When Precision Is Non-Negotiable

The gun features a rotatable neck that users can change the position of without any tools. They simply unscrew the durable plastic ring at the base of the neck, rotate the neck to the desired angle and tighten the ring.

“With this gun, all you have to do is loosen the neck, turn it and tighten it back up where you want it,” says Plock. “With the old guns, we had to get an Allen wrench, loosen the socket head cap screws, then turn the neck and tighten it back up. So this [gun] is a lot quicker and easier.”

Plock adds that this feature comes in handy especially when he’s working on an application that doesn’t allow him a lot of room to maneuver or reach for tools (as would be needed to change neck angles on the older style guns True North Emergency Equipment used).

“If we’re inside of a truck in the pump house welding a structure, I often have to turn from one direction to another,” he explains. “If I want this neck to go a different way to fit in a tighter spot, I can turn it without having to twist my hands around.”

The addition of a dual schedule switch on the Q-Gun Series MIG guns allows Plock and the other fabricators to change wire feed settings without having to go back to the power source when they alternate between welding thinner and thicker materials.

“Personally, I like that if I’m at the top of a truck and need to make an adjustment [to the wire feed speed], I don’t have to climb all the way down to the machine, make the adjustment and then climb all the way back to where we were working,” says Plock. “With this setup here, we don’t have to do that. I just make my adjustment and keep on going. It’s a lot more efficient.”

Mitch James, the plant manager and field trainer for True North Emergency Equipment, agrees that these features and the versatility that his team gets from the new MIG guns is an asset. “The features have made a big difference in comfort and in improving throughput time. There’s just no messing around and adjustment with them,” he explains.

NEW CONSUMABLES BRING ADDED BENEFITS
True North Emergency Equipment paired its Q-Gun Series MIG guns with the Centerfire™ Consumable System from Bernard. These consumables feature a “drop-in” threadless contact tip that fabricators can change back quickly after a burnback to help reduce downtime and get them back to work faster.

The contact tips also have a large diameter tip base and tapered seat that, combined with the gas diffuser, provides better electrical conductivity and heat transfer. For True North Emergency Equipment, those features translate to one single benefit: The consumables last longer than their previous brand.

“There was a time when we would have to buy our welding tips 25 or 50 in a bag,” says James. “I actually had team members come to me [before Centerfire] and say they were running through three, four, five, six, eight tips in a matter of just a few hours from burnbacks and such things.”

Since the conversion to the new consumables, James says that their consumable usage has dropped tremendously. “We don’t have to stock nearly as much anymore. We’re stocking about 75 percent less or about 25 percent of what we used to stock in consumables,” he explains. “That’s saving us quite a bit of money.”

PRIORITY NO. 1
It’s all about quality at True North Emergency Equipment — and quality is what keeps the company’s customers and employees happy. The fabricators and management all take pride in knowing that they are helping rebuild, repair and refurbish the best, safest and most durable fire and rescue vehicles for their customers.

“Every customer has exacting spec and we suit that need. That’s our niche. That’s who we are,” says Sheldon. “And we cater to the high end of the market — always.”

James notes that the fact his company has found the right tools to help its employees reach that goal isn’t lost on them. “In the end, it’s all about attitude, emotions, how people feel about what they’re doing. If you feel good, you’re going to do good. So that’s the whole ball of wax right there.”