Business Wire, Nov 11, 2004
RACINE, Wis. -- Modine Manufacturing Company (NYSE:MOD), a worldwide leader in heating and cooling technology, announced today it has won a second generation contract with the United States Army, Research, Development and Engineering Command, to continue to develop alternative HVAC systems that utilize transcritical carbon dioxide (CO2) technology. Modine will demonstrate its technology on an Up-Armored M1114 High Mobility Multi-Wheeled Vehicle (HMMWV), which is in active use by the military in hot climates such as Iraq and Afghanistan as well as in Environment Control Units (ECU), used to provide space heating and cooling for equipment and personnel.
These new prototype environmental control systems and components use CO2 as the refrigerant, which provides a number of advantages over the current R134a refrigerant. CO2 is a natural refrigerant that is pulled from the air and if leaked, poses no threat to the environment. It also releases no harmful hydro-fluorocarbon (HFC) gases. It is non-toxic and non-flammable and enjoys the highest safety rating established by commercial standards.
"In extreme temperatures, around 130 degrees Fahrenheit, CO2 is an excellent refrigerant. In addition to its environmental benefits, it also cools more quickly than current systems, is more fuel efficient and takes up less space in the vehicle," said Dr. Tony De Vuono, Modine Vice President and Chief Technology Officer. "CO2 also provides excellent heating for the ECU's when operating the system in heat pump mode."
United States Senator Herb Kohl of Wisconsin, who sits on the Senate Appropriations Committee, congratulated Modine for its work with the U.S. Army. "Modine has become a leader in alternative coolant systems. This second contract for Modine allows a technology leader to focus on two major industry needs: reduce the impact of refrigerant release on the environment by learning how to best apply CO2 refrigerants and improve HMMWV air conditioning performance in extremely challenging environments."
The first generation contract, awarded in September 2003 for $1.35 million, allowed Modine to develop both climate control systems and outfit the first CO2 cooled HMMWV and ECU. "This second generation contract, valued at $2.975 million, and lasting 12 months, will allow Modine to optimize the designs for both performance and manufacturing," said Sam Collier, Modine Advanced Systems Development Manager. A fleet field trial could follow this second contract, sometime late next year, added Collier.
Army experts say the system has performance, environmental and logistical advantages over existing systems for the 9,900 pound HMMWV. "Performance comes first," said John Manzione, RDECOM's Environmental Technology Team Leader and CO2 project manager. "These HMMWV's are being deployed as armored vehicles, with heavily equipped soldiers operating in extreme temperatures under very stressful conditions. A higher-performing cooling system that comes in a more compact and lightweight package offers tremendous operational advantages."
"Modine has done an excellent job of designing a first generation CO2-based cooling system that has been shown to provide quicker and deeper temperature pulldown in the most extreme battlefield conditions. We look forward to working with Modine on this next phase of development and we appreciate the continued sponsorship of the Army's Product Manager, Light Tactical Vehicles (PM-LTV)," said Manzione.
John Dolney, Acting Assistant Product Manager for Up-Armored HMMWV, PM-LTV added, "It's good to see product improvement initiatives that show promising performance benefits, while at the same time demonstrating superior environmental friendliness. Reducing basic vehicle weight will increase cargo-carrying capability and will also mean a more reliable vehicle to begin with. We look forward to Modine's second phase of development work and beyond that, the verification of production readiness for the CO2 cooling system."
Modine made history in July, when employees demonstrated the capabilities of the HMMWV operating with the prototype CO2 air conditioning system in Scottsdale, Arizona at the SAE Alternate Refrigerant Symposium. Five members of the Modine design team, along with representatives of the U.S. Army RDECOM, PM-LTV, and the Tank-Automotive & Armaments Command, offered demonstration rides in the military vehicle for automotive experts, design engineers and industry leaders. The system has also been field tested in Death Valley National Park, where it operated successfully for a three-day test under extreme conditions of up to 117 degrees Fahrenheit.
Modine has been working on CO2 HVAC technology for eight years. "With impending legislation in Europe that proposes to start phasing out R134a for automotive AC systems in 2011, Modine has successfully developed and demonstrated full systems integration capability on a number of vehicle platforms," said Steve Memory, Modine's Manager of Global HVAC Technology. "The contract with the U.S. Army has greatly helped this development work and proved that Modine's system has the durability to operate very well under extremely challenging conditions."
Modine, with fiscal 2004 revenues of $1.2 billion, employs more than 8,500 people worldwide at 35 facilities, and specializes in thermal management components, bringing heating and cooling technology to diversified markets. Modine's products are used in light, medium, and heavy-duty vehicles, HVAC equipment, industrial equipment, refrigeration systems, fuel cells and electronics. More information about Modine can be found on the Internet at www.modine.com.
Note to Editors: Photos of the HMMWV are available by contacting Lori Stafford in Modine Corporate Communications.
This news release may contain statements, including information about future financial performance, accompanied by phrases such as "believes," "estimates," "expects," "plans," "anticipates," "will," "intends," and other similar "forward-looking" statements, as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Modine's actual results, performance or achievements may differ materially from those expressed or implied in these statements, because of certain risks and uncertainties, which are identified on page 31 of the Company's 2004 Annual Report to Shareholders and other recent Company filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Specifically, this news release contains forward-looking statements regarding emerging technology and incremental business. These forward-looking statements are particularly subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, including international economic changes and challenges; market acceptance and demand for new products and technologies; the ability of Modine, its customers and suppliers to achieve projected sales and production levels; and unanticipated product or manufacturing difficulties or regulatory activity. Modine does not assume any obligation to update any of these forward-looking statements
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