Puyallup, Wash. — Red Dot Corporation, an international leader in heavy-duty mobile heating and air conditioning, recently welcomed Mike Bruneau as its new chief operating officer (COO).
In his role, Bruneau aims to capitalize on market opportunities in the coming decade by building on Red Dot’s global reach. Bruneau is also supporting Red Dot’s innovative work in new technologies, including electrification of HVAC systems. “We are thrilled to have Mike join our Red Dot executive leadership team,” said John Kaestle, Red Dot’s chief executive officer. “We could not have asked for a more driven, collaborative and decisive leader to ramp up our operations, help to usher in the next era of Red Dot and ensure that all customer needs are met.” Bruneau joins Red Dot after serving as vice president and general manager for Norfolk Ship Repair under BAE Systems – a multinational aerospace and defense company. In that role, Bruneau oversaw operations, quality, customer satisfaction and all elements of operational excellence across the site. “I’m honored to be part of a world-class company like Red Dot,” Bruneau said. “I look forward to leveraging the capabilities of our dedicated workforce to help bring the next chapter in Red Dot’s story and bring innovative solutions to the hands of our customers.” Bruneau is married with two adult children and in his free time he enjoys skiing, surfing, mountain biking and staying active outdoors. As a United States Navy veteran, he is also very involved with the Navy Reserve, helping to transition veterans through programs like the Honor Foundation and Team Red, White and Blue. Bruneau received his Bachelor of Science in Mathematics at the United States Naval Academy before eventually earning a Master of Business Administration from the Thunderbird School of Global Management in Arizona. For more information on Red Dot’s engineering capabilities, please visit www.reddotcorp.com. About Red Dot Red Dot Corporation produces premium mobile HVAC units and components for heavy-duty commercial and military vehicles. Vertically integrating world-class engineering, rigorous testing, and operations with a global reach under one roof, Red Dot partners directly with customers from design through delivery to craft responsive climate control solutions that endure. With facilities in North America, Europe and Asia, Red Dot ships to hundreds of aftermarket distributors and OE customers around the globe, spanning the construction, agriculture, defense and trucking industries. Red Dot was founded in 1965 and is proud to be owned entirely by its employees. More at www.reddotcorp.com. The mobile HVAC leader’s move into a new global headquarters will enhance customer-focused operations, workforce recruitment and support and operations in the Greater Seattle area
Puyallup, Wash. – This week, Red Dot Corporation, the leader in mobile HVAC systems and parts, has officially launched full-scale operations in its new headquarters located in Puyallup, Wash. The relocation from Tukwila, Wash., is part of Red Dot’s strategy to expand its labor force and improve manufacturing and operations in the Western U.S., enhancing its ability to serve OE and aftermarket customers throughout the Midwest and West Coast. The maker of innovative heating and air conditioning systems for heavy-duty trucks and off-road vehicles has already relocated more than 300 team members, and plans to add new jobs in engineering, manufacturing and operations. “We purposely chose Puyallup as our new base of operations due to the larger local labor market and its proximity to the Port of Tacoma, where we send and receive all long-distance shipments,” said Red Dot CEO John Kaestle. “Our existing Seattle-area team has been integral in crossing the finish line for our big headquarters move over the last year, and now we are focusing our efforts on recruitment.” As an Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) company, Red Dot Corporation is entirely owned by its employees, offers competitive pay, a generous medical plan and more. Red Dot prides itself in creating a culture that entices long-term employee retention and is a proud employer of multiple generations of family members. “Red Dot being an ESOP was a big drawing factor to why I joined the executive team,” said Red Dot COO Mike Bruneau. “The collaborative environment that accompanies employee ownership empowers everyone to contribute to business priorities, and to participate in financial benefits when we exceed goals. It really makes Red Dot a special place for team members.” In addition to rebalancing production and expanding manufacturing capacity overall, the company will dedicate its resources to support fulfillment to aftermarket partners. Red Dot’s network of 200 distributors provide aftermarket parts and service to heavy-equipment fleets throughout North America. For more information on Red Dot’s engineering capabilities and employment opportunities, please visit www.reddotcorp.com. About Red Dot Red Dot Corporation produces premium mobile HVAC units and components for heavy-duty commercial and military vehicles. Vertically integrating world-class engineering, rigorous testing, and operations with a global reach under one roof, Red Dot partners directly with customers from design through With the increasing demand for electrification, aftermarket sellers and OEMs are seeing a much bigger need for innovation in battery thermal management (BTM) than ever before. Over the last five years, electrification and battery electric vehicles (BEVs) have become increasingly popular. While consumer and commercial vehicle producers are demonstrating that the future is electrification, we can only progress as quickly as technology allows.
