PMT-32D Bumar ALP @ EDURA 2009BUMAR-Koszalin is Poland's very own manufacturer of Hydraulic Platforms and Aerial Ladder Platforms for the fire service, as well as a wide range of access platforms (10-40m). It is part of the Bumar Group, a federation of Polish heavy machinery and military equipment manufacturers.
This particular vehicle, a PMT-32D ALP from State Fire Service Unit No.2 in Pila show at the Fire & Rescue Trade Fair EDURA 2009 in Kilece, PL, is the first one of a brand-new series, introduced in 2008. There are only a few of those on the run as of now. The second one is in Starogard Gdanski, with two more on order, including one for my local SFS Station in Slubice. We expect to see it on the run in April 2010.
**Current 'Fire' range:
*ALPs
PMT-25D – the smallest and the most popular ALP from Bumar. It has a max. working height of 25 meters. Currently, it is built on MAN TGL 12.240 chassis. Previously, the old Volvo FL6 was used. The new Volvo FL's cab turned out to be too high to keep the compact measurements of the vehicle, so Bumar turned to the new MAN TGL. There was also a version for the Czech Republic, based on a Mercedes Atego. This is now the standard aerial appliance in the Polish State Fire Service, after over a 100 were purchased by both central and regional SFS bodies in 2007-2009.
PMT-32D – the latest addition to the product range. Only 2 are on the run now, 2 more are on order. The chassis used is the Volvo FL4XR3.
PMT-42D – the tallest one in the range. Only 3 have been sold (2 in PL, 1 in Czech Republic). Volvo FM 9 6x4 and MB Actros 2541 6x2 were used as chassis. It is not as popular as it could have been, due to problems with reliability and its size. These deterred many potential customers (i.e. those who seriously considered buying one) who chose an Iveco Magirus DL-37 (compact size, 'vario' axle) or a Bronto Skylift RLX-44 (higher reliability) instead.
*HPs
PT-30 – on the chassis of Volvo FM 12 6x4.
PMT-40 – the most popular of Bumar's newer HPs, despite recurring problems with reliability. Especially useful as a 'pure' water tower at major fires at industrial sites, with an impressive working outreach of 21 meters. Built on Volvos FM 12 6x4, though Jelcz chassis were also used in the past.
**Previous models:
SH-18 aka PM-18P – built in their hundreds from the late 70s onwards, these, small, simple, tough, and robust HPs were the backbone of the Polish fire services aerial fleet in smaller towns and industrial plants until the recent introduction of PMT-25D. The chassis used included Star A28, Star A29, Star 200, Star 266, Star 1142.
PMT-21P – the first ALP, built in the late 1990s and early 2000s. It was a rather unsuccessful attempt to combine a ladder and a platform in a way similar to the Metz 'Sofort-enstieg' concept from the 1980s, with the turntable right behind the cab and the ladder facing the rear of the vehicle. It was quickly replaced with the PMT-25D. Chassis used: Star 1142, Volvo FL6.
PMT-30 – an experimental HP on Jelcz 642, only 2 were built. Way too unreliable to be loved.
External links:
BUMAR-Koszalin (ENG): www.bumar.pl/en/
More photos from EDURA 2009: www.firerescue.pl/index.php?cat=67
Kielce, 2009
Note: if you'll find something interesting from EDURA 2009 on my site and would like to have it all explained in English, I'll be happy to do it on F.E.P. on request ;)
Picture added on 27 February 2010 at 06:44
I was especially pleased to see this, as ALPs/HPs are one of my specialist interests.
Thank you very much for explaining so much in perfect English as well.
Added by Ian Moore on 27 February 2010.