FDIC 2011 Extrication Things of Interest

[rmoore]

On the exhibit floor of this year's FDIC are some new extrication-related happenings. In no particular order, here are a few to mention;

1) Hurst has a big display area inside the Convention Center as usual. What is unique about their booth this year is that they have built a plexi-glass room within their carpeted exhibit area. Inside that 'room' is a brand new Ford Fiesta 4-door automobile. During the exhibit hours Thursday, Friday, and Saturday you will be able to stand outside of the room and look through the clear walls as their factory reps use their electric/hydraulic tools to cut the vehicle apart.

On one wall is a special window opening. Mounted in this window is an electric cutter sort of suspended in the wall. The plan is to have conference attendees, standing outside the Plexi-glass room, run the tool while a factory rep inside the room holds a Boron B-pillar up to the tool. You'll feel like you're doing the cutting and you'll be able to see how their newest generation tools go through these Advanced Steel pillars.

2) TNT has exhibit space actually inside Lucas Oil Stadium. Their lineup this year includes a sight that TNT owners are probably not too familiar with; blue TNT tools. The blue colored equipment is their 5,500psi low pressure line.

3) In an outside area, outside of the Convention Center, are areas set up with junk cars. Attendees of FDIC will be able to go outside and witness demonstrations of extrication tools by various manufacturers such as Hurst and TNT. The temperature in Indy Thursday will be 38degrees with freezing rain so we'll see how those outside demos go.

4) Holmatro, Phoenix, Genesis, Champion, Res-Q Tec, Lancier, Viking, PowerHawk, and Amkus, are here as well so there will be more updates from their product line as I make contact with them and get the latest scoop.

5) Struts 'R Us is the impression you get as you check into the offerings from the rescue manufacturers. There are struts everywhere. Seems that now there are lots and lots of choices; some light-duty, others heavy-duty. Struts are available now from not just companies dedicated to struts like Rescue 42 and Res-Q Jack but from companies such as Res-Q Tec and Genesis. They all have quite a selection of struts to offer this year. Makes sense. The customer who buys a power rescue tool system should also be purchasing struts for their tool inventory so why not. All kinds of struts for the same basic purpose but with a nice variety of designs, features, and choices for a fire department. My bottom line is that a functional set of struts with the necessary accessories is no longer a luxury item; it is an essential element of a well-equipped vehicle rescue agency. Got struts?

6) Exhibit booths from lots of the "other guys" are at FDIC this year as well. Vendors such as Ajax, Ogura, and Glas-Master are here with nice displays of their specific vehicle rescue tools.

If you have a question for a vendor, reply to this posting and I'll see if I can get you an answer that we all can share and learn from. Let me know...

[ejfeicht]

TNT Echo Pump

The new TNT Echo pump looks interesting. Interested in how this technology performs vs. the shunt couplers. It is my understanding that this can also be added to existing pumps as an upgrade option.

[rmoore]

Here's a news flash...

The single hydraulic line inside a larger hydraulic hose line design that has up until now been solely a Holmatro feature has now been cloned by Genesis. When I asked the Holmatro reps about that, the comment was "Anybody can have CORE". Well, now there's two of you that have it. The Genesis single line is ironically a bright, bright traffic cone orange. Go figure...

The Genesis single line hose comes with the same quick-disconnect, hot-swappable coupling used also by HURST.

[rmoore]

Here is an image of a section of the new Genesis single hose line as seen at FDIC.

[rmoore]

Holmatro has a hand operated "Power Wedge" tool. The 26 pound tool slips into a 1/4-inch space to start. As you pump it by hand, it shoves a 'wedge' forward. The spreading end opens up to 2 inches. They say it is for starting a 'purchase' when you have only a small space to get started; like with a USAR building collapse situation.

[rmoore]

The Hand Operated Power Wedge extended to the 2 inch spread.

[ejfeicht]

Here's a news flash...

The single hydraulic line inside a larger hydraulic hose line design that has up until now been solely a Holmatro feature has now been cloned by Genesis. When I asked the Holmatro reps about that, the comment was "Anybody can have CORE". Well, now there's two of you that have it. The Genesis single line is ironically a bright, bright traffic cone orange. Go figure...

The Genesis single line hose comes with the same quick-disconnect, hot-swappable coupling used also by HURST.

From the looks of it those two could easily become five that have this type of hose as there are currently 4 tools using this non-propietary coupler including Hurst, Lukas, Genesis and Weber.

It appears that Holmatro's patent is only on their "coupler" and not the actual single hose design.

CORE Technology™ is a hydraulic system that employs COaxial Rescue Equipment hose, couplers, pumps and tools. At the CORE of this system is our revolutionary fluid path technology. This coaxial hose design consists of a high pressure CORE, surrounded and protected by the low pressure return.

