Ace Industrial Manufacturing is a long-time manufacturer of commercial furnaces, kilns, heat treating, and annealing ovens. Ace is the parent company of E.H.P. (Engine Heat Protection), a spin-off company that is a long-time advertiser in Bus Conversions Magazine, and O.E.M. supplier to various industries. One department of Ace Industrial Manufacturing also sells insulation and refractory materials.

Penn Lenson, company President has an interest in classic and antique cars. Over the years, because he was not able to find some of the necessary parts for these cars, he began a small manufacturing business and has produced over five dozen different replacement parts. Of his many parts, one was the development of the exhaust pipe insulation that many older vehicles used originally made from asbestos. Since asbestos was no longer readily available for such purposes, he turned to use a substitute material of ceramic. This was similar to the materials used in the manufacturing of their furnaces. E.H.P. (Engine Heat Protection) is a ceramic space-age material that could be used on not only these older vehicles of his but that of fellow enthusiasts. As word about their insulation product spread, so did their E.H.P. business. Subsequently, Ace Industrial Manufacturing established dealerships for handling the many different types of E.H.P. materials.

The ability of this high-tech product to act as a super-efficient heat barrier and noise insulator found its way into many other applications. Soon it was being used in marine applications as well as everyday transportation vehicles, industrial equipment, and even RV’s.

Many fleet operators have been able to solve their heat-related problems through the application of E.H.P. materials. One popular fix for hot, hard starting is a “Starter Solenoid Jacket”. This item helps to isolate exhaust heat from migrating into the solenoid. When excess heat is absorbed, the heat increases the resistance of the electricity to flow and insufficient amperage goes to the starter, resulting in a no-start or hard-starting situation. This is typical of many other applications especially the many RVs using the Chevy 454 cu. in. engine.

Perhaps the single biggest application of their materials is the use of it as an insulator in RV’s. Whether you are outfitting or converting from scratch, E.H.P. materials are being used where nothing was used before. It’s also being used to replace conventional insulation such as foam or fiberglass. Their premier material is known as “E.H.P. Wet Blanket”, and can be used in temperatures of up to 3,200 degrees F.

A one-quarter-inch thick piece will reduce temperatures to at least one-half, and perhaps as much as two-thirds between the cold and hot faces of the pipes and mufflers. Additional layers will reduce heat transfer even more. Once applied, it will minimize, if not eliminate, unwanted high-temperature heat from radiating to other areas of the coach.

At the same time, it acts as a noise barrier and cuts down on exhaust rumble. Generator compartments are using some of this same material to isolate heat and noise. Many exhaust systems are now being run upward through the roof so the fumes and noise don't spread to your campground neighbors. Many coachbuilders have switched over to using E.H.P. materials for lining coach shells rather than using foam. The foam method sometimes requires the use of specialized equipment, which is messy and relatively expensive. It also requires that all utilities, wiring, and plumbing be run before the foam can be applied. With E.H.P. Rollboard the insulator can be applied with plenty of room left to run utility lines after it is in place. Rollboard and most other E.H.P. insulation materials are very lightweight. "Rollboard" is usually supplied in a two-foot wide roll, 125-feet in length. It is about 1/8-inch thick and can be applied by cutting with scissors and gluing with an adhesive such as contact cement. It can also be sandwiched between materials, and mechanically fastened. This material is designed to work as an insulator to about 2,300 degrees F.

E.H.P. also provided their "Foil Covered Ceramic Cloth" material to insulate Jay Leno's "Eco Jet Car". It is powered by a jet turbine that puts out so much heat, that the underside of the carbon fiber body needs insulation to keep it from melting.