Magirus, formerly Iveco Magirus, is continuing its evolution with a change in the brand’s name and an innovative new factory
The company furthers its fire-fighting division in Ulm with the opening of the new Magirus Brandschutz World, a £25.5 million investment
Iveco Magirus has disclosed a major rebranding this September, with the company changing its name to Magirus. Founded in Ulm, Germany in 1864, Magirus manufactures and outfits fire-fighting equipment and trucks. A trusted manufacturer and leader in innovation, Magirus invented and patented the first turntable ladder.
For most of the 20th century, the brand has been owned by parent companies—first by Deutz, a German engine manufacturer, and since 1975, by Iveco, an Italian truck manufacturer. In 2012, with the permission of its holding company, Magirus decided to relaunch as an independent brand to solidify its market position as one of the finest quality fire-fighting equipment manufacturers in the world.
For the future the company announced that it will sell its fire-fighting vehicles and fire protection technology under the brand Magirus. The new identity, a capital M, suggests the ladders for which the company is known. It recalls elements of the historic Magirus-Deutz logo, which combined a stylised M with the sharp spire of the cathedral in Ulm, the German city where the company has been located for some 150 years.
Both strong and elegant, this new mark can hold its own next to the chassis manufacturer logos and can be used everywhere to identify the independent Magirus brand and carry it into another century. Thus, the company underlines its competency as manufacturer that responds in the most flexible way to satisfy its customer’s needs. At the same time the name Magirus is connected to an identity that goes back to the year 1864 and its founding father Conrad Dietrich Magirus.
The Magirus logo was designed by the renowned design and identity agency Chermayeff & Geismar & Haviv in New York, USA. Impressing with its clear and simple design the logo associates the name Magirus with the company’s original values. It represents what the company have already stood for since almost 150 years and what it still stands for: Tradition, innovation, engineering and the will to let visions come true.
Innovation continues as Magirus furthers its fire-fighting division in Ulm with the opening of the new Magirus Brandschutz World. Around £25.5 million is being invested in the development of the new Competence Centre for the benefit of the company’s customers.
The new Competence Centre for fire-fighting technology is being developed to further strengthen Magirus Brandschutztechnik’s leading global position. Magirus is, investing in state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities to ensure more efficient production and faster response time to customer-specific requests. The research and development centre is also being expanded with the aim of integrating company operations.
The conversion of the former truck assembly plant into an innovative fire-fighting production facility is moving ahead at full speed. By the end of 2012, the halls were stripped to prepare the plant’s transformation into a high-tech fire-fighting manufacturing plant. The complete truck assembly lines were removed and new flooring was installed for the most part. Currently, work is being carried out fitting the electrics, lighting, ventilation and heating installations. Furthermore, pump test benches are being installed along with new crane systems and assembly equipment. Workshop pits are being added to the TÜV (Technical Inspection Association) inspection and approval section and the shipping department carpentry workshop is being fitted, along with new paint shops.
The new facility consists of four assembly lines and has an area of 12,000 m². The plant features an assembly line for large quantities of vehicles as well as customised configurations for bespoke vehicles. For more technically demanding vehicles, over 15 additional individual assembly stations are provided. Furthermore, a 4,000 m² ancillary area is also available, for the pre-assembly of superstructure framework, pump pre-assembly, roller shutter and component manufacturing.
Designated storage areas for aluminium profiles, superstructure components, pump parts and all other required materials amount to a total of around 4,000 m². A painting, film coating and finish line facilitate customised and modern paintwork operations and a wide range of vehicle design options through to the finishing and polishing phase prior to delivery.
Quality inspection centre ensures highest quality
A quality centre with over 10,000 m² of space allows the installation of up to date testing stands, acceptance and audit areas. The calibration and software programming of the vehicle pumps is now carried out in modern pump test benches which work with vacuum-pressure tanks. For heavy tank pumpers, testing equipment for handling a flow capacity of up to 15,000 litres per minute is available. Additional facilities include tilting test beds, a cable winch test installation and a rain simulation facility. After a quality check on a rolling test bed, followed by a final cleaning and polishing station, the vehicles are handed over to the final quality inspectors for acceptance and approval by the customers or authorities. For this complete final control and acceptance procedure, bright and spacious working areas are available. They include testing facilities and inspection pits, as well as dedicated office space for the authority representatives.
