Since 2005, EMP has been developing mini-Hybrid Thermal Systems with the help of federal funding
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ESCANABA -- Engineered Machined Products in Escanaba has found some new business with the Michigan Department of Transportation. Thanks to an over $500,000 American Recovery and Reinvestment Act grant, three transit agencies downstate will be installing an EMP product in their buses.
Since 2005, EMP has been developing mini-Hybrid Thermal Systems with the help of federal funding. The mini-Hybrids are installed mainly in transit buses, and help improve fuel economy and reduce emissions.
While other divisions are slowly rebounding from the struggling economy, officials say their advanced products division, which includes the mini-Hybrids, continues to grow.
And with the help of some additional funding, EMP will now be sending 19 mini-Hybrids to Bay City, Battle Creek and Saginaw.
"The entire government funding has helped us maintain the jobs here in Escanaba," explained VP of Governmental Affairs, Ralph Bedogne. "The added funds that came through MDOT, we've estimated it retained at least 12 new jobs here in Escanaba."
Since 2009, over a thousand mini-Hybrid Thermal Systems have been installed in transit buses across North America. Officials estimate fuel savings alone can be as much as $2,000 a year per bus.
"We save about 30 horse power of parasitic load on the engine, that can then be transferred to the wheels, and that transfers into better fuel economy, 7-10% improvement in general," said Senior Product Development Engineer, Mike Lasecki.
Officials say they'll begin shipping out the mini-Hybrids this week, with hopes to have them all installed and ready to go by the end of this month.
