CHARLOTTE, MI—Spartan ERV (Emergency Response Vehicles), a fire apparatus manufacturer and business unit of Spartan Motors, Inc. and Gimaex have formed formal Joint Venture (“JV”) to be organized under a new Limited Liability Company incorporated in Delaware. The JV exists to combine the complementary skills, resources and capabilities of Gimaex and Spartan ERV on agreed projects to develop, manufacture and distribute innovative products to Fire Service markets in North America, South America, Asia, and Europe.
This 50/50 JV will leverage the complementary footprints, capabilities, brands, technologies, and product portfolios of the two companies. The scope of the JV will encompass technology sharing, joint product development, commercial agreements and additional purchasing clout, as well as leveraging development and build costs. Finally, Spartan and Gimaex have complementary geographic, engineering and production footprints that will enable both companies to amass a true global presence.
The Spartan ERV/Gimaex relationship was initially formed in April 2012 as an alliance. The scope of the initial collaboration included two products—TelStar and a crossover pumper. TelStar is the largest (138-foot) telescopic and articulated aerial platform available in North America and is uniquely designed and engineered with All Call capabilities. The crossover pumper is a Concept Chassis, code named the RXO, that can fulfill both structural and wildland fire needs. The RXO was configured on a Renault Truck Chassis with a Gimaex body, compressed air foam system (CAFS), and other innovations.
“We are very pleased with our combined ability to execute in the marketplace,” said Dennis Schneider, the Spartan ERV/Gimaex JV Managing Partner and President of Spartan ERV. “Just last week, we celebrated a TelStar sales milestone in South America. This is proof positive of our combined ability to cultivate global business and develop market-leading technologies which deliver incremental revenue to both companies.”
The Spartan/Gimaex JV is a clear execution of strategy. In April 2012, Spartan announced a global growth strategy in emergency response. The corporate growth plan at Spartan Motors consists of three elements: organic growth, growth through acquisitions and growth through alliances/joint ventures.
“The diversity of needs facing the global fire service continues to increase. The combined technical competencies resident in the joint venture will enable us to collectively provide a much broader set of purposeful and cost-effective solutions,” said Louis Devaleix, chief executive officer, Gimaex Americas. “Our combined market knowledge and geographic footprints are remarkably complementary and this together with the speed to market we demonstrated in launching the TelStar leaves us very optimistic from a business development perspective.”
For more information, visit www.spartanmotors.com.
