Since opening its doors 40 years ago, Osage Ambulances has been committed to producing the best value ambulances for customers. Based in Linn, MO, the company is a full-service custom ambulance manufacturer, offering Type I, II and III ambulances on-site, as well as remount and repair services.
Kenny Fick, plant manager, said the privately held business is dedicated to putting quality, employees and customers first.
“It has always been our goal to create high-quality custom ambulances for communities across America,” said Fick.
Osage Ambulances
Linn, MO
573-897-3634
www.osageambulances.com
Facebook: @OsageAmbulances
Instagram: @osageambulances
Twitter: @osageambulances
LinkedIn: @osage-ambulances
YouTube: @osageambulances
Company At A Glance...
Type: Ambulance Manufacturer
Facility Employees: 125
In Business Since: 1983
Number of Locations: One
Production Space: 110,000 square feet
Established in 1983, the business started as a van conversion manufacturer that sold to dealerships in the central U.S. In 1985, it was asked to build an ambulance for the city of St. Louis, MO. The business built vans and ambulances for the next 16 years, until management decided to only focus on ambulances. Since then, it has worked with a network of dealers nationwide to help customers place orders.
Fick attributes the company’s success to its focus on employees.
“A lot of the other companies in our industry are looking at the bottom line more than anything,” he said.
Osage Ambulances takes a different approach and concentrates on keeping employees happy. As a result, the average tenure is about 20 years.
“From services and sales to design and detailing, the team has one common goal: 100% customer satisfaction,” Fick said.
When the company started, Fick said it was purchasing aluminum bodies from a company that was also painting them. In 2002, Osage Ambulances moved the painting operation in-house.
“We were spraying in a couple of manufactured booths that were plywood and lined with sheet metal,” he recalled. “It was pretty primitive at the time and they didn’t have much airflow.”
He realized they needed a spray booth that was bigger and better with good airflow. After researching some options, Fick learned about KAYCO Spray Booths and found the product line offered a variety of spray booth configurations at an affordable price. Soon after, Osage Ambulances made its first purchase.
“Probably the biggest asset with KAYCO is that they built the booth custom for us,” said Fick. “They met all of our needs and requirements.”
Since then, Osage Ambulances has purchased four additional booths through its dealer, Auto Body Color, in Saint Joseph, MO. The booths are 18 ft. wide, 32 ft. long and 15 ft. tall.
Over the years, Fick said his staff has found the booths reliable and easy to use.
Abby Andrews