JIM PAINTER NAMED PRESIDENT OF POLAR TANK TRAILER

ST. CLOUD, Minn., January 31, 2012—Polar Corporation today appointed Jim Painter president of Polar Tank Trailer, North America’s largest manufacturer of aluminum, stainless steel, and carbon steel tank trailers.

Painter will be responsible for overall performance of the division, including three manufacturing plants, the dealer network, and several strategic initiatives related to the dramatic growth of the tank trailer industry. He will be based at Polar Tank Trailer’s headquarters in Opole, Minn., and report to Ted Fick, Polar Corporation president and CEO.

Painter was president of Quality Trailer Products, a Polar company, since 2000.

“Jim is an accomplished senior executive whose leadership within Polar over the last 11 years has been outstanding,” said Fick. "As president of Polar Tank Trailer, his immediate focus will be on advancing our fastest-growing business unit.”

Polar Tank Trailer builds custom tank trailers for dry and liquid bulk cargoes including oil and fuel, food products, asphalt, chemicals, and corrosives. Quality Trailer Products manufactures and distributes both original and aftermarket components for commercial trailers.

Before joining Quality Trailer Products, Painter was an officer and vice president at Simpson Industries where he was responsible for the Engine Products group, a global manufacturing operation. He also held positions of increasing management and executive responsibilities at Rockwell International, including president of the Rockwell Clutch Co. and general manager of the Specialty Axle Division.

Painter earned an M.B.A. from Xavier University and a bachelor’s degree from General Motors Institute.

About Polar Corporation
Polar Corporation consists of three companies, all leaders in their respective markets. Polar Tank Trailer builds custom tank trailers for dry and liquid bulk cargoes including oil and fuel, food products, asphalt, chemicals, and corrosives. Polar Service Centers provide tank trailer parts, repair, services, and designs and builds custom up-fits for the propane and pressure truck-mounted tank market. Quality Trailer Products manufactures and sells parts and components for the light-duty trailer industry. More information about the company can be found at www.polarcorp.com.

Clean Cities Alt Fuel Program Trains Regional Fleets in Safe, Effective Propane Autogas Vehicle Maintenance

HARRISONBURG, Va. – January 31, 2012 – As more American fleets hit the road with alternative fuel vehicles, U.S. automotive workers need the technical expertise to safely and effectively maintain them. Virginia Clean Cities, which helps fleets switch to clean propane fuel through the Southeast Propane Autogas Development Program, is coordinating training classes this week to ensure Program fleets have the knowledge to correctly perform maintenance and repairs on propane autogas vehicles.

“Safety training is essential for technicians, mechanics and other fleet personnel who work with propane autogas vehicles, just as it is with traditional gasoline or diesel vehicles,” says Peter Denbigh, projects director at Virginia Clean Cities. “Autogas vehicles are no more complicated to operate than gasoline vehicles, but the technology is different. Especially when a fleet has an in-house service center, their staff should learn how to properly maintain the vehicles from autogas experts.”

The two-day training sessions are being held in Spotsylvania, Va., January 31—Feb. 1, and Iredell County, N.C., February 2—3.

Host organization American Alternative Fuel is a co-founding member of Alliance AutoGas, which provides autogas fueling infrastructure and conversion equipment for Program fleets, with fellow co-founding partner Blossman Gas supplying fuel. Ongoing technical training and support for fleets is part of the Alliance AutoGas complete program. The Program will complete at least 1,195 total propane autogas vehicle conversions by spring 2012.

Fleets running on clean-burning autogas will save on fuel and maintenance costs, reduce harmful pollutants and enhance national energy security. The most widely used alternative fuel in the world, 90 percent of the U.S. autogas supply is made in America. Propane autogas costs around $1-per-gallon less than gasoline, and vehicle conversions and fueling infrastructure are cost-effective for fleets.

About The Program

The Southeast Propane Autogas Development Program is comprised of public and private partnerships throughout 10 states in the Southeast U.S. and Washington, DC. Over its four-year span, the Program will put nearly 1,200 clean autogas vehicles on the road and implement more than 30 autogas fueling stations. Supported by funding from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act and the U.S. Department of Energy’s Clean Cities Program, it is managed and administered by the Virginia Department of Mines, Minerals and Energy and VCC at James Madison University. To learn more, visit www.usepropaneautogas.com or email info@usepropaneautogas.com.

Biodiesel Industry Calls for Quick Action on Tax Extenders

WASHINGTON - The U.S. biodiesel industry's record growth and resulting job creation is at risk without immediate action from Congress to reinstate the industry's tax incentive, the National Biodiesel Board (NBB) said in written testimony submitted Tuesday to the Senate Finance Committee.

The $1-per-gallon biodiesel tax incentive expired on Dec. 31 for the second time in three years, despite clear evidence that the incentive is working to stimulate production and economic activity.

In her testimony, NBB Vice President of Federal Affairs Anne Steckel emphasized that when the incentive was reinstated last year after a lapse in 2010, it helped boost biodiesel production to a record volume of nearly 1.1 billion gallons in 2011. That volume - triple the production in 2010 - supported more than 39,027 jobs and $3.8 billion in GDP, according to a recent study conducted by Cardno ENTRIX, an international economics consulting firm.

