Red Dot Corp. and U.S. Marines Beat the Heat in Seattle, Bring A/C to Armored HMMWVs

SEATTLE (Jan. 12, 2005) -- U.S. Marines are always prepared for the heat of battle. Now they're also ready to keep troops cool.

Members of the 2nd Marine Division were at Red Dot Corp. in Seattle last week for training on the installation and maintenance of air-conditioning units for High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicles (HMMWVs, or "humvees") used in Iraq.

Red Dot is the primary supplier of air-conditioning units for HMMWVs fitted with field-installed armor. The rugged, add-on units deliver cool air to each individual Marine in the vehicle's cab -- critical in Iraq, where the temperature inside armor-kitted HMMWVs can exceed 130 degrees F.

Red Dot air conditioners are capable of lowering the temperature in the HMMWV cab by as many as 40 degrees F.

Nineteen Marines from the 2nd Marine Division based at Camp Lejeune, N.C., were involved in the five-day program. It included basic air-conditioning theory, system charging, and hands-on installation using two-door and four-door armored HMMWVs.

Part of their training took place inside Red Dot's climate-controlled environmental test chamber, which was set at 130 F to simulate field conditions.

"This is important work," said Chief Warrant Officer Samuel Hammonds, who supervised the group. "Air conditioning protects Marines from heat-related fatigue and helps keep them safe. Imagine driving around in the middle of summer with three layers of clothes on and the windows up, and in a place where opening a window to cool down is not a viable option."

The Red Dot air conditioners are part of the Marine Armor Kit, or MAK. Installed after the HMMWV leaves the factory, the MAK includes steel-reinforced doors, ballistic glass, flank protection kits, and gunner shield kits.

In 2004, Red Dot was awarded contracts to supply nearly 15,000 air-conditioning units for U.S. Army HMMWVs and M939 trucks with field-fitted armor, as well as armored cabs for the FMTV (Family of Medium Tactical Vehicles) made by Stewart & Stevenson in Sealy, Texas. The company's core business is providing heating, ventilation, and air conditioning units for commercial trucks, buses, and vehicles used in construction, agriculture, and mining, among other applications.

For most of the Marines, Red Dot provided their first exposure to air-conditioning system maintenance.

"We have two Marines whose occupational specialty is air conditioning," Chief Warrant Officer Hammonds said. "Everyone else in the group is a mechanic."

He added that because this was a "train the trainer" program, the Marines will teach others how to install and troubleshoot the Red Dot air conditioners.

"The training we received from Red Dot was top-notch," Chief Warrant Officer Hammonds said. "When part of your job is to teach others what you've learned, you need clear and comprehensive instruction."

This is the third group of Marines that Red Dot has trained and hosted. Their trip to Seattle included a tour of the city and tickets to the NFL playoff game between the Seattle Seahawks and St. Louis Rams.

"Most of our products are used to cool or heat trucks, buses, agricultural equipment, off-highway vehicles, and fire and rescue equipment," said Randy Gardiner, president of Red Dot. "When the Marines are here, we all feed off their professionalism, dedication, and disciplined approach. All of us are incredibly proud of the work they do."

PHOTO AND CAPTION

Caption subject: Chief Warrant Officer Samuel Hammonds of the 2nd Marine Division, 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit, Camp Lejeune, N.C.

SEATTLE (Jan. 12, 2005) -- Chief Warrant Officer Samuel Hammonds of the 2nd Marine Division, 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit, based in Camp Lejeune, N.C., stands in front of an armored HMMWV with a Red Dot air conditioner. Chief Warrant Officer Hammonds led a group of 19 Marines who were at Red Dot's headquarters in Seattle from Jan. 2 through Jan. 8 for training on the installation and maintenance of air conditioners for armored HMMWVs. Red Dot is the primary supplier of add-on air conditioning units for HMMWVs used by the U.S. Army and U.S. Marine Corps in Iraq. (RED DOT CORP. PHOTO)

High-resolution image available.
Contact: , The Siefkes Group, 425-392-2611

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.

Contacts:

Robert Gardiner, Red Dot Corp. - 206-574-6567

The Siefkes Group - 425-392-2611