U.S Small Business Administration Honors Red Dot With Award of Excellence

SEATTLE (July 13, 2005) -- Red Dot Corp. has been presented with the Award of Excellence from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) for its responsiveness in designing and manufacturing air-conditioning units for High Mobility Multi-purpose Wheeled Vehicles (HMMWVs) in military service.

The SBA said the award recognizes the "outstanding contribution to the nation by a small business in satisfying the needs of the federal procurement system."

In March 2004, Red Dot was awarded its first U.S. Dept. of Defense contract: an order to supply 9,740 air conditioning units for HMMWVs fitted with armor kits. The company delivered the first production units for field installation three weeks later.

The success of the product and the company's ability to design and deliver it quickly has led to additional DOD contracts for complete units, parts, services, and technical support, as well as new supplier agreements with military vehicle manufacturers.

"Only a handful of small businesses nationwide were selected to receive this prestigious award," said Robert Pacconine, Area VI Director of the administration's Office of Government Contracting. Red Dot "is truly one of the best of the best," he noted.

Red Dot president Randy Gardiner said he is proud of the company's response to the urgent need to keep soldiers safe and comfortable. In Iraq, the temperature inside HMMWVs with field-fitted armor can exceed 130 degrees F. Red Dot air conditioners are capable of lowering the temperature inside the cab by as much as 40 degrees F.

"Our initial HMMWV contract led to the full-time employment of 51 people at our facility in Seattle and helped us establish a new line of business while meeting the increasing demands of our core original equipment and aftermarket customers," said Gardiner. "We're excited about our prospects as a supplier to the federal government."

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 has 430 employees at three locations in the United States and Europe. Visit Red Dot at http://www.rdac.com/ .

Contacts:
Red Dot Corp. - 206-574-6567
The Siefkes Group - 425-392-2611