Harness supplier extends contract with electric fire engine manufacturer
Teepee Electrical has signed an extension with fire and rescue appliance specialist Emergency One to support its roll-out of new electric vehicles.
The Bloxwich-based company will supply complex harnesses and wiring looms to Emergency One’s electric fire engines.
The 15-year partnership between both firms developed from a few harness sets each month to providing 18 different sets for six vehicles every month.
The move to electrification has involved the development of a different type of harness, with alternative specifications of cables and connectors catering for high and lower voltage circuits, integrating with on-vehicle systems and full harness sets.
Steve Clarke, Managing Director of Teepee Electrical said: “Emergency One has grown massively in the 15 years we have been supplying it and expect production to be more than 250 fire fighting vehicles this year.
“Electrification isn’t purely for passenger cars; all sectors are looking at cleaner engines and more sustainable means of transport. It became the first in the world to develop an all-electric model in 2020 and continues to be ahead of its rivals in terms of delivering a vehicle that offers similar if not better performance and range than its traditional counterparts.
“This new deal extends the partnership and will see us continue to supply traditional sets for the Volvo, MAN and Eurocargo chassis, as well as building in new capacity so we can meet the expected demand for electric fire engines going forward.”
Emergency One, which was established in 1989 in the Scottish town of Cumnock, has two production facilities spread over an eight-acre campus with 240 staff.
The firm expects sales to hit £40m for the first time by the end of this financial year. This will be boosted by a growing export market that includes clients in Malta, New Zealand and the US.
Ali Bell, the Director at Emergency One said: “Harnesses are a critical part of the build and often the first piece of architecture we add to the chassis. Traditionally, trying to find a supplier with this expertise was challenging, that was until we were introduced to Teepee in 2007.
“The partnership has continued to get stronger, and we now see Teepee as a Category 1 supplier to our business, meaning they are critical to our current and future production schedules.”
Teepee Electrical, is looking to grow 20% in 2022, taking turnover past the £3m mark.
Following the purchase of £100,000 worth of automatic crimp presses, ancillary tooling and a cable cutting and process machine, it has started supplying volume cable assemblies to a second-tier UK automotive supplier with plans in place to be involved in new vehicle platforms by Spring.
This complements recent wins with a major rail customer for an ongoing fleet upgrade project and the development of a wiring harness for a niche EV client.
