Red Dot News: U.S. Army Orders More Air Conditioning Units for HMMWVs

SEATTLE, Wash. (Oct. 27, 2004) -- Red Dot Corp. has been awarded a 
contract to supply additional air-conditioning units for the U.S. 
Army's High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicles (HMMWVs, or 
"humvees") being used by troops in Iraq.

The order, from the U.S. Army Tank-automotive and Armaments Command 
(TACOM) in Warren, Mich., calls for Red Dot to produce 4,000 
air-conditioning units for HMMWVs fitted with field-installed armor. 
The rugged units deliver cool air to each individual soldier seated 
inside the vehicle's cab.

It is the second supply agreement between Red Dot and TACOM this month. 
On Oct. 4, Red Dot agreed to provide 1,150 air-conditioning units for 
armored 5-ton M939 trucks starting in December.

In Iraq, the temperature inside armor-kitted HMMWVs can reach 150 
degrees F. TACOM said air conditioning is urgently needed to prevent 
soldiers from suffering heat-related fatigue or from being hurt or 
killed by grenades, small arms fire, and shrapnel entering through open 
windows. Red Dot air conditioners are capable of lowering the 
temperature inside the HMMWV cab by up to 40 degrees F.

Red Dot said the new contracts will provide continuity for 51 assembly 
workers dedicated to the U.S. Army's initial order of 9,740 units, 
scheduled for completion in November. The air conditioners for the 
HMMWV and M939 are made almost entirely with common components to help 
reduce the cost of replacement parts and simplify installation and 
service. The unit takes two soldiers four hours to install.

"These contracts are a fitting way to celebrate a major production 
milestone for Red Dot and for TACOM," said Randy Gardiner, president of 
Red Dot. "The initial HMMWV order was our first U.S. Dept. of Defense 
contract, and we showed how responsive, innovative, and spirited we can 
be, going from design to full production in 60 days. A functioning 
system for the M939 went from concept to installation in two weeks. 
There's no greater motivation than the safety and comfort for our 
troops."

Because Red Dot is a vertically integrated manufacturer, the company 
can design, build, test, and assemble components quickly and 
cost-effectively, Gardiner said. Prototype units were based on an 
aftermarket air-conditioner Red Dot builds for construction and mining 
vehicles.

"Our ability to design and deliver this product quickly has led to 
additional Dept. of Defense contracts for parts, services, and 
technical support, as well as supplier agreements with military vehicle 
manufacturers Stewart & Stevenson and Oshkosh," Gardiner said. "That 
we've been able to accomplish this while meeting the increasing demands 
of our core commercial customers is a testament to our production team 
and the Lean Manufacturing techniques we use."

ABOUT RED DOT:

Red Dot is a worldwide leader in the design and production of heating, 
ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems and replacement parts 
for commercial trucks, buses, and vehicles used in construction, 
mining, agriculture, fire and rescue, and military service. The company 
was founded in Seattle, Wash., in 1965 and now has 430 employees at 
three locations in the United States and Europe. Visit Red Dot at 
www.rdac.com.

ABOUT THE HMMWV:

The HMMWV (better known as the "humvee") is a diesel-powered, 
four-wheel-drive vehicle for carrying troops. There are 11 
configurations for the HMMWV, plus multiple engine kits and different 
generations of the vehicle in use. The Red Dot air-conditioner's 
evaporator cooler fan console is mounted to the exterior of the 
vehicle, behind the passenger compartment. Ducting brings air to each 
seat position inside the vehicle, "spot cooling" the driver and 
passengers.

ABOUT THE M939:

The M939 5-ton truck is the workhorse of the U.S. Army's transport 
fleet. The Red Dot air-conditioning unit's evaporator console sits 
protected beneath a gunner's platform.