Self-Management is Key to Success

Central Iowa Entrepreneur Says, Watch Overhead and Opportunities 

The DesMoines Register
Billie Shelton, Register Correspondent

Radcliffe, IA - Since 1976, Radcliffe entrepreneur Dwayne Fosseen has toiled, tinkered and tweaked with numerous way to improve air quality and fuel consumption. He has invented many products and holds numerous patents. Now it appears his breakthrough has arrived.

"We . . . hope to awaken the corporate giants to the fact that the good old American dram is still alive and well in Iowa," said Fosseen.

Mirenco Inc., an Iowa public company he formed in 1997, is a world-wide distributor of DriverMax, a vehicle throttle control, and EconoCruise, which uses the satellite navigation system to control vehicle fuel mileage and exhaust emissions. Drivers will operate the system similar to cruise controls and can override the system by stepping on the brakes or the gas pedal. 

DriverMax units are being installed, tested and sold to cities for use on city buses in St. Louis, Memphis, Chicago and several other large cities with air-quality problems. Mirenco management expects to expand sales for other vehicles that do a lot of stop-and-go driving.

The company has signed for its first contract with a bus manufacturer, Overland Custom Coach Inc. of Ontario, Canada, which will install DriverMax units as standard equipment.

August 12 was a big day for Mirenco and its EconoCruise product, and Des Moines-based TMC truck and trailer company. Mirenco put on a computer disk information about fuel mileage and engine emissions along Interstate 35, from Kansas City Department of Energy Plant to the state capitol in Des Moines.

On September 15, a journey is planned to use the data on a return trip across the same route using a TMC tractor-trailer to demonstrate it is possible to control fuel usage and vehicle exhaust emissions from satellite to computer to vehicle throttle anywhere in the world.

While there have been devices in the past to control fuel consumption, "not one has addressed the human error factor of vehicle throttle positioning that's between wide open and idle," Fosseen says. "Now we can do that with our smart computer box."

In 1966, he invented his first product, an auxiliary fuel tank for farm tractors, and started Fosseen Manufacturing. Fosseen used state and federal agencies to help develop his products.

The Strategic Marketing Services Department at the University of Northern Iowa assisted the Radcliffe business with a market study three years ago. Project manager Kent Hanson is convinced that DriverMax is worthwhile. "it saves money and fuel," he said. "There's no question it's a sound concept, and it's verifiable."

Wayne Merrell of the Advanced Technology Center on the Ankeny campus of Des Moines Area Community College worked with Mirenco securing several state grants for the development. "On one bus a company reduced smoke over 30 percent, improved fuel mileage close to 10 percent and cut vehicle war by hundreds of dollars using DriverMax," he said.

About Mirenco

Mirenco is a Radcliffe, Iowa-based Company that specializes in patented vehicle management technology and consultative services for reducing vehicle emissions, improving fuel economy and lengthening the service life of heavy-duty diesel vehicles.  More information is available at www.mirenco.com, or via e-mail at info@mirenco.com or by calling 800.423.9903.

Some of the statements made in this press release are forward-looking in nature.  Actual results may differ materially from those projected in forward-looking statements.  Additional information concerning Mirenco, Inc. can be found within Mirenco's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.  Statements in this release should be evaluated in light of this additional information.

Mirenco Profile:

Founder: Dwayne Fosseen 
Year founded: 1997 Mirenco (Fosseen Manufacturing Inc. was formed in 1967) 
Employees: 7 
Phone: (800) 423-9903 
Address: P. O. Box 343, 206 May Street, Radcliffe, Ia., 50230 
For more information: Go to www.mirenco.com or e-mail info@mirenco.com 
Advice: "You have to tighten the old belt and manage your overhead carefully. Be very wise about where you invest your time and money."