As the market slowly shifts toward alternative drive technology for on- and off-highway equipment, there is an increasingly sophisticated demand for power conservation and BTM. This is why Red Dot has designed the E-18000, their own proprietary BTM system which comes equipped with a heat pump to support efficiency in the BEV’s thermal system. “The efficiency of a battery electric vehicle’s thermal system is critical when dealing with electrification. Most BEVs lose up to 40% of their travel distance capacity when dealing with cold weather because of the electricity draw that accompanies operator cab heating,” said vice president of engineering at Red Dot, Matt Jun. “That’s why we took a new approach to the BTM systems you see on the aftermarket. We introduced a heat pump to our BTM system which offers an A/C solution for electric vehicles that require battery cooling.” Red Dot’s E-18000 is currently in development and offers a dual-loop heat pump for a full-vehicle thermal solution. From cabs and batteries to motors and electronics, the E-18000 offers a solution to battery thermal management with the future of electrification and the comfort of the cab operator in mind. To meet these evolving needs, Red Dot works closely with OEMs to develop individualized systems and HVAC solutions that work symbiotically with the components of the vehicle. The most important aspect when working with OEs is to integrate with them early in the process in order to ensure the most cost-effective solutions. “We love the challenge of working with our customers and partners on this systemic evolution toward electrification and ensuring that those electric vehicles are fully capable of battery thermal management,” said Jun. “We took the robust knowledge that we have on heat pumps and paired it with our ‘built to survive’ philosophy to create the BTM system as a single-box solution.” The E-18000 can also be used in an internal combustion system that is being repurposed into an electric system. This means that the BTM system works perfectly in tandem with an electric compressor such as Red Dot’s R-9926. With extensive experience in battery thermal management, electronic component management, electrification of HVAC systems and more, Red Dot has the capability and knowhow to create premium-quality mobile HVAC solutions for any situation. Additionally, Red Dot offers the industry’s most comprehensive catalog of mobile HVAC all-makes parts, accessories and unit kits. For information on Red Dot’s robust catalogue of electric product offerings, please reach out to the Red Dot sales team at craigalexandre@reddotcorp.com or kenmontelongo@reddotcorp.com. For nearly six decades, Red Dot has been a proud member of the business and manufacturing community in Tukwila, WA; the area has served as a strong and supportive incubator for our headquarters as our operations have expanded nationally and internationally across the Southeast U.S., the United Kingdom, and China.