"The biodiesel industry is poised to continue that momentum so long as Congress and the Administration continue supporting strong policies such as the biodiesel tax incentive," she said. "The recent expiration of the $1 per gallon biodiesel tax incentive poses a significant threat to the industry's continued growth."

Under projected expansion, with the tax incentive in place, the industry is expected to support more than 74,000 jobs by 2015 and some $7.3 billion in GDP.

Bipartisan legislation has been introduced in the House and Senate to extend the tax incentive for three years. Wednesday's hearing before the Finance Committee was titled, "Extenders and Tax Reform: Seeking Long-Term Solutions."

Made from an increasingly diverse mix of resources such as agricultural oils, recycled cooking oil and animal fats, biodiesel is the first and only commercial-scale fuel used across the U.S. to meet the Environmental Protection Agency's definition as an Advanced Biofuel. It is produced in nearly every state in the country. Biodiesel is a renewable, clean-burning diesel replacement that can be used in existing diesel engines. NBB is the national trade association representing the biodiesel industry.

LITTELFUSE COMMERCIAL VEHICLE PRODUCTS ANNOUNCES 12V LED VEHICLE PILOT LIGHTS

Cole Hersee, the Commercial Vehicle Products division of Littelfuse, Inc., announced that it has launched a new line of 12V LED vehicle pilot lights. The solid-state LED pilot lights last longer than incandescent bulbs, and may never need replacing. They run cooler, making them safer and less susceptible to heat buildup that may have the potential to cause fires. The energy efficient LED also reduces battery drain.

The new 12V LED pilot lights come in a wide variety of bezel sizes and terminal hole diameters. They are offered in red, amber, and green, with some models available in blue or white LED. Most feature ¼-inch blade terminals, available as screw terminals by special order. The PL-525/526 snap-in series is offered in both steady and blinking versions.

With no bulb to work loose, the lights are unaffected by vibration, contributing to their longevity. With LED lights, fleet managers no longer need to maintain an extensive inventory of replacement bulbs and use up valuable maintenance time replacing bulbs. Less downtime for vehicles means more revenue-producing hours per vehicle. LEDs are also unaffected by on-off cycling, and their brightness doesn’t diminish over time.

“LEDs can function over a wider range of temperatures, from desert conditions to frigid weather,” said Graeme Marsden, marketing communications manager for Littelfuse CVP. “They are not susceptible to the corrosion that may occur in bulb bases and sockets and they draw far fewer watts from your batteries for the amount of light emitted.”

Cole Hersee is a brand name of Chicago, IL-based Littelfuse, Inc., the worldwide leader in circuit protection, offering the industry’s broadest and deepest portfolio of circuit protection products and solutions. Cole Hersee is now Littelfuse’s Commercial Vehicle Products division.

AT&T Orders 1,200 CNG-powered Chevrolet Express Vans

DETROIT – AT&T plans to take delivery of 1,200 Chevrolet Express compressed natural gas (CNG) dedicated cargo vans to be deployed to AT&T service centers nationwide. It is the largest-ever order of CNG vehicles from General Motors.

AT&T, which has announced its intention to invest up to $565 million to deploy approximately 15,000 alternative fuel vehicles over a 10-year period through 2018, will use the vans to provide and maintain communications, high-speed Internet and television services for AT&T customers. Last week, the company announced the milestone deployment of its 5,000th alternative-fuel vehicle, a Chevrolet Express van, as part of the commitment.

 “CNG technology is important to AT&T because it helps us reduce our fleet-based carbon emissions,” said Jerome Webber, AT&T vice president of Fleet Operations. “It is also cost-effective and readily available in our country right now.”š

According to the U.S Environmental Protection Agency, CNG-powered vans can produce approximately 25 percent fewer carbon dioxide emissions than similar gasoline and diesel-powered vans, which supports AT&T’s corporate commitment to minimize its impact on the environment.

“There are millions of fleet vehicles on the road today and we want to be a critical part of this sustainable revolution, helping make these conversions as easy as possible,” said Brian Small, general manager, GM Fleet and Commercial Operations.

Chevrolet Express CNG vans are powered by a Vortec 6.0L V8 engine equipped with hardened exhaust valves, and intake and exhaust valve seats for improved wear resistance and durability with gaseous fuel systems. The vans are factory ordered and delivered to customers with their factory-engineered and fully integrated gaseous fuel system in place, completely ready for work.š

The CNG option is available for order on Chevrolet Express 2500 and 3500 Cargo vans. Each van is covered by GM’s three-year, 36,000-mile new vehicle limited warranty and five-year, 100,000-mile limited powertrain warranty, and meets all Environmental Protection Agency and California Air Resources Board emission certification requirements.

The GM Fleet and Commercial Customer Service LinkedIn group offers a discussion forum for Chevy, Buick, GMC and Cadillac fleet vehicle owners.