For Immediate Release: November 24th 2008
ODYSSEY SENDS TWO SPECIAL RADIATION MONITORING VANS TO SOUTH KOREA
Apantec LLC in Pennsylvania was looking for a company to customize two vans for a contract with the South Korea Government for two W.A.R.N. (Wide Area Radiation Network) laboratories for their nuclear power plants. Testing and monitoring radiation and air conditions are extremely important at these facilities so the challenge was brought to Odyssey to supply two American made vans meeting the customer’s requirements and covered by a factory warranty in South Korea. Odyssey obtained two Chevy 3500 extended length cargo vans, sent them to Quigley of Pennsylvania to be converted to 4 wheel drive and worked closely with the engineers at Apantec and their end user’s from South Korea to manufacture vehicles that would meet everyone’s expectations and mission.
Over six feet of head room was achieved by using a 32” fiberglass top and working closely with Apantec the interior was custom designed to facilitate their air monitoring and radiation detection equipment which would be installed by Apantec after the conversion was completed. Power was supplied by a built in 7,000 watt generator with a shore power connection and a 2,000 watt inverter for back up power. Odyssey’s international experience was called on when some of the equipment can operate on 120 volt American power and other equipment required special South Korean connections to supply 220 volt power for their specialized equipment which would be added on location.
Another very important requirement was the van could not exceed a specific height ruling out the traditional RV style roof mounted air conditioner. Further complicating the conversion was a HEPA filter that must be included on the supply end of the system so contaminated outside air could be filtered before entering the cabin where the technicians would be working. This was accomplished by using a special air conditoner installed over the driver’s compartment under the fiberglass top, adding vents for fresh air intake and stale air exhaust and then passing through a replaceable HEPA filter accessible from the interior to assure clean air.
Still bound by a height requirement one piece of Apantec’s equipment required it to store below roof line and raise four feet above what was needed. This was acomplished by installing a pneumatic mast on the left rear door with controls at the interior work station. The challenge was to keep the equipment below the roof line, enable it to extend above the roof, mounted to an opening rear door and protecting the pneumatic lines and wiring. Odyssey welcomes these types of challenges and encourage all customers to challenge them to work it out. Some have called the Odyssey operation as the “Monster Garage of Emergency Vehicles”
Odyssey is proud to serve, Apantec and South Korea empowering their readiness for emergencies and preventative systems.