What makes our coaxial hydraulic hose possible is our patented CORE Technology™ coupler. These couplers have a built-in, automatic return valve that eliminates the need for a dump valve on the pump, simply connect the hose and you're ready to go

PRODUCT REVIEW: Genesis “Single Line” Hydraulic Hose, by Santiam Emergency Equipment

Inside diameter of the pressure line in the Genesis “Single Line” hose is 5mm (compared to 4mm on the competing product), which will help the Genesis pump flow more hydraulic fluid. It is the same principal as 1 3/4″ attack line fire hose flowing significantly more water than 1 1/2″. For reference, Genesis’ regular “twin line” hydraulic hose has a diameter of approximately 6 1/2 mm, so is even better…

Maximum operating pressure of Genesis’ outer / return line hose is 510 psi (compared to 363 psi on the competing product), with a 4:1 safety factor. Based upon this data, the Genesis “Single Line” hydraulic hose product “should” be a noticeable improvement over the competing product…especially since Genesis’ hose comes with the more durable and non-proprietary OSC coupler.

http://www.santiam.net/wp/2011/01/pr...ydraulic-hose/

[Trkco1]

Ron

Is the hand pump incorporated on the tool or is it the seperate hand pump unit? Thanx in advance.

[rmoore]

I'm sorry I cut the pump end of the tool off. Yes, the handle is built in as one unit; not a hose connected to a separate pump.

When I was looking over this tool, a firefighter came by who had just used the tool on the job. Somehow, a concrete highway divider (Jersey Barrier) had been placed in front of the steamer of a hydrant in an industrial park. They used this wedge tool to get a purchase to allow them to move it away. Pretty neat rigging. They jacked it up and created long 'rails' with 4x4 timber and used pipes as rollers. Then, they rigged up their rescue's winch and pulled this 2 ton block of concrete away from the hydrant.

Here's a shot of the pump handle end...

[Rescue101]

The ResQtec air struts are pretty sweet. Add an Octopus and there is quite a bit of versatility, T.C.

[rmoore]

Yes, ResQTec has a new strut system that they are introducing. It works for vehicle stabilization, collapse rescue, trench, and on and on. The strut can actually connect with a power ram into it or the strut can be used manually or the strut can be used with an air supply like we typically do with trench rescue struts.

Lots of thought went into this "Octopus" system. Some nice ideas and some new things that no one else has on their struts. We'll see how the total system is accepted by the fire service.

[rmoore]

HURST worked with Ford Motor Company to obtain some new cars. Three were cut up outside where FDIC attendees could put on some gear and actually work with HURST tools to cut up the cars with Leigh Hollins and his team supervising.

Inside the Convention Center, HURST built a plexiglass room and put a 2011 Ford Festiva inside. At certain times Thursday & Friday, they allowed you to watch that car being cut up with HURST tools.

[Rescue101]

Yes, ResQTec has a new strut system that they are introducing. It works for vehicle stabilization, collapse rescue, trench, and on and on. The strut can actually connect with a power ram into it or the strut can be used manually or the strut can be used with an air supply like we typically do with trench rescue struts.

Lots of thought went into this "Octopus" system. Some nice ideas and some new things that no one else has on their struts. We'll see how the total system is accepted by the fire service.

I was SUPPOSED to have that system to demo last fall. Didn't happen but my dealer has promised we can test it this summer. I like what I see though. T.C.

[rmoore]

At FDIC, there were three companies selling what is referred to as a "glass management product". The three products, ProtectoWrap, Packexe, and GlassKeeper, are all adhesive materials designed to be applied to a window to help contain tempered glass when you break it. I'll show pictures of each but want to mention one now; ProtectoWrap.

What was unique about this one of the three products is that it was the thickest material; 25 mils. It was however the only one of the three that was not see-through clear. What catches my eye about ProtectoWrap was that its' thickness allows it to do a great job as 'sharps protection'. I photographed one of the cars that was used for extrication training during the conference where ProtectoWrap had been applied to the cut A-pillar and the base of the B-pillar.

I like what I see. A distinct bright yellow & red color, a thick 25 mil material, and an adhesive that works in the wet, the cold, and the heat. In fact, once pressed firmly onto the metal of a car, it's quite an effort get it off if you're trying to show its' holding power.

Anyway, here are two examples of how this product designed for glass management during tempered window breaking can assist with making the scene safer as well.

[rmoore]

One of the other glass management products at FDIC 2011 was a new offering from Hammerhead Industries. This company, out of California, is well known for selling their Gear Keeper product; the retractable device you attach to your turnout coat to hold items on the end of a cord that retracts when you let go.

Their newest addition to their product line is called Glass Keeper. It is sheets of a clear plastic material that are sticky on one side; sort of like contact paper. You peel off the backing and stick it onto the window if you have to break the glass. You know the routine. It holds most of the glass nuggets intact as you remove the glass from the window.

The Glass Keeper adhesive works even in the rain which is one thing that duct tape doesn't do if you're into going the cheap way out like me. Anyway, I do like the fact that Glass Keeper is designed with built-in pull tabs. Each pre-cut sheet is large enough that it covers the window plus sticks onto the cars' body as well. After breaking the glass, you pull the sheet up by using these big red tabs. That's a nice feature; something that Packexe and ProtectoWrap do not have.

All of these new adhesive materials are an expense; more than duct tape so you have to take that into consideration when you think about these items.

Here's a shot taken from their DVD that shows Glass Keeper being applied to a window....