June 2007

Marion Rescue Storage System Eliminates Need To Climb

By Tony Lolli

Rescue gear that’s used only occasionally is often relegated to the top cabinets, and when it’s needed, someone has to climb up to get it.

Executives at Marion Body Works, Inc., Marion, Wis., have developed a new rooftop storage system to change that.

Marion’s product, called the Sky Box, was introduced in April at the 2007 Fire Department Instructors Conference in Indianapolis as a safer alternative that eliminates climbing and provides additional storage space on rescue vehicles.

“A couple of years ago, at the FDIC show, there was lots of talk about improving apparatus features for increasing crew safety,” said Marion Sales Manager Rod Riska. “One of the ideas being discussed was for automatic ladders. We began thinking about expanding that safety theme and applying it to tool availability and space utilization.”

The Sky Box is made with welded aluminum, has a 1,000-pound capacity and is offered as an option on Marion’s line of rescue vehicles.

For safety in transit, the Sky Box is “nested” inside a 1.5-inch-high retaining frame. The cradle, according to the company, keeps the unit securely in place until it is operational.

As deployment begins, an electric cable hoist raises the Sky Box vertically out of the 1.5-inch nest. Next, an air cylinder extends the box and hoist assembly horizontally out past the side of the vehicle. The cable hoist then lowers the box to the ground. It takes approximately 35 seconds, according to the company, to move a Sky Box from its nested position to the ground. Controls are mounted on the outer body of the vehicle on the same side as the Sky Box and are offset from it.

Numerous configurations are available, including dimensions of Sky Boxes, the number of boxes that can be mounted on vehicles and their locations. The box, itself, can be ordered as a rigid assembly or one side can be configured as a drop-down panel. The boxes can be up to eight feet in length while the width and depth are also variable.

The boxes can be paired on vehicle rooftops, one on each side, or a single box can be mounted laterally across the back. Alternatively, Riska said two pairs could be mounted one in front of the other for a total of four boxes.

“The configuration is up to the customer,” he said. “Each box has its own control switches so the operator can watch the deployment yet be safely away from its operational area.”

Sky Boxes can increase the amount of available storage space because they eliminate the need for stairs and an access walkway between topside cabinets. The entire footprint of the truck’s top can be dedicated to storage, Riska said, and no space is lost providing rooftop access.

Because the inner box moves to deliver tools while the outer box remains in place atop the apparatus, any warning lights and scene lights mounted on the upper part of the truck’s body remain in place as the Sky Box is deployed.

For information call 715-754-5261 or go to www.marionbody.com.