Category: Press Releases > AMP Research    Email A Friend      Print This Page Click to enlarge AMP RESEARCH President and Founder, Horst Leitner-Selected as one of Top 100 Innovators of Orange County AMP Research—Wednesday, October 12, 2005 Irvine, CA (October 12, 2005)…Horst Leitner, President and Founder of AMP RESEARCH and previous Founder and Owner of ATK Motorcycles, has been selected as one of the Top 100 Innovators of Orange County, CA. The Orange County Register, the daily newspaper for this large metropolitan area, developed the special section as a tribute to the paper’s 100th year anniversary.      Under the direction of Leitner, AMP RESEARCH has surfaced as one of the most successful companies in the U.S. for the design and development of innovative original equipment and aftermarket automotive products including the AMP RESEARCH Power Step, a power deployable, retractable running board, and the BEDXTENDER, an aluminum cargo cage that extends the function and utility of truck beds. Prior to a focus on light truck accessories, Leitner made a series of significant improvements to motorcycle design during his first entrepreneurial venture as owner and founder of ATK. Many consider his body of work for this mode of transportation to be the most significant. As an international motocross champion, Leitner knew first hand the limitations of dirt bikes in difficult terrain. In the 1980s he made a series of innovations that included: a production level, 4-stroke motorcycle with an electric starting function, now a common feature for today’s dirt bikes. In 1989 he developed the single shock, link-less suspension system for KTM of Austria that today has become the foundation of all KTM motorcycles sold worldwide. Throughout the 1990’s, Leitner turned his attention to the sport of cycling building the most advanced full-suspension mountain bikes in world. Now in 2005 this patented design, known as the “Horst Link” is still considered the dominant suspension system on the planet. The first fully active, fully independent suspension, and the same patented design used by Specialized today.      From his early design studio and workshop in rustic Laguna Canyon to the current 40,000 square foot R&D and manufacturing facility in Irvine, CA, Leitner has been the visionary force behind an array of engineering innovations for all types of vehicles: motorcycles, bicycles, snowmobiles, ATVs, cars, SUVs and light trucks.      Jimmy Lewis, editor of Dirt Rider Magazine, says, “Horst has been an innovator of motorcycle design and performance. His concepts on suspension and chassis design woke people up to the idea of transferring power to the ground, all the while being a little ahead of the curve.” Overall, Letiner’s life work has been in the development of products that truly meet human needs and provide improved function and utility. AMP RESEARCH, headquarted in Irvine, California, is a design and engineering based manufacturer of inventive accessory products for the automotive and motorcycle aftermarket. Now in its 25th year of operation, AMP RESEARCH also serves as a supplier of car, truck and accessory products to original equipment manufacturers including: DaimlerChrysler, Ford, GM, Honda, Nissan, Mazda, Mitsubishi and Subaru. For more information, view the AMP RESEARCH Power Step Running Boards product page.  Find more products from AMP Research  Find more products in Exterior > Running Boards & Steps  Find newest products in Exterior > Running Boards & Steps  Search Google for AMP RESEARCH Power Step Running Boards  Visit AMP Research's website Manufacturer: AMP Research Location: 2552 McGaw Ave.   Irvine, CA 92614 Phone: (800)315-9613 Email: Click to email Website: Click to visit