Fontaine intros roll-up door mod for emergency vehicles

[TowNews]

A new roll-up door design from Fontaine Modification is intended to make it easier for firefighters, EMTs, tow truck operators and others to quickly access tools and equipment stored in the cabs of Freightliner M2 trucks.

 

Fontaine said the patent-pending design allows for a watertight seal of the door to the truck; smooth, reliable operation of the roll-up door; and easy maintenance.

 

Previously, storage-door installation involved custom-bending the mounting track to match the truck side’s curvature. Bending the track could lead to leaks and challenges with opening and closing the door, Fontaine said.

 

The new mounting system the company developed uses a surround to allow the door to be installed in a completely vertical orientation, rather than trying to curve to the side of the truck.

 

“This unique solution allows for a consistent, customized fit for these Freightliner M2 cabs from the beginning, rather than needing to modify on the fly if usability issues arise,” said Nate Eichinger, managing director at Fontaine Modification. “Vehicle operators will appreciate the smooth functionality and ability to service—clean, repair and even replace—the door, since it can be removed from the framework we designed for this application.”

 

The new mounting system was developed by the engineering team led by Dylan Ramsey, the vocational engineering manager at Fontaine’s Innovation Center for Research and Development in Charlotte NC. It will be installed on Freightliner M2 trucks at Fontaine’s Charlotte Modification Center, which supports Freightliner’s nearby Mount Holly manufacturing facility.