Event to Mark Three Years of Combat Operations without a Reported Fatality
CHARLOTTE, Mich., June 27 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ — Spartan Motors, Inc.
(Nasdaq: SPAR) and Force Protection, Inc. (OTC Bulletin Board: FRPT) will
display a Cougar and a Buffalo military vehicle in front of the St. Regis
Hotel in New York City on June 28 from 10 a.m. ET to 3 p.m. Both companies’
management teams will also present the same day to a group of professional
investors at a special analyst lunch event.
“Both of these vehicles are deployed today in places such as Iraq and
Afghanistan and are saving the lives of our military men and women,” said John
Sztykiel, president and CEO of Spartan Motors. “Our aim in bringing these
vehicles to New York City is to make the people aware of the new technology
our military is using to defeat the deadly threat of IEDs (Improvised
Explosive Devices).
“At the same time, it’s an opportunity for Spartan Motors and Force
Protection to inform the investment community of our technical expertise in
manufacturing these unique specialty vehicles and the impact of recent
significant orders on our business.”
The Cougar is a medium-sized, blast-protected vehicle produced in both
four- and six-wheel configurations which can be customized for multiple tasks
including urban patrol, route clearance support, troop transport, mine and
explosive ordnance disposal, command and control, reconnaissance and as a lead
convoy vehicle.
The Buffalo is an anti-mine/IED vehicle that uses a 30-foot robotic arm
and iron claw with a specialized camera and sensing equipment to allow
soldiers to examine and disarm potential threats without leaving the safety of
the armored hull. Both vehicles utilize a unique V-shaped hull designed to
deflect the force of explosions away from passengers inside the armored hull.
To date, not a single fatality has been reported in either a Cougar or Buffalo
despite over 1,000 mine detonations.
About Spartan Motors
Spartan Motors, Inc. (https://theshyftgroup.com ) designs, engineers
and manufactures custom chassis and vehicles for the recreational vehicle,
fire truck, ambulance, emergency-rescue and specialty vehicle markets. The
Company’s brand names — Spartan(TM), Crimson Fire(TM), Crimson Fire
Aerials(TM), and Road Rescue(TM) — are known in their market niches for
quality, value, service and being the first to market with innovative
products. The Company employs approximately 900 at facilities in Michigan,
Alabama, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, and South Dakota. Spartan reported
sales of $343.0 million in 2005 and is focused on becoming the premier
manufacturer of specialty vehicles and chassis in North America.
About Force Protection
Headquartered near Charleston, South Carolina, Force Protection, Inc.
(OTC Bulletin Board: FRPT) manufactures ballistic and mine protected vehicles
through its subsidiary. These specialty vehicles are designed to offer
significant protection against landmines, hostile fire and IEDs. For more
information about Force Protection, visit http://www.forceprotectioninc.com .
The statements contained in this news release include certain predictions
and projections that may be considered “forward-looking statements” under the
securities laws. These forward-looking statements are identifiable by words
or phrases indicating that the Company or management “expects,” “believes” or
is “confident” that a particular result “may” or “should” occur, that a
particular item “bodes well,” that the Company “looks forward” to a particular
result, or similar statements. These statements involve many risks and
uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially, including
but not limited to economic, competitive, governmental and technological
factors affecting the Company’s operations, markets, products, services and
prices. Accounting estimates are inherently forward-looking. Additional
information about these and other factors that may adversely affect these
forward-looking statements are contained in the Company’s reports and filings
with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The Company undertakes no
obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements to reflect
developments or information obtained after the date of this news release.
SOURCE: Spartan Motors, Inc.
CONTACT: John Sztykiel, CEO, or Jim Knapp, CFO, of Spartan Motors, Inc.,
+1-517-543-6400; Ryan McGrath, [email protected] , or Jeff Lambert
of Lambert, Edwards & Associates, Inc., +1-616-233-0500