Airtrax: Contracts With Timken to Manufacture Omni-Directional Wheels
May 25, 2004 08:55:00 AM ET

HAMMONTON, N.J., May 25 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Airtrax, Inc. (OTC Bulletin Board: AITX), a U.S.-based developer of omni-directional technology announced today the company's plans to outfit its long-anticipated SIDEWINDER(TM) lift truck with omni-directional wheels supplied by The Timken Company (TKR). The SIDEWINDER(TM) features omni-directional technology that allows material handling operators to move any direction. The patented wheel design was developed by Airtrax and is supplied by Timken.

The SIDEWINDER(TM) Omni-Directional Lift Truck, the ideal solution for material handling applications, can travel in any direction by merely pushing the joystick in the direction the operator wants to travel. Besides the ability to travel in any direction, the SIDEWINDER(TM) has very few parts making it virtually maintenance free. The SIDEWINDER(TM) will be available later this year.

"Delivery of the first commercially produced Airtrax omni-directional wheels for the SIDEWINDER(TM) marks an historical first," said Peter Amico, Airtrax president. "Subsequent wheel assembly deliveries from Timken in the next few weeks will signify the commercialization of our innovative product."

In addition to the SIDEWINDER(TM), Airtrax also utilized omni-directional technology in its Phoenix(TM) aerial work platform product. The Phoenix(TM) is the MEC aerial work platform with Airtrax omni-directional technology. It will be distributed through MEC dealers. The Phoenix(TM), featuring wheel assemblies also supplied by Timken, is expected to go into production later this year.

"We are excited about working with Timken. Timken bearings are considered among the best in the world," noted Amico. "Their manufacturing capability provides a quality production wheel that meets the specifications and tolerances we require, at extremely competitive prices. Furthermore, our strategic relationship with Timken is just another example of how major industrial companies support Airtrax products and the omni-technology we've developed."

Based in Hammonton, New Jersey, Airtrax designs and manufactures omni-directional vehicles for the military and the private sector. Both the SIDEWINDER(TM) lift truck and the Phoenix(TM) aerial work platform are the world's first commercially produced omni-directional vehicles using the Airtrax wheel.

"We are really excited to be working with Airtrax on this innovative technology," said Mark Greenawalt, regional manager. "We believe that this technology can have a significant impact on the material handling industry."

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