Modern working conditions
Modern working conditions in the production halls improve upon conditions at the previous fire-fighting vehicle manufacturing facility. The large amount of space, including the impressive height of the production area means even more light and working space for employees. As a result, the workplaces are friendly and spacious – positive energy efficiency is provided via additional non-combustible insulation in the walls and ceilings
Training for assembly workers
Whilst conversion work at the plant has been taking place, training for former truck production workers has already begun. Since December 2012, around 200 employees have been preparing for their new jobs. Thanks to their solid professional experience and a special training programme, the move to the production of fire-fighting vehicles has been quickly mastered. For the manufacture of pumpers, the expert craftsmanship of the skilled workforce is of far greater benefit than it is in truck assembly operations. Working in teams instead of assembly line production provides each individual with a greater pride in their group and individual performances. A further 100 former truck assemblers successfully participated in the training and joined their colleagues at the beginning of 2013.
This work will be carried out in the former frame assembling workshop, which was converted for fire-fighting production summer 2012. However, the frame workshop remains a provisional arrangement and will only be used until the new manufacturing facilities are in place in the former truck assembly halls.
Turntable ladder production maintained
In order to meet the global market requirements for the trusted Magirus turntable ladders, the production facility for the ladders naturally remains in place. Altogether, the manufacturing area covers a total of 34,700 m². The factory also holds a generously-sized high-rack warehouse for over 8,000 pallets.
Modern delivery options
In order to ensure the best-possible customer service during the vehicle handover, spacious handover offices and eight additional handover halls will be developed. Furthermore, the pump test benches with integrated vacuum-suction function facilitate real induction training on pump operations and thus excellent preparation for daily duty. For training with foam proportioning systems and real discharge of foam or wetting agents, a training facility complete with collecting container is planned. A 100 metre-long practice course then also allows training with foam and water monitors. For testing the chassis and the fully equipped vehicles, a proving ground with a high-speed track is available on the plant site. The testing track is a 2.2 kilometre-long oval, which features steep-banked curves, as well braking and noise measurement tracks. Through the use of a sprinkler system, the simulation of different road conditions and testing of braking systems on wet or dry roads is possible as well as on different pavements. Thus, a memorable induction training course and vehicle handovers to the customers are possible.
Customer centre as the central contact point
An additional improvement is the totally refurbished customer centre in the former cab production facility. Ample opportunities are provided here for vehicle presentations. On an area which is large enough for more than 20 new vehicles, a cross-section of the extensive product range of Magirus vehicles can be showcased at any time. Through the presentation of portable fire pumps, built-in pumps, foam proportioning systems, AluFire superstructure modular frameworks along with other important components and assembly parts, all elements of a modern Magirus fire-fighting vehicle can be shown. Large, well-equipped meeting rooms as well as a range of catering options serve to ensure that the appropriate care and attention is provided for a profitable day of discerning customers. Info points for fire-fighting equipment as well as a shop for model vehicles, merchandise and fan-gear are also available to fully satisfy customer expectations. An exposition featuring historical vehicles from the almost 150-year history of Magirus will superbly complement the Centre of Excellence.
Everything from one hand – from production through to delivery
With the establishment of the Centre of Excellence for production and delivery in Ulm, one of the largest contact points for fire brigades and civil protection units worldwide will soon be open. This will allow the product selection via the proper manufacturing itself through to the quality control and the induction training for the ordered vehicle along with its proving – and this from the portable fire pumps and the wide range of pumpers and tank pumpers, rescue equipment vehicles through to specialist vehicles with more than 40 tons GVW, plus the complete range of Magirus turntable ladders with 20 to 60 m operating heights.
Customer service and the Academy likewise expanded
For meeting the requirements demanded by generous service opportunities during the long service life of a vehicle, the customer service department will also be expanded with an additional 2,200 m² of hall and workshop space. For the provision of product technology training as well as optimal tactical operations in real emergencies, the Magirus Academy training opportunities are be increased still further.
The MAGIRUS Group develops and produces a globally unique range of vehicles and equipment for fire and civil protection. Internationally, MAGIRUS ranks among the largest and technologically leading providers in the industry. Reflecting the customer structure, the sales and service organisation is internationally oriented. Concerning turntable ladders, the traditional MAGIRUS brand is still the undisputed global market leader.
