U.S. Army Orders More A/C Units from Red Dot Corporation
Seattle company celebrates production milestone with contracts to produce 4,000 additional air-conditioning units for the HMMWV and 1,150 units for the M939 truck
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 as much as 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 of 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.
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Slug: "U.S. Army Orders More A/C Units from Red Dot Corp."
Contacts:
Robert Gardiner, Red Dot Corp., 206-575-3840; robertgardiner@reddotcorp.com
Stephen Petit, The Siefkes Group, 647-281-7726; sptruck@mac.com
Red Dot Corp. online: www.rdac.com
