EMP Awarded Contracts for "miniHybrid" Thermal System Retrofits on Municipal Bus Fleets in Portland, Atlanta and Boston

Escanaba, MI (PRWEB) October 20, 2008 -- Engineered Machined Products, Inc. (EMP) has announced it has received production orders for its advanced "miniHybrid" thermal system from three (3) municipal transit authorities, TriMet (Tri-County Metropolitan Transportation District of Oregon) in Portland, Oregon, MARTA (Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority) in Atlanta, Georgia, and the MBTA (Massachusetts Bay Transit Authority) in Boston, Massachusetts.

TriMet - Portland formally adopted a resolution authorizing a contract with EMP for purchase of thermal management systems for retrofit on TriMet fixed-route buses. Initially, retrofit of twenty-one (21) fixed-route buses with EMP's miniHybrid thermal systems is budgeted in TriMet's FY2008-2009 capital budget, based on payback of the retrofit cost in three years, reflecting at least 10,000 gallons of fuel saved annually, and annual savings in bus maintenance costs. In addition, TriMet approved procurement of forty (40) replacement buses, for delivery by spring 2009, with EMP miniHybrid thermal systems installed as original equipment.

MARTA - Atlanta formally notified EMP this week of their acceptance of a production order for procurement of two-hundred (200) miniHybrid thermal systems to be retrofitted on New Flyer and Orion Transit Buses.

MBTA - Boston has notified EMP this week that they will retrofit one-hundred twenty three (123) municipal transit buses. All (123) buses will be retrofit to include the EMP miniHybrid thermal system. The retrofit program will commence the first quarter of 2009.

According to Brian Larche, President & CEO of Engineered Machined Products, "Our advanced products group has been working very closely with municipal transit properties across North America. These recent production orders from established transit properties in Portland, Atlanta and Boston are critical to our company's diversification initiatives in response to the challenges of the domestic diesel industry."

EMP developed the miniHybrid Thermal System as an innovative proprietary technology to help customers improve fuel efficiency and reduce emissions. To power the miniHybrid, EMP developed a 450 amp brushless alternator, known as the "Power 450". The miniHybrid is a drop-in cooling module that replaces a conventional hydraulic cooling system with a bank of eight (8) very efficient, controllable electric fans developed by EMP. The miniHybrid thermal system includes the Power 450 Brushless Alternator, a highly efficient, air-cooled brushless alternator that delivers best in class performance at low speeds and idle. The system allows municipalities and others to retrofit existing transit buses for increased fuel efficiency and reduced emissions, achieving the benefits of a newly purchased hybrid bus at a fraction of the cost.

EMP has had field units in operation in municipalities across North America for about two (2) years. For example, EMP has collaborated with Capital Area Transportation Authority (CATA) in Lansing, Michigan to retrofit seventeen (17) buses resulting in an improvement of fuel economy between 3 to 14% and a savings of (300) to (1400) gallons of fuel per bus, annually. With present fuel costs, this relates to an estimated annual savings of the $1,000 to $4,900 per bus.

EMP also has a collaborative arrangement with New Flyer Industries and BAE Systems to supply next generation thermal cooling systems on municipal buses. Thirty (30) additional pilot programs and partnerships are planned for 2008 and into 2009.

About Engineered Machined Products, Inc. (EMP)

EMP is an engineering leader in the development, manufacturing and assembly of advanced thermal management and oil management products and engine cooling systems for the on-highway, off-highway, municipal and school bus transit, marine and military markets. For more information, visit www.emp-corp.com.

About Tri-County Metropolitan Transportation District of Oregon (TriMet)

TriMet is a municipal corporation providing public transportation for much of the three counties in the Portland, Oregon metro area. TriMet operates a comprehensive transit network, with 93 bus lines and 44 miles of light rail.

About Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA)

MARTA is the principal rapid-transit system in the Atlanta metropolitan area and operates a network of bus routes linked to a heavy rail system. MARTA operates primarily in Fulton County, Georgia and DeKalb County, Georgia.

About Massachusetts Bay Transit Authority (MBTA)

MBTA is the principal rapid-transit system in the Boston metropolitan area. This agency is currently in charge of rapid transit, bus, commuter boat, and commuter rail in the greater Boston area. The MBTA, or known locally as the "T", operates four rapid transit lines and numerous commuter rail lines in and around Boston.

About New Flyer Industries

New Flyer is the leading manufacturer of heavy-duty transit buses in the United States and Canada. The Company's three facilities -- in Winnipeg, MB, St. Cloud, MN and Crookston, MN. With a skilled workforce of over 2,200 employees, New Flyer is a technology leader, offering the broadest product line in the industry, including drive systems powered by clean diesel, LNG, CNG, hydrogen fuel cell and electric trolley as well as energy-efficient gasoline-electric and diesel-electric hybrid vehicles. All products are supported with an industry-leading, comprehensive parts and service network. Further information is available on Company's web site at www.newflyer.com.

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