Recently, we’ve made the decision to move Red Dot’s headquarters about 25 miles south to Puyallup, WA – benefiting our customers, team members and surrounding community. First, our new location and facility will enable us to streamline our manufacturing and distribution processes, better delivering for the heavy-duty equipment manufacturers and aftermarket customers we serve. This move will position us just minutes away from the Port of Tacoma, allowing us to cut down on material transit times. Plus, because the new facility will house all of our manufacturing and distribution activities in a single building, we are re-envisioning the layout of our manufacturing and supply chain processes, supporting LEAN principles and optimizing material flow through the facility. Shifting our headquarters just 40 minutes south also will allow us to offer our team members a wonderful community to work in and an affordable place to live. Red Dot is an employee-owned ESOP corporation; our team members are essential to our success, and every individual is a valued member of our professional family. As we prepare for our new Puyallup operations to open in early 2023, we’re inviting all current team members to join us. For some individuals, the move will make their existing commute even easier. We are also actively recruiting new team members to join the Red Dot family. In addition to the opportunity to build equity in our company and develop lifetime careers in manufacturing, supply chain, engineering and other operational roles. We offer excellent benefits that exceed industry standards. To learn more about our open positions and the perks of working at Red Dot, visit Red Dot Careers. Finally, the relocation will enable us to become part of the fabric of the Puyallup area. We look forward to joining this vibrant community as a strong and progressive employer, and leading manufacturer of premium mobile HVAC systems worldwide. The future of HVAC systems is here – and that future is electrification. Over the last decade, mobile HVAC has transitioned from a nice-to-have operator comfort feature into a whole-vehicle system that is critical to the primary functions of a vehicle. Recognizing the importance of electrification, Red Dot is squarely focused on innovation in electric products and systems to support operator comfort and reduce energy consumption and overall costs in the long term.
As the market shifts toward alternative drive technology for on- and off-highway equipment, there are increasingly sophisticated demands on the technology and heating and cooling performance of HVAC systems – beyond keeping operators safe and comfortable in even the most rugged environments. “Traditionally, mobile HVAC systems have consisted of four components—a compressor, condenser, expansion valve and evaporator — as well as some hoses for integration into a piece of equipment. However, electrification is extending the system not only in terms of components but also regarding the role it plays in a machine,” said vice president of engineering at Red Dot, Matt Jun. “In addition to providing heating and cooling to keep operators comfortable, these systems are now being tasked with heating and cooling vehicle batteries and motors, chargers and other electronics.” To meet these evolving needs, Red Dot works closely with OEMs to develop individualized systems and HVAC solutions that work symbiotically with the components of the vehicle. The most important aspect when working with OEs is to integrate with them early in the process in order to ensure the most cost-effective solutions. “We love the challenge of working with our customers and partners on this systemic evolution toward electrification,” said Jun. “Whether that involves designing a custom HVAC solution for a BEV in development or sharing underlying technical knowledge and understanding of what is still a new frontier for many professionals.” Since electric vehicles are relatively new to the public, Red Dot also creates off-the-shelf HVAC solutions that work symbiotically with BEV components. Recently, the company launched the R-9926 DC Electric Compressor and Condenser, which is capable of converting a preexisting HVAC system into an electric system while offering a comfortable A/C solution for the most rugged environments. The R-9926 has a dedicated space for batteries, giving operators more run time while the main engine is off while maintaining more capacity than other engine-off solutions on the market. Not only this, but the R-9926 offers maintenance-free operation through years of rough use, driven by a heavy-duty brushless motor that runs with ease at a fixed speed. With extensive experience in battery thermal management, electronic component management, electrification of HVAC systems and more, Red Dot has the capability and knowhow to create premium-quality mobile HVAC solutions for any situation. Additionally, Red Dot offers the industry’s most comprehensive catalog of mobile HVAC all-makes parts, accessories and unit kits. For information on Red Dot’s robust catalogue of electric product offerings, please reach out to the Red Dot sales team at craigalexandre@reddotcorp.com or kenmontelongo@reddotcorp.com. The mobile HVAC leader’s purchase of a new Manufacturing and Distribution Center will increase its employee base in the Memphis area
