About Us
Located in Chemung County, New York, once the fire engine capital of the United States, Ward Apparatus, LLC has a long and rich history within the area of fire rescue and specialty vehicles. Formerly Maintainer Custom Bodies (MCB), Ward Apparatus acquired the company in January of 2021 and returned fire truck manufacturing to the area after a 35-year absence.
Combining the best industry experience and manufacturing capabilities, Ward now continues the tradition of manufacturing the finest emergency vehicles available in the fire industry. Ward is part of a family of companies that have served the fire industry for more than 40 years, including Ward Diesel Filter Systems, Ward Fire Equipment, EL Manufacturing, and BOSS Security & Automation.
At Ward Apparatus, customer satisfaction is our priority. We offer custom, personalized service where you can expect shorter production times and even faster response times. We are also continuing to expand our service department to meet developing industry demands. We are equipped to build the custom emergency or fire truck you want that is specific to your needs. Our team of experienced designers and engineers will work with you to design your truck to your standards and requirements.
Our trucks feature an all-aluminum body with fully welded, square aluminum extrusion crates and an enclosed cage to reduce weight and increase durability. Our truck designs allow you to create more storage for your gear and equipment and our multiplex wiring system allows for multiple electronic messages to travel through the same datalinks wire, reducing possible failure points. All truck bodies can also be custom-built to fit Spartan, HME, and all commercial chassis.
Ward Apparatus Acquires Maintainer Custom Bodies (MCB)
MCB was founded in Iowa in 1976 and began to develop top of the line rescue and specialty emergency vehicles. In 2015, MCB officially merged with Maintainer Group of Iowa, Inc. to continue its product line expansion and dedication to manufacturing excellence.
Since acquiring MCB in January 2021, Ward Apparatus is reviving the roots of the fire engine manufacturing industry just outside of Elmira, in Horseheads, NY. Backed by a tradition of ingenuity and excellence, Ward Apparatus looks forward to continuing the tradition of innovation in fire rescue and specialty emergency vehicles.
History of Fire Truck Manufacturing
MCB started out Lyon County, Iowa, situated in the Northwest corner of Iowa, near the Minnesota and South Dakota borders.
MCB has been in continuous operation since 1976, with origins as Cayel Craft Ambulances which, for over a3 logos.png decade, manufactured industry leading Ambulances to the EMS marketplace.
Years later, with a change in ownership, Cayel Craft became Amtech Emergency Products which continued manufacturing “top of the line” Ambulances but also added custom manufactured Rescue and Specialty vehicles to its product line-up.
With changes in the market place, Amtech Emergency Products shifted its primary focus from the ambulance market to a sole vision on Rescue and Specialty Vehicles and to better accomplish this mission, changed the company name to Rescue Vehicles of Iowa (RVI).
With hundreds of Rescue Vehicles sold and delivered under the RVI badge, the owners sought retirement and sold the company and became Maintainer Custom Bodies, Inc.
