Warm Weather and Holiday Parties Heighten Alcohol-Related Accident Risks and Increase Need for Precautionary Measures

Boating, bonfires, cookouts, celebrations and holiday festivities are in full swing this summer season, and Q3 Innovations, a leading developer of products focused on personal safety and monitoring devices, is prepared to keep friends and family safe while consuming alcohol. Q3 Innovations’ AlcoHAWK® Series of breath alcohol screeners are capable of testing several party-goers one after the other, making it a must-have for any summer event.

In 2008, 44 percent of deaths that occurred during holiday weekends were related to alcohol use. And, roughly 1,400 alcohol-related accidents took place over Memorial Day, Labor Day and July 4th alone in the same year.

The AlcoHAWK Series of affordable breathalyzer devices test for the presence of alcohol at various levels, such as 0.02 percent no tolerance testing or 0.08 percent. The AlcoHAWK products are FDA- and DOT-cleared digital breath alcohol screeners.

Two of the most popular AlcoHAWK breathalyzers for consumers are:

The AlcoHAWK One Test, a single-use disposable breath alcohol test, features SmartCrystal Technology™ to determine the user’s Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) in a matter of seconds. The One Test is a cost-effective option for individuals testing themselves or loved ones just a few times or less per month.

The AlcoHAWK Slim Ultra operates on a single button and includes removable mouthpiece covers, allowing multiple testers to use the device back-to-back. The Slim Ultra is the ideal device for portable testing with professional quality. Its sleek and compact design makes it easy to carry for personal use.

“We highly encourage those who consume alcohol to do so in an appropriate and safe manner, and our AlcoHAWK Series helps support this important message,” says Don Ryan, co-owner of Q3 Innovations, LLC. “Too many unnecessary and preventable alcohol-related accidents happen during the summer months. The One Test and Slim Ultra provide an affordable means of testing family and friends, and it fits right in your pocket or purse.”

The AlcoHAWK One Test is available in a two-pack unit in the Wal-Mart pharmacies for $9.99. The Slim Ultra can be found at CVS for $49.99 and includes three mouthpieces, an owner’s manual, a quick start guide and a one year warranty. AlcoHAWK digital units may also be found in Meijer pharmacy departments, as well as Shopko. All AlcoHAWK Series products can be found at www.alcohawk.com.

Q3 Innovations

Q3 Asset Acquisition, LLC doing business as Q3 Innovations, is a Quest Products-owned Independence, Iowa-based product design, development and distribution company creating innovative products with an emphasis in personal safety and monitoring devices. The AlcoHAWK® Series breath alcohol detectors are designed to provide a series that could meet the needs for a wide range of personal and professional alcohol testing applications. From low-cost semiconductor screeners to professional fuel-cell screeners, the AlcoHAWK® Series are affordable screening devices that allow the user to test for the presence of alcohol at threshold blood alcohol levels, such as 0.02 percent no tolerance testing or other popular levels such as 0.08 percent. To learn more, visit http://www.q3i.com.

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(LIBERTYVILLE, IL – January 15, 2010) – Q3 Asset Acquisition, part of Quest Products, Inc., a Consumer Product Company has purchased essentially all assets of Q3 Innovations, LLC, a privately held manufacturing and distribution company. “We are extremely pleased to have acquired the assets of Q3 and are excited about the opportunity the Q3 product line offers,” said Don Ryan, President of Quest Products.

Q3 Innovations, LLC, a leader in the personal safety and monitoring device market, developed the AlcoHAWK® brand of breath alcohol testers, ThermoHAWK™ brand of infrared thermometers and UV HAWK™ brand of ultraviolet sunlight meters. The AlcoHAWK® brand is sold worldwide in over 30 countries, and can be found on retail shelves across the United States. “We are extremely proud of the brand recognition and distribution channels we have developed with the AlcoHAWK®, ThermoHAWK™ and UV HAWK™ product lines,” said Brian C. Eddy, CEO. “We have always stressed the importance of high quality products and brand recognition for our product lines,” emphasized Chad Ronnebaum, President. “As a co-founder of Q3 Innovations, the decision to sell the product lines we created wasn’t an easy one.  However, given Quest Products’ desire to maintain distribution, marketing, sales and servicing from our Independence, Iowa location, we are excited to see our product lines taken to a new level,” added Eddy. Sarah Wieland, Vice President of Sales of Q3 Innovations, has been promoted to General Manager of the Independence, Iowa facility.

Assets of Q3 Innovations will be managed from Quest Product’s company headquarters in Libertyville, IL while the main distribution and service facility in Independence, IA will continue to operate all day-to-day processes.  “It is extremely important for Quest to maintain the quality and integrity of the products and brands we have acquired. So, it was a natural decision to keep the Independence facility intact and functioning with the same employees who have helped it thrive,” added Ryan.

Quest Products, established in 2001 and based in Libertyville, IL, is a diverse consumer products company. Quest Products specializes in manufacturing, retail distribution and ecommerce drop-ship distribution of consumer products.  Quest was recognized as one of the fastest growing private companies in the United States by Inc. magazine in 2008 and 2009.

