Supplying vehicles with lifesaving equipment

Fire and Rescue unit manufacturer teams up with Polaris Government & Defense to fight fires and save lives.

Posted on 10/10/2022

In 2000, engineer and Navy veteran Kieth Olson combined his years of experience in equipment design and firefighting to establish RKO Enterprises. Headquartered in Madison, Indiana, the company has spent the last 20+ years outfitting side-by-sides and trucks with some of the most dependable fire and rescue units on the market.

Since 2009, RKO Enterprises has been partnered with Polaris Government & Defense to manufacture small utility side-by-side rescue vehicles. These RKO/Polaris units are regularly used for emergencies in both urban and off-road environments. In urban settings, the vehicles may be put to work during special events, homeland security operations, emergency incidents, or in high traffic areas. The vehicles can also be used off-road for wildland fire operations, fire watch missions, search and rescue missions, for managing controlled burns, or transporting first responders. In situations as drastic as these, time wasted by machine malfunction could be the difference between life and death. The need for high-performing equipment is why rescue and emergency squads have relied on RKO/Polaris units again and again to surpass expectations in intense circumstances, and why RKO Enterprises is dedicated to equipping their units with only the most reliable parts.

“Down to the nuts and bolts they design, Hannay is the most dependable reel on the market. Everything about it is top quality, right down to the people I deal with at the company,” said Kieth Olson, owner of RKO Enterprises.

Designed to tackle extreme terrains, the RKO/Polaris units are equipped with Manual or Power 1800 Series reels to efficiently handle 70 feet of ¾-inch booster hose. These reels are equipped with permanent direct crank rewind. The larger units built for trucks are designed with 4000 Series reels. These reels handle up to 200 feet of ¾-inch booster hose. Like the 1800 Series reels, these have a chain and sprocket drive that can be powered by either an electric, hydraulic, or compressed air motor.

Since the founding of his business, Olson has relied on the quality of Hannay reels to hold up on his fire rescue units, no matter the conditions. Describing RKO Enterprises’ dedication to creating superior products, he noted, “We don’t manufacture the most, but when we manufacture, we work hard to create the highest quality products. In doing so, we have to pick the highest quality components, and that’s why I’ve always been with Hannay Reels.”

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Categories: Customer Testimonials

Topics: Customer Testimonials