ProCharger
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| Company type | Private company |
|---|---|
| Industry | Automotive aftermarket |
| Founded | Lenexa, Kansas, USA (1993) |
| Founder | Dan Jones; Ken Jones |
| Headquarters | Lenexa, Kansas |
| Products | Automotive parts Motorcycle Parts Marine Parts Industrial Compressors |
| Website | ProCharger.com |
ProCharger is the supercharger division of Accessible Technologies, Inc. (ATI), a supercharger and industrial turbomachinery manufacturer located in the Kansas City metropolitan area.[1][2] Inovair is the name of the company’s industrial products division.[3]
History
ProCharger was incorporated in December 1993,[4] and its initial supercharger systems were for 5.0 Mustangs and carbureted Chevrolet applications.[5] The primary founders of the company were Dan and Ken Jones.[6][7] One of their most notable staff members is Jim Summers, a 5.0 Mustang racer and dealer for ProCharger. He joined the company in 2002 as the Motorsports Director.
ProCharger was originally located in a leased property in Lenexa, KS. In December 1998 it moved into a building designed specifically for the company, and that building was expanded in 2004. In 2010, the company acquired control of a second building, adjacent to the primary building.
Manufacturing
Superchargers, supercharger systems and subassemblies are manufactured in-house on CNC[clarification needed] equipment, utilizing CMM's,[clarification needed] balancing equipment, run-in stands and other equipment to verify quality during the production and assembly process. The engineering team utilizes 3D computer-aided design software, rapid prototyping equipment, a large test lab, and engine and chassis dynamometers during the R&D process.[8]
Industry Contributions
Among its initial industry contributions, ProCharger was the first to offer a complete intercooled supercharger system for the aftermarket performance industry[9][10] In track testing in July 1994, the automotive press documented an improvement in quarter mile performance of 2 seconds and 16 mph on a stock 1993 Cobra running 9 psi in 97 degree weather, utilizing an Intercooled ProCharger system running 9 psi.[11]
In 1995, an Intercooled ProCharger system became the first supercharger system to receive an emissions exemption (CARB EO # D-365) for an application running more than 8 psi of boost, receiving that exemption for a 14 psi intercooled supercharger system for a 5.0 Mustang.[12] In 1996, ProCharger was the first company to offer complete intercooled supercharger systems for marine applications.[13]
In 2000, Doug Mangrum became the first racer to run faster than a 7.0 ET (elapsed time) in the quarter mile using a centrifugal supercharger. Donny Walsh and Jim Summers soon followed with 6-second quarter mile passes in the same year, with all 3 using a ProCharger supercharger and also exceeding 200 mph. The supercharger design used by these 3 racers includes a patented “bearing within a bearing” design for the high speed output shaft.
In 2006, Bo Butner, running a ProCharger supercharger, became the first racer to win a championship in NHRA running a centrifugal supercharger, which had previously been outlawed in NHRA.[14]
The company began selling intercooled supercharger systems for Harley Davidson motorcycles in 2006. That design included several patents, and this H-D supercharger design in 2006 won a Popular Mechanics award for Design and Innovation.,[15] and then in 2008 won the Easyriders Performance Product of the Year.[16]
The company has a history of innovation and pioneers new product development.[17] In 2001 it was first to offer a supercharger system for Corvettes with LS engines, and in 2010 was the first to introduce supercharger systems for the Ford Raptor and 3.7L V6 Mustang.[18] In testing by the automotive press in 2011 on a stock 6.2L Ford Raptor, an intercooled ProCharger supercharger system increased performance by over 200 horsepower, and was installed in approximately 4 hours.[19]
Sponsorship
ProCharger does not sponsor race cars directly, but does act as class sponsor for several racing classes in multiple sanctioning bodies, and acts as a contingency sponsor in additional racing sanctioning bodies.[20]
References
- ^ FITI PROCHARGER ATI MAIN WAREHOUSE, 14801 W 114TH TER, LENEXA, Kansas (KS) - Company Profile
- ^ A Complete Guide to Street Supercharging - Pat Ganahl - Google Books
- ^ "ATI – Kem Studio". Kemstudio.com. Retrieved April 13, 2012.
{{cite web}}: External link in|publisher= - ^ Accessible Technologies Inc (Accessible Technologies, Inc) - Lenexa, Kansas (KS) | Company Profile
- ^ Sport Compact Turbos & Blowers - Joe Pettitt - Google Books
- ^ "Business Profile of: Dan Jones". Zoominfo.com. Retrieved April 13, 2012.
{{cite web}}: External link in|publisher= - ^ "Business Profile of: Ken Jones". Zoominfo.com. Retrieved April 13, 2012.
{{cite web}}: External link in|publisher= - ^ ProCharger Shop Tour: How Superchargers Are Made - StangTV
- ^ 5.0 Mustang and Super Ford, June 2000.
- ^ ATI ProCharger SC Supercharger - 5.0 Mustang & Super Fords Magazine
- ^ Muscle Mustangs and Fast Fords, November 1994, pp 134-144.
- ^ Muscle Mustangs and Fast Fords, April 2002
- ^ "Powerboat" Magazine, March 1998
- ^ NHRA.com - Lucas Oil Comp Champion: Bo Butner
- ^ Popular Mechanics, December 2006
- ^ http://www.vtwin-expo.com/pdfs/AMD 118 Page 21-37.pdf[dead link]
- ^ Installing ProCharger's C6 LS3 Blower Kit - Vette Magazine
- ^ ProCharger Shop Tour: How Superchargers Are Made - Dragzine
- ^ Truckin magazine, 2012 issue 5
- ^ ProCharger to Sponsor NMCA WEST’s X275 Drag Radial Class - NMCA