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 Of his many parts, one was the development of the exhaust pipe insulation that many older vehicles used originally made from asbestos.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.

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.