Oshkosh will modernise military Extendable Boom Forklifts

Oshkosh Defense has started work on a USD54 million contract from the US Marine Corps Command to modernise the fleet of Extendable Boom Forklifts (EBFL).

The company expects deliveries to begin in 2016.

Oshkosh was awarded the EBFL contract in September 2014. Since that time, Oshkosh has successfully completed all required government development testing and evaluation and readiness reviews required to move the program into production.

In addition to installing enhancements to the EBFL systems under this contract, Oshkosh will provide armoured cabs, initial fielding spare parts kits and training classes for Marines focusing on the modernised changes to the EBFL.

"The Oshkosh modernised EBFL delivers the protection, loading functionality and sustainment that the Marine Corps needs to optimise their expeditionary forklift fleet," says John Bryant, senior vice president of defence programs at Oshkosh.

As the original equipment manufacturer of the EBFL, Oshkosh is qualified to provide several design augmentations without sacrificing the cost or useful life of the vehicle.

The EBFL Modernisation contract awarded in September 2014 to Oshkosh is worth a maximum USD99 million. All work will be performed in Oshkosh, Wisconsin and is expected to be completed by September 2019.