The Minneapolis-based company, a majority-owned subsidiary of Genmar Holdings, recently received a $1.5 million initial test order from the National Guard to build the containers.
| An example of the composite shipping containers VEC Technology is creating for the U.S. Army National Guard. |
In addition to their lighter weight construction, the containers go beyond the military's present standard shipping and storage containers by including radio-frequency identification tracking chips, GPS locators, and solar lights. The containers may also be used by the military as mobile offices, kitchens and sleeping units, said Irwin L. Jacobs, chairman and chief executive officer of Genmar and VEC chairman.
Over the past 10 years, Genmar has invested more than $150 million in the development of its fiberglass molding technology. The company started in the manufacture of recreational boats, and has since expanded into other industries, which require large precision-built composite parts.
