Engineering the Perfect Fit: How Andre Leblond and His Team Build the Backbone of FISHER Plows [VIDEO]

For most people, a truck is just a vehicle. But for Andre Leblond, Engineering Manager at FISHER Engineering, a truck is a challenge waiting for a solution. For over 30 years, Andre has dedicated his career to the intricate world of vehicle development, specifically focusing on the critical link between the truck and the blade: the mount.

In the latest FISHER Stories, Andre takes us behind the scenes of the vehicle development process, highlighting why his team’s work is the unsung hero of the snow and ice industry.

The Missing Link in Vehicle Manufacturing

While modern trucks are more capable than ever, they aren’t born ready to move thousands of pounds of snow. “The automakers don’t necessarily make the trucks ready to take plows,” Andre explains.

That’s where the FISHER engineering team steps in. Their primary mission is to take their specialized “know-how” and integrate it seamlessly with a truck’s existing frame and electrical systems. It isn’t just about bolting on a piece of steel; it’s about a complex integration of mounts and wiring harnesses that ensure the vehicle and the plow function as a single, powerful unit.

Watch the full story of Andre Leblond and the engineering behind the mounts

A Balancing Act of Design

Developing a new mount is a multi-dimensional puzzle. Andre emphasizes that every design must satisfy a wide range of stakeholders:

• The Installer: Can the mount be put on efficiently at the dealership?
• The Manufacturing Team: Can the parts be cut and welded effectively in the FISHER factory?
• The End User: Most importantly, will it perform when the owner is out making a living in the middle of a storm?

“It’s a balancing act,” Andre says. “I love it. It’s fun to go to work and solve those problems every day.”

From Engineering School to the Driveway

Interestingly, the specific expertise required for snowplow engineering isn’t found in a textbook. While engineering school teaches the fundamentals of stress, strain, and metal deformation, it doesn’t teach what makes a FISHER snowplow, a FISHER snowplow.

Andre’s appreciation for the importance of his work predates his 30-year tenure at the company. He recalls helping his uncle attach an original Minute Mount^® snowplow to a truck long before he ever wore a FISHER badge. That memory serves as a constant reminder of the stakes. People use plows to make a living. Everything has to be right.

Preparing for the First Storm

The work of the vehicle development team is a year-round cycle. While others are enjoying the summer sun, Andre and his team are in the lab, working through the spring and fall to ensure that when the first snow finally hits, the mounts and plows are ready to go.

For Andre, seeing those first flakes isn’t just a sign of winter, it’s the culmination of months of engineering and testing. It’s the moment when the “perfect fit” his team designed finally hits the pavement to clear the way for everyone else.