much appreciated. We look forward to their presentation.

We are currently registering class participants from our network of dealers and direct customers. Contact a member of the Braun Service Team for more information and to register for the class at 877-647-9005.

About Weldon:

Weldon is a division of Akron Brass. The company is focused on delivering the best in life-safety products and services, and they work closely with ambulance manufacturers like Braun Industries to develop these. Some of their ambulance specific products include energy-efficient, serviceable LED lights and V-MUX multiplexing systems. You can learn more about them on their website.

Dates Announced for our Annual Service Instruction Course

Having a knowledgeable service team ready to serve you is a critical part of keeping your ambulance up and running. Each year, Braun Industries sponsors a free Service Instruction Course to educate dealer and department service technicians and keep them at the forefront of maintaining their Braun units. The Annual Service Instruction Course will be held October 23-25, 2012 at Braun’s headquarters, located at 1170 Production Drive, Van Wert, OH 45891.

This three full-day session will include troubleshooting clinics, vendor seminars, plant tours, and a detailed question and answer session. The cost of the class is covered by Braun Industries and supported by our awesome vendors! Breakfast and lunch will be provided daily. Attendees are required to cover only their travel, lodging and dinners.

As mentioned, the service course is open to our dealers and customers. If you are interested in attending, contact a member of our Service Team at 877-647-9005. We recommend you contact us early to reserve your spot.  

The ongoing support from our vendor network plays a key role in allowing us to continue to offer our Annual Service Instruction Course at no cost to participants. We’d like to thank and congratulate Federal Signal for being our first vendor to confirm their participation in this year’s class. Federal Signal is a leader in audible and visual signaling and Digital In-Car video. We will announce additional vendors to our blog as they confirm.

To learn more about what’s covered at the course, check out the blog wrap up from last year’s session.

FRI 2012 Wrap Up

We are finally settled back in from FRI 2012, and we had a blast. What a great show!

Fire-Rescue International 2012 was held at the Colorado Convention Center August 1st through 4th in Denver, Colorado. Over 12,000+ attendees from fire and emergency services around the world came together at the show for education and networking. We were one of more than 600 exhibitors on hand to showcase the latest in apparatus, technology, equipment, gear and more.

In our booth, we had several emergency vehicles on display, along with representatives from our corporate office and dealers Max Fire FireFighting SolutionsFireguard and Lone Star Emergency Vehicles. As with all of the shows we attend, the most fulfilling part of the event was getting to talk with existing and potential customers one-on-one. We particularly enjoyed catching up with: Tim Dorsey, Deputy Chief of West County EMS Fire & Protection District, Wayne Zygowicz, EMS Chief of Littleton Fire Rescue, and Justin Maxson, Chief of Ceresco Rural Fire Department. We were also pleased to meet with Chief Mack Bochardt of Frisco Fire Department.

While attending, we were also able to get some great video footage of our customers giving private tours of their ambulance units. We are editing the film now and are excited to share it with you in upcoming weeks… so stay tuned to our Facebook Page or YouTube Channel! You can find pictures from the show up on our Facebook page now.

Mark your calendars for Fire Rescue International (FRI) 2013. The show will be held August 13-17, 2013 in Chicago, IL. We will see you there!

Braun Ambulances at American Township Fire Department

With so many ambulances leaving our plant each month, we get excited when a customer reaches out to share awesome pictures with us of their emergency vehicles at home. Like this one from American Township Fire Department. Those rigs look great in front of their local school!

American Township Fire Department Members

Or how about this good looking group of EMS professionals in front of their emergency vehicle?  

Located in Elida, Ohio, American Township Fire Department began service in 2007. Under the current leadership of Chief Thomas Hadding, the department goes on approximately 2,200 runs per year. Operating out of 2 stations, they have 3 ALS medics, an ALS engine, an ALS heavy rescue, 2 engines, 1 ladder truck, 1 tanker, 1 brush truck, 2 staff cars, 2 utility vehicles, 1 boat, and 1 foam trailer… an impressive fleet!