Memphis, Tenn. – Today, Red Dot Corporation, the leader in mobile HVAC systems and parts, announced it is purchasing a Manufacturing and Distribution Center with 25 acres and nearly 300,000 square feet in Memphis, Tenn. The acquisition is part of Red Dot’s strategy to expand its manufacturing and operations in the Southeastern US, enhancing its ability to serve OE and aftermarket customers throughout the Midwest and East Coast. The Seattle-based maker of innovative heating and air conditioning systems for heavy-duty trucks and off-road vehicles plans to relocate current team members in Memphis, and significantly add new jobs in engineering, manufacturing and operations. “Our existing Memphis team has been amazing over the last 18 months,” said Red Dot CEO John Kaestle. “We have had an extreme increase in demand, and our team has been integral in fulfilling customer orders. This new location will allow us to build on the talented team already in place, while dedicating resources to our aftermarket distribution.” In addition to rebalancing production and expanding manufacturing capacity overall, the company will establish a dedicated facility to support fulfillment to aftermarket partners. Red Dot’s network of 200 distributors provide aftermarket parts and service to heavy-equipment fleets throughout North America. Following renovations, Red Dot plans to relocate its existing workforce and ramp up to full operations at its new facilities, located in the President’s Island Area of Memphis, in 2022. About Red Dot Red Dot Corporation produces premium mobile HVAC units and components for heavy-duty commercial and military vehicles. Vertically integrating world-class engineering, rigorous testing, and operations with a global reach under one roof, Red Dot partners directly with customers from design through delivery to craft responsive climate control solutions that endure. With facilities in North America, Europe and Asia, Red Dot ships to hundreds of aftermarket distributors and OE customers around the globe, spanning the construction, agriculture, defense and trucking industries. Red Dot was founded in 1965 and is proud to be owned entirely by its employees. More at www.reddotcorp.com. The mobile HVAC leader once again passed both ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 recertification audits Seattle, Wash. – Red Dot Corporation recently completed its International Organization for Standardization (ISO) 9001 and ISO 14001 recertification audits, receiving top marks at its U.S. locations. The audit was completed successfully and resulted with zero findings of non-conformance – an outcome that reflects Red Dot’s commitment to excellence at every level of production and distribution.
ISO certification is an evaluation of a company’s success in meeting optional international standards on innovation and providing solutions to global challenges, including worker and consumer safety, climate change and product quality. Red Dot’s Seattle headquarters has chosen to meet ISO 9001 standards for 27 years since 1994, with Red Dot’s other locations following suit in 1996. In addition to ISO 19001, Red Dot’s facilities in Memphis, Tennessee and the United Kingdom have achieved ISO 14001 environmental compliance for the last 20 years. Red Dot was given exceptional marks for standardization throughout its manufacturing plants in Seattle and Memphis. Since Red Dot’s last audit in 2020, the corporation has taken strides to improve organization and standardization throughout all of its facilities including an investment in an electronic quality management system (QMS), an overhaul of the production part approval process (PPAP) and a rework of the plants’ staging areas for sublevel components. “The results of these audits are great news and truly a testament to the dedication of the entire Red Dot family,” said Colin Downey, director of quality at Red Dot. “Our auditor does approximately 50 audits per year and put us at the top of the list for utilizing Lean principles and continuously improving our organization.” All Red Dot facilities are compliant with ISO 9001 for quality management systems (QMS). Red Dot’s Seattle and Memphis facilities share a joint ISO certification that ensures products and services meet the industry’s highest standards. In addition to meeting Standard 9001, Red Dot’s facilities in Memphis and in the United Kingdom uphold standalone ISO certifications for the 14001 environmental management systems (EMS) standard, as well. About Red Dot Red Dot Corporation produces premium mobile HVAC units and components for heavy-duty commercial and military vehicles. Vertically integrating world-class engineering, rigorous testing, and operations with a global reach under one roof, Red Dot partners directly with customers from design through delivery to craft responsive climate control solutions that endure. With facilities in North America, Europe and Asia, Red Dot ships to hundreds of aftermarket distributors and OE customers around the globe, spanning the construction, agriculture, defense and trucking industries. Red Dot was founded in 1965 and is proud to be owned entirely by its employees. More at www.reddotcorp.com. MEDIA CONTACT Julia Hatle julia@firmani.com 206-443-9357 Partnership signifies growing demand within Indian and South Asian heavy-duty mobile HVAC market Seattle, Washington and Ipswich, England – Red Dot has announced the next phase in its longstanding partnership with Millennium Aero Dynamics, a leading distributor of heavy-duty equipment to India’s aviation, mining and marine industries. While Millennium Aero Dynamics has been a valuable global distribution partner to Red Dot for more than 30 years, the company will now also manufacture Red Dot products for distribution throughout India and South Asia.
