Reliability Rules: Isuzu Showcases Trucks & Power for Emergency Services at AFAC '24

Many Australians look forward to the summer season, which brings holidays, celebrations with family, and the end of the school year. However, this time of year also throws up challenges in the form of increased fire danger and the risk of flooding and damage due to the volatile storm season.

In the lead-up to the summer months ahead, hardworking emergency services will be considering the best use and deployment of supporting capital equipment for disaster relief response.

The Australasian Fire and Emergency Service Authority Council (AFAC) conference, running 3-6 September 2024 at the International Convention Centre in Sydney, is a key event in the calendar for those working in emergency management and equipment procurement.

The 2024 exhibition will showcase the latest services, technologies, and solutions available from leading industry experts including Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) such as Isuzu Australia Limited (IAL), who will be displaying products from their Isuzu Trucks and Isuzu Power Solutions ranges.

When downtime can have devastating consequences, operational efficiency and reliability remain a priority in fleet planning and procurement, as noted by IAL National Fleet Sales Manager Grant Walford.

“The emergency sectors that rely on Isuzu products are operating in often unprecedented conditions, from fire fronts to flood waters.

“Whether it’s our trucks, power units, standalone engines or generators that are called on, our goal is to provide a product that performs efficiently and that won’t fail when community safety and lives are on the line.

“Isuzu has become synonymous with the phrase Reliability is Everything, which we realise is especially paramount to our friends in the emergency services,” continued Mr Walford.

“The Isuzu team is looking forward to demonstrating our engineering and support capacity for this essential sector and having timely conversations around planning for the smooth transition to new vehicles and plant equipment.”

At your service

Demonstrating the versatility of its product range for support services, Isuzu will be showcasing an FYX 350-350 Auto 10x4 service truck engineered for the New South Wales Rural Fire Service.

The versatile FYX 350-350 service truck can carry a variety of loads depending on the need, with a flat skid-base suitable for transporting a range of equipment, containers, fuel, water or fire retardant, all by way of a chassis-mounted hook lift setup for ease of loading.

At AFAC, the FYX will be fittingly displayed with an impressive 16,000-litre water tank, highlighting the critical nature of water resource management as a focus for rural fire fighting services, particularly in remote and drought-affected locations.

In tanker form, the FYX will be used to transport water to crews at staging sites, reducing the impact on resources in the affected area and allowing firefighters to focus on the task at hand.

The truck is equipped with onboard pumps to fill water from the tank to other firefighting units nearby. Featuring remote monitoring of water levels, refilling or exchanging water becomes a straightforward process, also circumventing total depletion of the tank’s supply.

With a GVM of 35,000 kg and GCM of 45,000 kg, the FYX service truck is amply supported by Isuzu’s six-cylinder turbocharged 6UZ1-TCC engine, producing peak power of 257 kW (350PS) @ 2,000 rpm and torque of 1,422 Nm @ 1,400 rpm.

Primed for power

‘Off-highway’ engines also play a vital role in the emergency service sector; from powering onboard pumps to backup power that can be relied upon, no matter the crisis.

The Isuzu Power Solutions (IPS) team will be on stand at AFAC 24 showing a key range of products tailored for emergency services, namely a 3CA1 Power Unit from the Made-to-Stock range, an 4LE2 Power Unit and a GS020-PTY (20 kVA) enclosed generator set—all of which can provide reliable power at a moment's notice.

The GS020-PTY generator set has a rated output of 20 kVA / 16 kWe (Prime) and is powered by a four-cylinder Isuzu 4LE1 engine, with a compact footprint suited to mobile applications.

The skid-mounted 4-cycle diesel 3CA1 Power Unit is well-matched for truck-mounted pumping duties with a bespoke heat exchanged cooling package and air cleaner with flame retardant element which makes it ideal for use on fire service vehicles.

The pre-assembled 4LE2 Power Unit is rated at 39.1 kW (52.4 hp) @ 3,000 rpm and another product well-suited for mobile mounted pumping duties.

“All IPS products are designed with Australia's weather and temperature conditions top of mind and are capable of pumping water and generating power even in the most extreme weather events,” said IPS National Sales Manager, Troy Lawson.

“We’ve got a long and storied association with the emergency services sector, and our showcase at AFAC 24 presents another fantastic opportunity to continue to get in front of the key players in the industry.”

Working together

Isuzu’s long-term industry partners will also be displaying a range of products at this year’s AFAC, providing an excellent opportunity to see Isuzu engine and power units in action across a range of emergency services applications.

Isuzu’s 4LE2PW10 engine is put to purpose by GAAM Emergency Products, who will be displaying radiator-cooled package fitted with a GAAM pump, while Global Fire Solutions will be displaying a heat exchanged and air start 4LE2PW10 engine package complemented with a Darley pump system.

Isuzu Australia will be at stand 388 at AFAC 2024 held 3-6 September at the Sydney International Convention Centre.