The department worked with Braun ambulance dealer, Life Star Rescue, to purchase three Braun ambulances. The units included two Chief XL Type III’s on Chevy C-4500 chassis and a Super Chief Type I on an International 4300. Sales representative, Troy Meeker, took them through the process step by step to ensure they got the perfect emergency vehicles for their needs. The department had a very positive experience, and were impressed by the great customer service they received from Life Star Rescue.

American Township Fire Department felt there were 3 main benefits in working with Life Star Rescue and Braun Industries. First, they had local representation; Life Star Rescue made it easy for them to design the units they wanted. Secondly, the units are easy to work on. This helps them stay in service and get them back in faster when an issues arises. In cases when something can’t be fixed in-house, they can always pass it on to Life Star Rescue.  Lastly, Braun was able to cater to their unique design requirements to build three customized emergency vehicles.

Chief Thomas Hadding had the following to say about their new Braun ambulances: “Due to the reliability and focus on quality, we have less out-of-service situations with our units. They are dependable. You just can’t break anything on our rigs. While Braun ambulances are priced higher, they are well worth it. You get what you pay for!”

If you’d like to know more about the American Township Fire Department, visit their website.

Featured Ambulance Dealer: Autotronics

Continuing our featured Braun ambulance dealer series, today we are excited to talk about Autotronics. Autotronics represents Braun in the state of Maine. They are also a Braun Authorized Service Center. Aside from new ambulance sales, the dealership specializes in rescue vehicles, buses, shuttles, wheelchair accessible vehicles, and adaptive equipment sales and services.

Autotronics is focused on providing comprehensive support to EMS facilities, municipalities, and local, state and federal agencies throughout New England, Maritime Canada, and Ontario. They are a family owned business under the 3rd generation of leadership. Serving the EMS industry for 27 years, they have been a Braun ambulance dealer for the last 12. Their mission is to provide customers with cutting edge technology, first-class customer service, and dependable emergency vehicles that meet their budget.

Autotronics has three sales representatives that are extremely knowledgeable about the Braun product line. Paul Daigle, Kyle Daigle, or Jeanne Jacques are always available to discuss your emergency vehicle needs and find the best ambulance to suit your organization. They believe in the quality and reliability of the Braun line, and will work hard to get you the right vehicle that meets your needs and your budget.

Over the years, Autotronics has come to know the Braun family and line very well. Owner Paul Daigle recounts his fondest memory with Braun as working with 2nd generation leaders, Phil and Charma Braun, on the Boston EMS contract. With many trips to Braun headquarters under their belts, they are still impressed by the plant and the organization as a whole. The Chief XL is a favorite model at the dealership. They also appreciate Braun’s innovations, in particular the EZ Glide Door that provides safer and easier access to the emergency vehicle.  

When we asked Paul what he might say to another organization who was thinking of becoming a dealer for Braun Industries, he said “Be prepared to represent the best in ambulance manufacturers.” As a 3rd generation family-owned company ourselves, we couldn’t be more pleased by his statement. Like Autotronics, we have a lot of pride in what we do. But, a big part of our success is that we have great dealers like Autotronics out there every day representing our brand. 

If you want to know more about Autotronics, you can visit their website or check them out on Facebook. They also have two locations: Corporate Headquarters/Service Center – 129 US Route 1, Frenchville, ME and ADA Sales/Service Center – 69 Perry Rd, Bangor, ME.

Last Chance to Enter our 40th Anniversary Contest

We’re sounding the last call for our 40th Anniversary Contest! The “Why I Love My Braun” photo contest will close on August 1, 2012 at 12:00 am EST. Time is running out, so get your entries in today!