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(INDEPENDENCE, Iowa – June 1, 2009) – Q3 Innovations, LLC is pleased to introduce the new AlcoHAWK® One Test, a low-cost disposable alcohol tester.  Q3 entered into a private label and exclusive distribution agreement with the Québec-based manufacturer, AlcoTest Québec. Q3 will be the exclusive distributer of the One Test in the United States.

The AlcoHAWK® One Test is a disposable hand-held alcohol screening device and has recently obtained FDA 510(k) Pre-Market Notification clearance after several years of success on the Canadian market.  “We are very excited about this addition to our AlcoHAWK® line up. The One Test gives us the opportunity to offer an even more affordable zero-tolerance testing device”, stated Sarah Wieland, VP of Sales.

The disposable unit, designed for testing at specified BAC thresholds, provides fast results and is easy to use.  The user simply blows through the tube and a color change inside the tube indicates whether the breath sample is at or above the BAC testing level of the unit.  Unlike other disposable testers on the market, the One Test features an indicator to let the user know whether a sufficient breath sample has been obtained.  The MSRP for the One Test is just $3.99 per unit.

In addition, Q3 Innovations, LLC is pleased to announce the appointment of AlcoTest Québec, Inc. as its official exclusive distributor of the AlcoHAWK® PT500 and AlcoHAWK® PT500P fuel-cell breath alcohol testers throughout Canada.  “AlcoTest Québec has specialized in the distribution and promotion of breath alcohol detectors in Canada for many years.  They have an established network and excellent customer service, and we are delighted to have them handle the increased distribution of our AlcoHAWK® PT500 and PT500P models throughout Canada,” said Brian Eddy, CEO of Q3 Innovations.

The AlcoHAWK® PT500 and PT500P are two of the most advanced units in the AlcoHAWK® product line. The handheld breath alcohol testers boast fuel-cell sensor technology. This advanced sensor technology is not subject to acetones, which means there is no risk of false positives from the keytones found in people with diabetes and those on fad diets.

“Our AlcoHAWK® product line has transformed numerous times over the last 10 years,” said Eddy.   “We are proud to offer a diverse selection for anyone wanting to test for blood alcohol content. From the One Test disposable unit to the advanced fuel-cell PT series units, we truly have something for everyone.”

All AlcoHAWK® breathalyzer units are available for purchase through www.alcohawk.com.

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(INDEPENDENCE, Iowa – April 29, 2009) – Q3 Innovations, LLC is pleased to announce the inception of the Q3 Cares Contest. The contest will reward one lucky high school or school district a new AlcoHAWK® PT500 fuel-cell breath alcohol tester. The winning prize is part of the AlcoHAWK® PT Series fuel-cell sensor product line and is often used by law enforcement as a roadside screener.

“Our goal is to share a great technology with educators. We would like to aid in the quest to deter underage drinking and keep our children safe and on the path to success,” said Brian Eddy, CEO. “Parents are often interested in our products to help in the practice of a zero-tolerance atmosphere at home. Extending that practice to cover school activities sends a clear message that underage drinking is dangerous and will not be tolerated,” added Chad Ronnebaum, President.

To nominate a school or district and view full contest rules, please visit www.q3i.com. Entries close June 15, 2009,
with a random drawing held June 18, 2009.

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(INDEPENDENCE, Iowa – August 4, 2008) – Q3 Innovations, LLC has received 510(k) pre-marketing clearance from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on its AlcoHAWK® PT500 digital breathalyzer. The AlcoHAWK® PT500 is now available for commercial distribution for personal use throughout the United States and is an ideal model for professional breath alcohol testing.

The AlcoHAWK® PT500 is part of Q3’s AlcoHAWK® PT Series fuel-cell breathalyzer line. It features an advanced pressure sensor to ensure the user blows with enough force to start a test and that they continue to blow through the unit throughout the entire test. The PT Core™ sensor is robust and lasts for thousands of tests making it suitable for professional testing applications. This advanced sensor technology is not subject to acetones, which means there is no risk of false positives from the keytones found in people with diabetes and those on fad diets. The PT Core™ sensor offers greater linear accuracy and sensitivity than traditional semi-conductor breath alcohol testers, which is important when conducting professional alcohol screening. Breathalyzers using traditional semi-conductor sensors have a higher incidence of false positives from interfering substances such as keytones.

“We are very happy that we can offer such a technologically advanced model directly to consumers.  Now everyone has access to a fuel-cell breathalyzer at an affordable price”, said Brian Eddy, CEO.

The MSRP for the AlcoHAWK® PT500 Pro Kit is $299.99 and includes a hard case, soft carrying pouch, 2 AA batteries, 50 individually wrapped mouthpieces, owner’s manual, quick start guide and a one-year limited warranty. The MSRP for the AlcoHAWK PT500 gift box set is $199.99 and includes a soft carrying case, 5 individually wrapped mouthpieces, owner’s manual, quick start guide and a one-year limited warranty. Please visit Q3 Innovations online for more information about the new AlcoHAWK® PT Series, www.q3i.com.

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