A COMPANY supplying firefighting equipment has blazed a trail with its latest partnership.
Brockholes-based North Fire has signed a partnership deal with e2v – the company behind the Argus range of thermal imaging cameras.
It means North Fire, led by managing director Oliver North, takes responsibilities for sales and service for the Argus range to the UK fire and rescue sector.
Its new partner, e2v provides advanced, technological equipment to organisations in the medical and science, aerospace and defence, and commercial and industrial markets.
North Fire has already gained a strong reputation for its fire fighting equipment sales and after-sales service.
Mr North, a former army PT instructor, said: “We’re absolutely thrilled to announce our partnership with ev2 and look forward to supplying the future of thermal imaging to the UK’s fire and rescue services.”
Angus Drummond, e2v’s vice-president of sales for the Argus range, said: “Throughout the fire and rescue market, our Argus camera is heralded as the brigades’ number one choice for product quality, reliability and innovation.
“The time is now right to intensify our sales and service coverage through this new partnership with North Fire, so that we can focus on delivering further product innovation to our vital emergency services.”
North Fire trebled its turnover during the 2010-11 financial year to almost £1.5m while recent deals with several fire brigades had helped “significantly” move the business forward.
North Fire is the UK’s exclusive partner with world-wide market leader Rosenbauer International for supplying aerial fire trucks and firefighting equipment. It also supplies aerial ladders and turntable ladders manufactured by German firm Metz.
Earlier this year, North Fire received a six-figure order for 427 hose nozzles from London Fire Brigade.
The company has also sold the parts to Surrey and West Yorkshire fire brigades – and has sold more of the Rosenbauer hose nozzles to the UK market than were predicted to be sold worldwide.
Essex-based ev2 supplies high-tech security equipment for the fire service and defence industry.
Its products have supported projects including the Airbus A380, the new Boeing 787, the European Space Agency’s Gaia mission to map our galaxy, the Eurofighter Typhoon and the Hubble space telescope upgrade.
Argus cameras enable firefighters to see through smoke, identify and rescue casualties and locate hot spots or the seat and spread of a fire.
They are also used by police and security forces to catch criminals, gather evidence and save lives and property in the process.
