June 2007

Ferrara Redesigns Inferno Custom Cab

Ferrara Fire Apparatus, Inc., has redesigned its custom cab and chassis to better withstand the rigors of daily use by firefighters.

Called the Inferno XD, it improves upon the company’s most successful cab and chassis with advancements to keep firefighters safer and provide easier access for service technicians.

“The XD is built to withstand the extreme duty seen each and every day by our firefighters,” said Chris Ferrara, the company founder and CEO during an unveiling of the new product at the Fire Department Instructors Conference (FDIC). “We looked at every aspect of the chassis, focusing as much on the cab as we did on what was going to be required with the new 2007 engines. We design safety into every aspect of our fire apparatus, and that is what we used as our guidepost with the Inferno XD.”

The new design features a plastic-free cab interior, easier entry and exit from the cab, improved cab doors, and chassis improvements to both accommodate the new 2007 diesel engines and provide better access for service technicians.

It is designed for use with a wide variety of diesel engines, including the Cummins ISC, ISL and ISM engines, as well as the Detroit Diesel Series 60 and Caterpillar C9 and C13 engines.

The new cab design has a lower ground-to-cab step height, lowered nearly 5 inches for better entry and egress to accommodate all firefighters, regardless of size. The initial cab step features an exterior open-grip surface for added safety and an intermediate step provides a shorter distance between steps. The cab also has offset, non-slip handrails at each door for a better grip.

Ferrara has also increased the size of the Inferno XD’s windshield to 4,200 square inches. Cab door latches were improved with paddle handles that are much larger and easier to grab with a gloved hand. The doors are attached with a two-piece concealed hinge for a streamlined appearance, and they close with a dovetail latch giving a solid feel and sound when the door is closed, according to Ferrara.

The new gauge panels on the all-aluminum dash tilt out with the twist of two quarter-turn latches. Mechanics can gain access to any gauge or indicator in the cab in a matter of seconds.  The center-mounted switch panel has been expanded to accommodate up to 20 switches or other equipment, such as optional color LCD display and/or control screens. The electrical panel, centered above the front of the engine tunnel, is hinged and has an increased size for easier service.

In addition to the dash and instrument panels, the overhead console, cab interior door panels and A-pillars are also welded aluminum with an Ultraliner finish, and the engine tunnel is covered with the same barrier insulation material used on the cab floor, providing noise insulation and, like the aluminum dash, making it resistant to damage.

Ferrara’s Inferno XD is a redesign of the company’s custom cab. The new cab features easier access for firefighters, and the chassis has also been improved.

To meet U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) requirements to significantly reduce the amount of particulate emissions for engines produced in 2007, Ferrara redesigned the chassis.

The cab lift cylinders are larger diameter and have been moved slightly forward for improved service access. The move allowed Ferrara to install a 3/8-inch steel skid plate for radiator protection.

The company has increased the size of the radiator and charge air cooler, to the point that during testing with one of the engine manufacturers, the engine achieved temperatures a full 30 degrees lower than the manufacturer’s requirements. In fact, the engine operated at such a low temperature, the Inferno XD is certified to operate in extreme environments of up to 130 degrees Fahrenheit, according to the manufacturer.

Another chassis improvement includes the widening of the chassis bumper extension rails by 4 inches, making the optional center tray much larger to handle increased hose loads, extrication equipment, winches, electric rewind hose or cord reels.

Ferrara, headquartered in Holden, La., builds a complete line of fire apparatus in addition to the Inferno/Igniter custom chassis. Its product lineup includes pumpers and tankers, rear and mid-mount aerial ladders and platform, rescue and hazmat vehicles, brush trucks, airport vehicles, command trailers and the StrongArm fire fighting vehicle.

For information call 800-443-9006 or go to www.ferrarafire.com.