KME
KME (Kovatch Mobile Equipment Corp.) is a U.S. manufacturer of custom-built fire apparatus, including pumpers, aerials, platforms, rescues, tankers, wildland vehicles, and the Vector Electric all-electric pumper, sold to municipal, federal, and wildland/urban-interface fire departments across the U.S. and Canada through an authorized dealer network.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1946
- HeadquartersNesquehoning, United States
- Headcount501–1,000
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What KME does
KME (Kovatch Mobile Equipment Corp.) is a U.S.-based manufacturer of custom-built fire apparatus operating since 1946 from its headquarters in Nesquehoning, Pennsylvania, with a manufacturing facility in Holden, Louisiana. KME designs and builds pumpers, aerial ladders, platforms, rescue vehicles, tankers, wildland apparatus, and the Vector Electric all-electric pumper, sold under proprietary brands including Aerialcat (Domex steel with a 2.5-to-1 safety factor), EZ-MRS (maintenance reduction system), FLEX-FORM body construction, Control-MAXX multiplex electrical architecture, and Severe Service chassis platforms (Panther, Predator, SSX, Commercial variants). Fully custom units carry delivery lead times of 1-4+ years and per-unit prices of $500,000 to $2 million, while the K-180 modular Rapid Delivery series addresses longer custom-build cycles.
The company distributes exclusively through an authorized dealer network covering all U.S. states and Canadian provinces, with named dealers in California, Minnesota, Arkansas/Kansas/Missouri/Oklahoma, and other regions. Customers are exclusively government fire-protection agencies: named accounts include Orange County Fire Authority, San Bernardino County Fire Protection District, Asheville Fire Department, Morningside Fire Department, Macomb Township Fire Department, Francestown Fire Department, and Santa Monica Fire Department. KME engages its market at FDIC International, the Fire Truck Training Conference, and the Metro Fire Chiefs Conference, alongside active social media presence on Facebook, Instagram, X, and LinkedIn.
KME was acquired by REV Group, Inc. (NYSE: REVG) in 2016 and subsequently transferred to Terex Corporation's Specialty Vehicles segment in 2026. The parent portfolio (E-ONE, Ferrara, KME, Spartan) controls approximately 33% of the U.S. fire truck manufacturing market, addressing a $3 billion annual U.S. market with a $4.2 billion industry backlog reported as of December 2024. Revenue is generated one-time at point of sale on a quote-based pricing model with no publicly disclosed pricing.
KME firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- KME
- Legal name
- KME Corp.
- Website
- https://kmefire.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1946
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 501–1,000 employees
- Short description
- KME (Kovatch Mobile Equipment Corp.) is a U.S. manufacturer of custom-built fire apparatus, including pumpers, aerials, platforms, rescues, tankers, wildland vehicles, and the Vector Electric all-electric pumper, sold to municipal, federal, and wildland/urban-interface fire departments across the U.S. and Canada through an authorized dealer network.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
KME industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Fire Apparatus Manufacturing
- NAICS
- Fire Protection (922160)
- SIC
- Construction Machinery & Equip (3531)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Fire Sprinkler & Standpipe Systems (Design/Install/Service/Testing) (BPABAHAB)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Fire & Rescue Services (Fire Suppression, Rescue) (BPAIAGAB), Fire & Life Safety Services (Inspection/Testing/Sprinklers/Alarms) (IMAIAAAI)
Keywords
Where KME is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Nesquehoning
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices3 records
Markets served
KME business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Fire Apparatus Sales: KME generates revenue primarily through the manufacture and sale of custom fire apparatus including pumpers, aerials, platforms, rescues, tankers, and wildland vehicles. The company offers both fully customized units and modular designs (K-180 series) for faster delivery. Revenue is one-time at point of sale with long production lead times.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| One time/ perpetual license | Multi-year contract | Custom fire apparatus - fully customized units |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels5 records
KME product offering
Product offeringCore offering
KME manufactures and sells custom fire apparatus, including pumpers, aerial ladders, platforms, rescues, tankers, and wildland vehicles, built on proprietary chassis configurations (Commercial, Panther, Predator, SSX) for municipal fire departments, federal agencies, and wildland/urban interface markets. The company offers both fully customized units with extended lead times and a K-180 Rapid Delivery modular program for faster delivery, including the Vector Electric all-electric pumper.