The new manufacturing venture, Millennium Red Dot Private Limited, positions Red Dot to expand its global footprint by dramatically increasing the accessibility of high-quality HVAC products across the South Asian market. “Millennium has long served as a trusted partner in our goal to provide quality heavy-duty mobile HVAC solutions to markets beyond Europe and North America,” said Andy Elshaw, managing director of Red Dot Europe. “I’m excited for this next step in our partnership, which will enable Red Dot to reach more customers in markets across South Asia while streamlining our global supply chain.” Millennium Aero Dynamics has operated as a trustworthy service provider to the Indian aviation, mining and marine industries for more than three decades. It currently operates with over 700 team members and has successfully engaged in more than 15,000 HVAC equipment installations across India. "Red Dot has been a trusted supplier to Millennium India for almost four decades now. It is a realization of a dream to license and manufacture Red Dot’s HVAC products in India to meet the growing demand in our Indian and global markets, in which we serve and support thousands of customers," said Milan Zatakia, chairman of Millennium Red Dot Private Limited. “We are glad to have reached an agreement on what we mutually believe is a natural progression in our long-term relationship." “India has consistently shown a high demand for our heavy-duty HVAC products and our continued partnership with Millennium has been the biggest factor towards our success in this market,” Elshaw continued. “Amplifying our partnership by including manufacturing is a welcome next step, offering clear benefits to both organizations – and to the customers and distributors we serve.” Red Dot’s range of industrial mobile HVAC units for transport and heavy machinery is unparalleled in the market. With heating and cooling solutions developed for trucking, agriculture, industrial and construction applications, all Red Dot units and parts are built to last in any demanding environment. Not only does Red Dot design and manufacture complete HVAC units and kits for rooftops, trailers and cabins, it is also a full-line distributor of condensers, compressors, filters, thermostats, switches, fans and many other replacement parts for OE units. For more information about Red Dot mobile HVAC solutions visit www.reddotcorp.com. Learn more about Millennium Aero Dynamics at www.millennium.in. About Red Dot Red Dot Corporation produces premium mobile HVAC units and components for heavy-duty commercial and military vehicles. Vertically integrating world-class engineering, rigorous testing, and operations with a global reach under one roof, Red Dot partners directly with customers from design through delivery to craft responsive climate control solutions that endure. With facilities in North America, Europe and Asia, Red Dot ships to hundreds of aftermarket distributors and OE customers around the globe, spanning the construction, agriculture, defense and trucking industries. Red Dot was founded in 1965 and is proud to be owned entirely by its employees. More at www.reddotcorp.com. MEDIA CONTACT Julia Hatle julia@firmani.com 206-443-9357 Seattle — Red Dot Corporation, an international leader in heavy-duty mobile heating and air conditioning, recently welcomed Jamie Weddle as its new aftermarket product manager.
