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Reading-Based Production Designs Inc. Develops ADS System for World Leader — Hackney Emergency Vehicles
July 20, 2006

Hackney Emergency Vehicles of Washington, NC — a world leader in the development and manufacture of emergency and rescue vehicles — has launched production of its ADS (Auto Deploy Staircase) system developed by Production Designs Inc. of Reading, PA. This system breaks new ground by proving safe (OSHA compliant), quick access to the roof of a variety of emergency vehicles. The staircase can be deployed in 30 seconds at the touch of a button. The system is designed to provide safe and efficient access with design attention to step widths and angles and by providing LED warning lights and audible alarms.

The system allows complete access to rear emergency equipment and compartments either when stored or when deployed and in use. In addition, the unique placement of the system requires no storage space within the body.

Hackney was founded in 1946 and supplies a variety of emergency vehicles including fire, rescue, haz-mat, disaster response and law enforcement worldwide. They are a part of Specialized Vehicles Corporation and in 2005 SVC became a part of Vision Technology Systems, a worldwide company specializing in marine, aerospace, electronics and communications systems. Douglas LaFauci, CEO of Production Designs Inc., stated that PDI's goal was to provide "a design solution through innovation."

Reading-Based Production Designs Inc. Design Opens Markets for World Leader

Production Designs Inc., a Reading, PA-based industrial design firm, announced the completion of a design project for a major manufacturer of EPS products in Europe and North America. The project required the complete design; manufacture and installation of three separate machines to sand and drill Styrofoam sheets and remove all waste in a manner consistent with environmental safeguards. This project will allow the increased production of Styrofoam product offerings for construction, insulation, packaging and architectural forms. Heidelberg International of Lebanon, PA, assisted with the manufacture of the PDI designs. Doug LaFauci, President of PDI, and Phil Stoltzfus, President of Heidelberg, were on hand for the installation and testing of the equipment at the manufacturing facility. Mr. LaFauci stated that PDI's goal was to provide "a design solution through innovation and to meet the manufacturers standard of innovation with imagination."

The design phase of the project required a clean sheet approach in the development of the three machines.

Simultaneous Precision Sander (SPS) — A one-pass precision sanding and cutting solution. This two-ton machine uses three motors totaling 12 horsepower. It is able to simultaneously sand both sides of Styrofoam sheets up to 50 inches wide with a 1-6 inch range at speeds of up to 90 feet per minute.
Styrofoam Holey Board — A one-ton machine powered by two motors totaling 10 horsepower and capable of drilling six individual 3-inch holes in a twenty-inch stack of 2x4 Styrofoam panels. The unique solution provided by this design was the introduction of compressed air in a vortex inside the cutting tube to clear debris and allow continuous operation without clogging.
Environmental Collection and Containment System (ECCS) — A complete self-contained system to protect the environment and workers' health concerns by the continuous collection of dust and debris. This system uses three separate blowers totaling 17 horsepower to flow up to 5,000 cfm into a storage bin of 350 cubic feet with a 6-inch auger to insure adequate exit flow.

The total project took approximately six months from conceptual initiation to installation. It is expected it will become the prototype system for additional installations through the industry.

Questions or Comments? Please contact Production Designs Inc., Marketing Department