Temperatures in Iraq are starting to cool down, thanks to the help of a local company.

Tukwila-based Red Dot Corp. has been working since April 2004 on special air conditioning units for armored Humvees in Iraq.

Since then, they have shipped almost 16,000 units to the heat-ridden country along with another 6,000 units for other vehicles in the field.

"This whole process has just been incredible," Bill Jewell, product marketing supervisor," said last week. "I've never seen a project start and move forward as this one has."

Red Dot has been making commercial air conditioners since 1965. Their main facility is located in Tukwila with other located in Memphis, Tenn., and England.

"With out exception," this is the largest contract Red Dot has had, said Jewell.

The military came to Red Dot in January 2004 with the request that they outfit Humvees, which have field-fitted armor, with air conditioners.

Humvees in the Iraq theater are equipped with heavy armor kits for greater protection from enemy fire.

While soldiers inside are safer, the armor creates an oven-like condition - raising interior temperatures to an average of 130 degrees with no air circulation.

Red Dot promptly went to work building a prototype, and was awarded a military contract in March 2004.

Production began the next month.

Not wanting to impede their commercial business, Red Dot set up 12-hour work days for Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays to work on the military contract.

Workers are paid for 40-hour weeks.

The crew knows what it's for and they've pushed to get it done, said Jewell.

Hanging high above the assembly line, as if for inspiration, is a sign that reads, "Proud to Serve America."

A Red Dot air conditioner for a Humvee is fastened to the back of the vehicle, where a condenser dispels the hot air. A duct runs down the middle of the cab and into the engine.

Instead of cooling the entire cab, the air conditioner does a spot cool with vents directly on the soldiers.

"We decided to cool the people that wanted to be cooled," said Jewell.

If the unit reaches a temperature higher than 220 degrees, it will shut down. And all of the air conditioners are waterproof, which also helps protect the system from dust.

"It will not let the system destroy itself," said Jewell. "It's been built so it can last in the environment."

Jewell has a good idea of the need for air conditioners in Iraq.

His son, Don, returned from a year of military service there in March.

Don's Humvee had a factory air conditioner in it, said Jewell.

"Ours work by far more than the factories do," Jewell said with a laugh.

Hanging on a wall in the office is a poster of his son standing in full gear next to a Red Dot air conditioner.

The feedback from soldiers about the air conditioners has all been pretty positive, said Jewell.

Their final shipment of air conditioners for the Humvees left for Iraq last week.