Product overview
KME (Kovatch Mobile Equipment Corp.) is a manufacturer of custom fire apparatus serving municipal, federal, and wildland/urban interface markets across the U.S. The company offers a comprehensive portfolio of fire trucks built on proprietary chassis (Panther, Predator, SSX) with various body configurations. Product lines include Pumpers (K-180 Rapid Delivery, Challenger, Custom, Pro-Series, Rearmount), Aerials/Ladders (K-180 Aerial, 79'-109' configurations featuring Aerialcat Steel-Safe technology), Platforms (84'-102' Mid/Rear Mount), Rescues (Combination, Walk-Around, Walk-In), Tankers (Dry Side, Eliminator, Wet Side), all-electric Vector Electric pumper, and Wildland vehicles (Interface Pumper, Ridgerunner). Key technology features include the Aerialcat Steel-Safe Ladder with 2.5-to-1 safety factor, EZ-MRS maintenance system, FLEX-FORM body construction, and Control-Maxx electrical systems. KME became part of Terex Corporation's Specialty Vehicles segment (previously REV Group) and has been in operation since 1946.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Aerialcat Steel-Safe Ladder: Steel aerial ladder featuring Domex steel with a truss structure using square extrusions and a 2.5-to-1 safety factor.
- EZ-MRS Aerial Maintenance Reduction System
- FLEX-FORM Body
- Severe Service Chassis
- Control-MAXX
- Vector Electric
Products and services
- K-180 Rapid Delivery Series Pre-engineered, modular fire apparatus including K-180 Aerials and K-180 Pumpers for municipal and federal fire departments, designed for faster delivery than fully custom units.
- Chassis Line (Commercial, Panther, Predator, SSX) Custom fire apparatus chassis offered in Commercial, Panther, Predator, and SSX Severe Service configurations for fire departments requiring purpose-built foundations for pumpers, aerials, platforms, rescues, tankers, and wildland vehicles.
- Ladders / Aerial Apparatus Fire service aerial ladders including the K-180 Aerial, 79' Pro Series, 79' Rear Mount, 100' TDA, 101' TDA, 103' TUFF TRUCK, and 109' Rear Mount configurations, featuring Aerialcat Steel-Safe technology for municipal and federal fire departments.
- Platform Apparatus Aerial platform trucks offered in 84' Mid Mount, 102' Mid Mount, and 102' Rear Mount configurations with AerialCat platform design, for municipal fire departments needing elevated rescue and suppression capability.
- Pumpers Fire pumpers available in K-180 Pumper, Challenger, Custom, Pro-Series, and Rearmount configurations with 500-1500 GPM pumps and 500-1000 gallon water tanks, for municipal fire suppression operations.
- Rescue Vehicles Rescue vehicles in Combination, Walk-Around, and Walk-In configurations, including the Tractor Drawn Rescue, designed for municipal emergency response scenarios requiring comprehensive compartment storage and crew capacity.
- Tankers Water tanker trucks offered in Dry Side, Eliminator, and Wet Side configurations for water transport and fire suppression, including rural and wildland operations.
- Vector Electric All-electric fire apparatus pumper from KME, marketed as the first North American-style all-electric fire truck, targeting municipal fire departments seeking zero-emission apparatus.
- Wildland Vehicles Wildland fire apparatus including Interface Pumper and Ridgerunner configurations, designed for off-road capability, rapid response, and versatility for departments serving wildland/urban interface environments.
Quantifiable outcome
- 2.5-to-1 steel structural safety factor (industry highest)
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use KME
Customer profileNamed customers7 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
KME technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature6 records
KME partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Three partnerships are on record, tiered regional.
- CarCo FireregionalCarCo Fire is an authorized dealer for KME fire apparatus in Minnesota since October 2025. Based near St. Cloud in Rice, MN with a 40,000 sq ft facility featuring 20 service bays, plus an 8,000 sq ft facility in Brainerd.
- Fire Master Fire EquipmentregionalOfficial dealer for KME in Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri, and Oklahoma since September 2024. Second-generation family business founded in 1972 with $2 million expansion including doubled service center to 20,000 sq ft.
