VMAC celebrates its 25th anniversary of UNDERHOOD™ air compressors. The first UNDERHOOD70 air compressor shipped in the fall of 1997. Since then, VMAC has sold over 25,000 UNDERHOODs for Ford, RAM, GMC, Chevrolet, International, and Mercedes-Benz Sprinter service vehicles.
“UNDERHOOD is an integral part of VMAC’s history and an example of disruptive innovation,” explains Tod Gilbert, VMAC’s president. “The release of UNDERHOOD marked the start of VMAC’s journey to become one of the only true rotary screw air compressor manufacturers in North America.”
Gilbert says VMAC designs and optimizes its UNDERHOOD core compressor components for the mobile air industry, which results in light yet powerful compressors.
“Twenty-five years later, no other air compressor manufacturer has been able to develop an industrial air compressor that is installed within the vehicle’s engine compartment,” Gilbert continues. “That capability is unique to the UNDERHOOD system, which is still designed, engineered, tested, assembled, and shipped from VMAC’s facility in Nanaimo, British Columbia.”
VMAC’s design process includes working closely with OEMs to engineer each UNDERHOOD system for a specific vehicle make and model. VMAC’s partnerships with OEMs ensure that each UNDERHOOD system fits perfectly and works optimally while keeping the OEM warranty intact.
Stuart Coker, VMAC’s director of operations, says VMAC designs its systems to adapt to OEM model year changes. He says this is because of VMAC’s ability to manufacture the UNDERHOOD system in-house; VMAC controls the manufacturing process, from “prototype molds in our foundry and continuing through to machining and assembly,” Coker says.
YEARS OF INNOVATION
After 25 years, VMAC’s UNDERHOOD lineup includes systems delivering up to 40, 70, and 140 CFM at 100% duty cycle. North American fleet customers who need to save space, reduce GVW, and minimize maintenance without compromising air power choose UNDERHOOD.
VMAC also manufactures direct-transmission mounted air compressors and multipower systems, diesel, gas, and hydraulic driven air compressors, and multi-function systems.
Watch as Chris, an engineer at VMAC, shows the UNDERHOOD development process at VMAC’s facility: www.vmacair.com/chris
Find out more, visit www.vmacair.com/underhood-air.