Visit the online entry form

To enter, simply send us a picture of your Braun ambulance and tell us why you love it. Your story, entitled “Why I Love My Braun,” will be a critical factor in picking our winners, so be sure to make that your main focus. Your entry should also be about a Braun ambulance that is currently in service.

Winners will be chosen by management at Braun Industries; one grand prize winner will be awarded the Motorola Xoom tablet. All winning entries will be featured on Braun’s various web properties including the website, blog, Facebook page, Twitter account, and more. Complete contest rules can be found here.

Volusia County Units Featured on FireFighterNation

In November, we posted about some recent deliveries to Volusia County Fire Rescue. These were unique custom built Patriot units that serve as an all-in-one ambulance, rescue vehicle, and fire truck. Today, we bring you an update on these units as featured on FireFighterNation.com. The article titled “In Volusia County, Pumper/Ambulances Reduce Costs, Enhance Service” was written by Bob Vaccaro and published on May 16, 2012.

The article starts by highlighting the critical issue that Volusia County Chief Joe Pozzo faced, and one that resonates with other departments around the country. Volusia County had to reduce their fleet and cut costs, while maintaining the same level of service to its residents. The solution that emerged was the concept of the pumper/ambulance – or the “all-in-one” unit as we like to call it – in combination with an updated  service model.

The piece continues to detail the design process for these units, an out-of-the-box approach to solving the problems the county faced. We highly recommend you read the original article to hear what Chief Joe Pozzo had to say about the process. We worked with key decision makers at Volusia County, our local dealer – Ten-8 Fire Equipment, and Waterous to come up with the final specs for the units. The units are comprised of a 2011 Patriot module, a 2011 Spartan MetroStar chassis, and a Waterous CAFSystem™ (compressed air foam system).

“Braun and Ten-8 were great to work with,” Pozzo says. “They listened to our ideas and worked together with us to make this new concept work for us and the residents of the county.”

Along with the design and build of new units, Volusia County’s firefighters underwent additional training to get them better qualified in EMS transport. In combination, the county was able to provide residents with enhanced services previously not available in rural areas… all while reducing fleet costs.

At the end of the article, writer Bob Vaccaro makes a valid point that we could not agree with more:

Chief Pozzo, his command staff and the Volusia County firefighters should be commended for coming up with new ideas to save money and provide more efficient service to the residents of Volusia County. We could all benefit from this way of thinking.

While we understand this approach may not work for every department, we do think it’s valuable to share how innovative departments are tackling today’s issues head on. The same solution may not be right for your organization, but surely it will challenge you to think creatively and take a fresh look.

 Congratulations again to Volusia County on your new units!

A Recap of Braun Ambulances at FDIC 2012

Another FDIC has come and gone, and we were proud to be part of such a wonderful event. 2012 was a record breaker, making it the largest conference in 84 years! Organizers reported nearly 30,000 attendants participated in classroom sessions and training events and filled the exhibit halls. 

Braun Ambulances had six units on display at the show, including three in our main booth and others in the GM, Ford, and RAM chassis booths. You can check out images from the event on our Facebook page. We got a lot of great feedback from visitors who enjoyed seeing our ambulances in more than one location. They were especially excited about our new Signature Series and EZ Door Forward models!

FDIC is a great opportunity for us to touch base in person with our customers. We had a wonderful time catching up with everyone who stopped by, including Miami Dade Fire Rescue, Unified Fire Authority, Delta Township, and Nassau County to name a few. We also want to give a special thanks to the departments that shared their ambulances with us – Volusia County Fire Rescue, Sharonville Fire Department, West Licking Fire District, and Warrenville Fire District.

Members from our world class ambulance dealerships were also in attendance at the show. Many of them spent time with us in our booth and other models throughout the exhibit hall, catching up with their customers and speaking with potential clients about our ambulances. With their help, we were able to make this year’s trip to FDIC a hugely successful one. We cannot thank them enough for their support and commitment to Braun Industries!