- Fire Apparatus SolutionsregionalAuthorized KME dealer for California, responsible for Orange County Fire Authority and San Bernardino County Fire Protection District accounts. Offers body repair, structural/plumbing modifications, mobile on-site services, and in-house pick-up/delivery.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves8 records
Expansion highlights5 records
KME competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- REV Group: REV Group (now absorbed into Terex's Specialty Vehicles segment) was KME's direct parent company and the parent of competing fire apparatus brands (E-ONE, Ferrara, Spartan). It is a broader incumbent managing the consolidated fire-apparatus portfolio that includes KME.
- Oshkosh Corporation: Oshkosh owns Pierce Manufacturing and is a diversified specialty vehicle and access equipment incumbent. It competes with KME/REV/Terex across the broader fire apparatus and emergency vehicle markets.
Emerging players
- Toyne Fire Apparatus: Toyne is a smaller U.S. custom fire apparatus builder serving municipal and industrial customers with pumpers, tankers, and rescues. It is an emerging direct competitor overlapping with KME's custom segment at the small-department level.
Direct peers
- Pierce Manufacturing: Pierce Manufacturing, a subsidiary of Oshkosh Corporation, is the largest U.S. custom fire apparatus manufacturer producing pumpers, aerials, and rescue trucks for municipal fire departments — directly competing with KME across every product line.
- E-ONE: E-ONE is a sister fire apparatus brand within REV Group (now Terex Specialty Vehicles). It produces custom pumpers, aerials, rescues, and industrial vehicles that compete head-to-head with KME for the same municipal customers.
- Marion Body Works: Marion Body Works manufactures custom and commercial fire apparatus, rescue, and emergency vehicles. Its product range overlaps with KME's custom and Severe Service offerings for municipal buyers.
- Ferrara Fire Apparatus: Ferrara, also under REV Group/Terex, manufactures custom pumpers, aerials, and industrial fire apparatus. As a sister brand it competes directly with KME in custom heavy-duty municipal apparatus.
- Sutphen Corporation: Sutphen is an independent U.S. custom fire apparatus builder known for aerials and tower ladders. It directly competes with KME in specialty aerial and custom pumper segments.
- Rosenbauer America: Rosenbauer America is the U.S. arm of Rosenbauer International, the world's largest fire apparatus maker. It is a direct competitor to KME across custom pumpers, aerials, and platforms for North American municipal departments.
- Spartan Emergency Response: Spartan Emergency Response, a REV Group/Terex sibling, builds custom and chassis-based fire apparatus including pumpers, aerials, and rescues, competing directly with KME.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
KME social profiles
Digital presenceKME financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
KME leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles4 records
KME funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
KME M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about KME
What does KME do?
KME manufactures and sells custom fire apparatus, including pumpers, aerial ladders, platforms, rescues, tankers, and wildland vehicles, built on proprietary chassis configurations (Commercial, Panther, Predator, SSX) for municipal fire departments, federal agencies, and wildland/urban interface markets. The company offers both fully customized units with extended lead times and a K-180 Rapid Delivery modular program for faster delivery, including the Vector Electric all-electric pumper.
Is KME a public or private company?
KME is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was KME founded?
KME was founded in 1946. It employs 501 to 1,000 people.
Where is KME based?
KME is headquartered in Nesquehoning, United States, in the North America region.
How does KME make money?
One revenue line is on record: fire Apparatus Sales.
Who are KME's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are REV Group and Oshkosh Corporation. Toyne Fire Apparatus is listed as an emerging player. Direct peers are Pierce Manufacturing, E-ONE, Marion Body Works, Ferrara Fire Apparatus, Sutphen Corporation, Rosenbauer America and Spartan Emergency Response.
Does KME have an API?
No public API is recorded for KME.
What industry is KME in?
KME's product category is Fire Apparatus Manufacturing. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPABAHAB, Fire Sprinkler & Standpipe Systems (Design/Install/Service/Testing), with a secondary code of BPAIAGAB, Fire & Rescue Services (Fire Suppression, Rescue). Its NAICS code is 922160 and its SIC code is 3531.