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		ECHOMASTER

	Obstacle Detection Technologies


	The Pioneer in Obstacle Detection Technologies Since 1999


	For Immediate Release


	International Media Jury Selects Dolphin® SonarStep as one of “Best New Products” at SEMA Show 2006

Irvine, CA (November 20, 2006) EchoMaster®, the premier manufacturer of obstacle avoidance systems and accessories was recently honored by the Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) for their product, the Dolphin® SonarStep.

Recognizing the increasing global appeal of specialty automotive style and performance equipment, SEMA presented EchoMaster® with its second annual International New Products Award. The award ceremony was held at the 2006 SEMA Show and attracted hundreds of international buyers, U.S. Department of Commerce officials, SEMA-member company representatives and the press. A prestigious jury comprised of leading international journalists representing 37 titles, chose the winners. The voting panel reviewed over 1,500 new style and performance products introduced at the SEMA Show. From these, each journalist selected ten products as their new product award nominations. In total, 225 new products were honored from 165 companies.


		“Our goal was to have media experts from around the world determine which new products are likely to succeed in their home markets. Publications from 22 countries were represented on our panel of judges this year. Editors from South Africa were joined by journalists from throughout Europe, Asia and South America. Their selections became the International New Product Awards,” said Linda Spencer, director of international and government relations.

	“SEMA’s International New Products Award reflects the niche market segments its member companies have helped establish,” said Spencer. “This award represents one of SEMA’s latest initiatives to recognize the innovation, creativity and drive of their member companies. These awards confirm the specialty equipment market has indeed – gone global,” Spencer concluded.

“We are thrilled and very humbly honored,” said Mark Swannie, President of EchoMaster. “We really wanted to create a serious, yet easy to install, safety and convenience product.”

According to KidsandCars Founder and President, Janette E. Fennell, “In the US fifty children are being backed over by vehicles every week. Forty-eight are treated in hospital emergency rooms and at least two children are fatality injured every week. These unthinkable tragedies are happening most often in the driveway of the child’s home and in 70% of the incidents the driver of the vehicle is their parent, grandparent, aunt, uncle or older sibling.” www.kidsandcars.org

“An added bonus to the safety issue is how much easier it makes backing up your vehicle,” Swannie goes on to say. “As you back up your vehicle the Dolphin® SonarStep silently scans for objects in your blind zone, then offers both an audible and visual alert when an object is detected. This notifies the driver how close they are to an object with a series of warning tones making parking safer while taking the guess work out of parking maneuvers.”

The unit installs in 30 seconds and simply plugs into the trailer hitch - no wires to cut, no holes to drill. “It’s so easy to install my 10-year old daughter had it connected less than a minute,” Swannie says.

Utilizing high-tech RF technology, the Dolphin® SonarStep allows wireless communication between it and the drivers warning module inside the vehicle. The Dolphin® SonarStep retails for $179 and includes a 1-year warranty. It is available at various retail stores nationwide or visit www.truckfancy.com

EchoMaster® specializes in the design, manufacturing, and marketing of innovative fleet, commercial, and vehicle safety and convenience products for the automotive industry. www.EchoMaster.com 1-888-324-6678.

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