We look forward to seeing you next year at  FDIC 2013, April 22-27, 2013

Tour a Braun Ambulance at FDIC & Get a T-Shirt!

Ambulance Tour T Shirt

Planning to hit the Exhibitor Areas as soon as they open tomorrow at FDIC 2012? Make your first stop the Braun Booth #4731The first 300 visitors to tour a Braun ambulance with one of our knowledgeable sales representatives will receive a free t-shirt! These limited edition shirts are navy blue with the Braun logo on them.

We have put together an awesome lineup of ambulance models for you to see at FDIC 2012. They can be found in our main booth, as well as the Ford, GM, and RAM chassis booths. Check out the details on each model below. Remember, these limited edition t-shirts will only be available to the first 300 visitors to tour a Braun ambulance… so make us your first stop!

Braun Industries Main Booth – #4731

  • Custom Patriot Unit from Volusia County Fire Rescue – This all-in-one vehicle features a 2011 Patriot ambulance module, 2011 Spartan MetroStar chassis, and a Waterous CAFSystem™ (compressed air foam system).
  • Chief XL Type II Ambulance with EZ Door Forward – This demo unit shows off the new configuration of our popular EZ Glide Sliding Door. Repositioned to a forward location on the module, this allows for more interior cabinet space and customization.
  • Super Chief Type I Ambulance on an International DuraStar Chassis from West Licking Joint Fire District – This 170″ module with 73″ of headroom includes some great features such as a Stromberg electric step, aluminum cabinets, Meganite countertops, a Norcold refrigerator, tools boards in the extended cab, a cabinet at the head of the squad bench, and Whelen LED light bars.

GM Booth – #3561

  • Phil Braun Signature Series Ambulance – Built on a 2012 Chevy G-3500 chassis, this is the newest ambulance model from Braun Industries. The 150″ model has all of the core features Braun is known for in a production model, with a very economical price tag.

RAM Booth – #8630

  • Chief XL Type I Ambulance on a RAM 4500 Chassis – Designed for Warrenville Fire Protection District, this unit features a Whelen LED “M” series lighting package, Vanner Inverter, aluminum cabinets, Tri-Star 5-Point Harness CPR Seat, Norcold refrigerator, Hoseline FT-454 Heat/AC system, gear storage in the rear exterior compartments, and more.

Ford Booth – #4531

  • Chief XL Type I Ambulance on a F-450 Chassis – Custom designed to keep the crew and patients safe for Sharonville Fire Department, this unit showcases our new Safety Interior Layout. The design is focused on keeping EMTs seated and belted during patient care and transport, while allowing for easy access to equipment and supplies.

Braun to Display Ambulance with New Safety Interior Layout at FDIC 2012

Ambulance Safety Interior Layout

As an ambulance manufacturer, safety is paramount in every new ambulance and design feature we come out with. There is nothing more important than protecting the people who risk their lives every day to save others… and we take that very seriously at Braun Industries. We are always looking for new ways to make our “Built for Life” ambulances the safest on the market and stay ahead of industry trends to do so.

We are currently seeing a shift in ambulance design focused on keeping EMTs seated and belted during patient care and transport. Our SolidBody construction method provides a roll-cage safe zone interior that allows for custom interior designs with forward facing seating and equipment storage accessible from the seated position. We call this our Safety Interior Layout and are looking forward to featuring it at FDIC 2012.

Sharonville Fire Department in Sharonville, Ohio will be sharing their new Chief XL Type I ambulance on a 2012 Ford F-450 chassis with us for FDIC 2012. The unit will be coming out of production and heading straight to the show to help us feature our Safety Interior Layout. Other features of this unit include: aluminum cabinets, Meganite countertops, rounded interior corners, Guardian safety seat with infant/child seat built in, easy access to equipment in drawers while seated/buckled, Stay-Away safety head zone.

If you stop by Booth #4731, you will be one of the first to see all of the innovative safety features on this unit!