Specialist vehicle conversion company, Marcé Fire Fighting Technology, has partnered with Hino to build its fire engines on the manufacturers truck chassis-cabs.

The development of the Marcé-built Hino fire engines has seen the vehicles being subjected to a stringent series of tests at the Gerotek technical centre, west of Pretoria including the slalom at 80km/h as well as driving on the ride and handling circuit, both with the water tank full and half full. The maximum tilt angle was measured at 28 degrees on the tilt platform.

Marcé Fire Fighting Technology, was formed in 1998 and operates from premises in Centurion, near Pretoria. It started as an importer of fire fighting vehicles and equipment, but in 2001 management realised there was a gap in the market for the local manufacture of high quality fire engines.

Jan Steyn, commercial director, says, “My wife, Danielle, has been the driving force in this business, which is named after her favourite brand of champagne from a small vineyard in the Loire Valle in France.”

Three fire engines, built by the company on Hino 500-Series 1322 four-wheel drive chassis were recently delivered to the Free State provincial authorities for use in the Dihlabeng municipal area, which includes Bethlehem, Clarens, Fouriesburg, Paul Roux and Rosendal.

This latest order on Marcé follows a previous one for five units for the Eastern Cape regional authority which were built on 4×2 Hino chassis.