Somerset, PA (January 19, 2007). J&J Truck Bodies & Trailers, a division of Somerset Welding & Steel, Inc., and a leading manufacturer of dump bodies, trailers, and specialty truck equipment, today announced that the company is installing True Feather™ hoist controls on their commercial dump truck bodies. Air feather valves are quickly becoming the most popular mechanism to raise and lower the hoist on commercial dump bodies. In the past, controlling the speed or "feathering" the hoist with standard air feather valves when raising and lowering the dump body was often difficult and prone to unpredictable hoist behavior.

J&J formed a special team that spent two months testing and designing an air feather system that truly feathers. The new True Feather™option allows the operator to have better control over the speed of the hoist to slow the descent of the body, gradually reducing the impact shock to the hydraulic system as well as the mechanical shock to the hoist, body and chassis. This new option is especially important to pavers and contractors who need precise control over material flow in the unloading process. From a maintenance standpoint, True Feather™ components are not prone to bind cables or freeze shifter spools on the pump that is common with cable controls in bad weather.

Somerset Welding and Steel, Inc. is a subsidiary of Riggs Industries and was founded in 1958. The company specializes in building aluminum and steel dump bodies and trailers for light, medium, and heavy-duty trucks and tractors. These dump body and trailer configurations are typically used in construction, road maintenance, rock and coal hauling, and demolition and excavation work. In addition, the company manufactures transfer trailers that are primarily used for hauling solid waste, mulch, wood chips and other similar materials. J&J Truck Bodies & Trailers is an ISO 9001:2000 certified company, serving clients worldwide.

For more information about Somerset Welding & Steel, please contact Shahira Hoffman, visit www.jjbodies.com, email skh@jjbodies.com or by phone 814.444.3452.