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COAST Offers Powerful Features for the Motor Homes and Tour Coachs

28 April 1999

COAST Offers Powerful Features for the Motor Home and Tour Coach Industries

    SAN DIEGO--April 28, 1999--AimRite Holdings Corp. is pleased to announce that it has achieved a breakthrough in the COAST technology relating to the motor home and tour coach industries. The new feature has been named and trademarked Motion Lock Technology(tm).
    The standard COAST suspension control system consists of sophisticated computer controlled hydraulic suspension units that optimally control all the dynamic characteristics of a vehicle suspension such as roll, pitch, sprung and unsprung frequencies, etc. By controlling the above suspension dynamics, COAST optimizes ride, comfort and safety for all vehicles. COAST can also control the air springs and provide several powerful features if a vehicle incorporates an air spring suspension system. Conventional air spring control methods use mechanical leveling valves to maintain the chassis at a given ride height (for towing, variable loads, etc.). If overnight park leveling is desired, additional heavy & expensive hydraulic systems are required. Even when air spring based park leveling systems are used, there is no means to keep the chassis from moving on the springs when people are moving around in the vehicle. The COAST hydraulic actuators, however, can lock the chassis and prevent it from moving on the springs by using its new exclusive Motion Lock Technology(tm). This ideal integration of the air spring control and hydraulic control makes COAST the ideal control system for motor homes and tour coaches.
    A prototype COAST suspension control system (which included air spring control) was evaluated by a major bus manufacturer on one of its air spring equipped tour coaches. The system was also demonstrated to the world's largest motor home chassis manufacturer. Industry comments included the following: "Time constraints of the present program allowed us to do little more than scratch the surface of the capabilities provided by your (COAST) system. However, we have seen enough to conclude that your system has great potential to improve ride characteristics of our vehicle." -- Project Engineer. "(We tested COAST) between Albuquerque, New Mexico and Las Vegas, Nevada via Laughlin, Nevada ... (on a) two lane, narrow, winding road. It is my opinion that this system can be set or tuned to give our coach superior handling over that of any other coach made in North America." -- Senior Ride Engineer

Major air suspension features that COAST offers include the following:

    NORMAL HIGHWAY MODE -- Normal highway mode performs the function of standard leveling valves. The COAST computer (via a simple air control manifold) maintains the vehicle's correct ride height under all loading conditions.

    PARK LEVELING MODE -- This exclusive park leveling capability, with exclusive Motion Lock Technology(tm), is a major breakthrough and certainly one of the most exciting features that COAST offers for the motor home industry. There are several major advantages to leveling with the air springs. One is that hydraulic rams can only raise the chassis to achieve level. The COAST computer, on the other hand, adjusts the vehicle from side to side and up and down, thus providing lower passenger entry and exit heights. Another advantage of the COAST system is its cost and weight savings, because other systems with hydraulic rams and associated hydraulic pumps and reservoir systems are expensive, heavy and require maintenance. Yet another advantage is that leveling on the tires eliminates problems associated with the rams, such as leveling on soft or muddy ground and driving off while forgetting to raise them. Finally, COAST provides virtually no chassis twisting during leveling.

    CROSS-WIND CONTROL -- This feature is one of two instances where the COAST ride control subsystem works in concert directly with the COAST air suspension control subsystem. During cross-wind conditions, the COAST suspension control system can lower the vehicle and significantly increase the side-to-side (roll) damping forces. This powerful feature helps stabilize the vehicle in these difficult driving conditions.

    LOT ENTRY MODE -- Another of the programmable features that comes in handy is a lot entry mode. All of the new diesel pusher motor homes have a considerable amount of rear overhang behind the drive wheels. If a customer has a steep driveway or encounters entry and exit driveways with large height differences, the rear can drag or even hang on the pavement. The COAST computer can raise the rear of the vehicle several inches at lower speeds to insure that adequate clearance is provided to easily enter or exit steep driveways.

    KNEEL MODE -- Finally, an optional kneel mode can lower the front of the vehicle for easy passenger access.

AIMRITE HAS A WEBSITE THAT CAN BE VISITED AT WWW.AIMRITE.COM.

    This release is intended as a forward-looking statement within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The risks and uncertainties that may affect the operations, performance development and results of the Company's business include but are not limited to (i) The ability to produce the COAST Suspension Technology in the future, (ii) Unexpected changes in the suspension market, (iii) The success of the Company's expansion and marketing strategies (iv) Competition with conventional suspension systems (v) The ability of the Company to motivate and retain the services of its key personnel and hire additional qualified personnel to meet evolving staffing needs and (vi) unexpected challenges to the patents.