OSHKOSH, WI – Oshkosh Truck Corporation recently welcomed Chinese Ambassador Zhou Wenzhong and Wisconsin Governor Jim Doyle to its offices in Wisconsin. The visit comes on the heels of the announcement that Oshkosh Truck was awarded a bid for six Striker aircraft rescue and fire fighting (ARFF) vehicles for the Beijing Capital International Airport.

His Excellency Ambassador Zhou was picked up from the airport in an ARFF and then driven to Pierce Manufacturing in Appleton, Wis., where he toured the facility and met with Oshkosh Truck officials. Ambassador Zhou and Governor Doyle then participated in a press conference with Chairman, CEO and President of Oshkosh Truck Corporation, Robert Bohn.

The visit was in anticipation of a trade mission that Gov. Doyle will lead to Japan and China this month. Oshkosh Truck will sponsor a reception during that mission with Gov. Doyle, U.S. Ambassador Clark Randt and other Beijing dignitaries. Oshkosh Truck established an office in Beijing in 2006.

The recent announcement of the six Striker ARFF vehicles bid award includes two Striker 1500s and four Striker 3000s — for the Beijing Capital International Airport. All Oshkosh Truck Corporation ARFFs will be designed and manufactured in Wisconsin.

The Beijing Capital International Airport is purchasing the trucks to prepare for the 2008 Summer Olympics to be held next August. The airport is the busiest airport in the People’s Republic of China, the second-busiest airport in all of Asia, and the ninth-busiest in the world.

To date, Oshkosh has delivered 59 ARFF units in China, with recent contracts for Shanghai Pudong Airport, Hangzhou Airport, Quzhou Airport, and Ningbo Airport. In addition, JLG, an Oshkosh Truck Corporation company that manufactures access equipment, has been active in China. The company recently signed an agreement with Westrac, an authorized Caterpillar dealership, to provide local sales and service in China. In addition, JLG Asia Pacific has offices in both Hong Kong and Beijing.