Weddle is the first in the new role of aftermarket product manager, which was created to support Red Dot’s aftermarket sales and operations. In his position, Weddle will be responsible for optimizing Red Dot’s aftermarket product portfolio by identifying heavy-duty aftermarket sales trends, analyzing market conditions and competitive offerings, establishing and monitoring component stocking levels, and developing and executing digital strategy. “We are excited to have Jamie joining our Red Dot aftermarket team,” said Ken Montelongo, Red Dot’s director of aftermarket sales. “When seeking the perfect fit for this new position, we could not have asked for a more experienced or driven individual to help elevate our aftermarket sales while supporting our customers’ needs.” Weddle joins Red Dot after nearly a decade as parts manager for Thermo King of Roanoke, a longtime Red Dot aftermarket distributor. He brings years of experience and intimate industry knowledge to Red Dot’s aftermarket team, and an adept understanding of heavy-duty aftermarket sales from a dealer perspective. “Joining Red Dot felt like the natural next step in my career,” Weddle said. “I’m honored to be part of a world-class company, and I look forward to collaborating with the aftermarket sales team to provide high-quality and innovative solutions for our customers across Red Dot’s global distributor network.” Weddle received his certificate in automotive mechanics and technology from the NASCAR Technical Institute in Mooresville, North Carolina before beginning his career in the automotive industry. He and his wife, Becca, live in Salem, Virginia, with their dog Abbey and cat Hokie. Outside of his role at Red Dot, Jamie is an avid racing fan, history buff and certified storm spotter by the National Weather Service. In his spare time, he can be found restoring classic cars, traveling and spending time with family. For more information on Red Dot’s aftermarket products and capabilities, please visit www.reddotcorp.com. ### About Red Dot Red Dot Corporation produces premium mobile HVAC units and components for heavy-duty commercial and military vehicles. Vertically integrating world-class engineering, rigorous testing, and operations with a global reach under one roof, Red Dot partners directly with customers from design through delivery to craft responsive climate control solutions that endure. With facilities in North America, Europe and Asia, Red Dot ships to hundreds of aftermarket distributors and OE customers around the globe, spanning the construction, agriculture, defense and trucking industries. Red Dot was founded in 1965 and is proud to be owned entirely by its employees. More at www.reddotcorp.com. Media contact Julia Hatle Julia@firmani.com 206-443-9357 ![]() Seattle — Red Dot Corporation, an international leader in heavy-duty mobile heating and air conditioning, recently welcomed Matt Jun as its new vice president of engineering. In his role, Jun will oversee key engineering projects and developments, while leading his team in meeting customer requirements and maintaining high-quality production. With 28 years in residential, automotive and heavy-duty HVAC engineering, Jun has extensive experience leading teams in the design and development of HVAC systems. Jun’s diverse range of experience provides him with crucial insight into the intricacies of industry trends and functions, and evolving customer expectations. “We are thrilled to have Matt joining our Red Dot executive leadership team,” said John Kaestle, Red Dot’s chief executive officer. “We could not have asked for a more experienced, decisive or driven leader to guide our talented engineering team in creative problem-solving, driving innovation and meeting customer needs.” Jun joins Red Dot after serving in a variety of distinct roles in HVAC design and application, most recently as a program manager at Trane/Ingersoll Rand. “Joining the Red Dot executive team is a fantastic opportunity,” Jun said. “I’m honored to be part of a world-class company, and I look forward to leveraging the capabilities of the engineering team to create high-quality and innovative solutions for our customers.” Jun is married with two children and the family enjoys spending time outdoors, taking advantage of the many natural opportunities the Seattle area has to offer. Jun received his Bachelor of Science in mechanical engineering at the University of Illinois before moving on to earn a Master of Business Administration from Indiana Wesleyan University. He is also a recognized Program Management Professional. For more information on Red Dot’s engineering capabilities, please visit www.reddotcorp.com. ### About Red Dot Red Dot Corporation produces premium mobile HVAC units and components for heavy-duty commercial and military vehicles. Vertically integrating world-class engineering, rigorous testing, and operations with a global reach under one roof, Red Dot partners directly with customers from design through delivery to craft responsive climate control solutions that endure. With facilities in North America, Europe and Asia, Red Dot ships to hundreds of aftermarket distributors and OE customers around the globe, spanning the construction, agriculture, defense and trucking industries. Red Dot was founded in 1965 and is proud to be owned entirely by its employees. More at www.reddotcorp.com. Media contact Julia Irwin Julia@firmani.com 206-443-9357 |
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