Whelen Engineering
During the 1970's Whelen Engineering continued product development, adding more aviation products and a broader line of automotive and railroad safety lighting devices. The first all strobe enclosed crossbar was introduced as the 6000 Series, replaced in 1978 by the 8000 Series. The 70's also saw the introduction of the Outdoor Warning Siren ... totally electronic and capable of not just warning tones but also high-powered voice messages! In 1983 Whelen announced a strategic advancement in lightbars the low profile "Edge 9000" Lightbar. Refined and updated for over fifteen years, the aerodynamic Edge lightbar remains an industry standard to the present day. Whelen also supported and developed the concept of uniform ambulance lighting, using more efficient and effective systems to reduce power consumption thereby increasing the reliability of these vehicles. Strobe based technology expanded into ambulance, fire and rescue apparatus, railroad, police, DOT, marine and aviation applications. The 90's saw computer-networked vehicle warning systems, programmable warning equipment and instant operating diagnostics for safer vehicle operation. Voice and siren warning intelligence moved indoors for plant-wide employee warning systems.1998 unveiled "Fasttrax", a slick roof line lightbar for the police market. By the year 2000 Whelen had designed and developed the newest LED technology to create a diverse line of lighting products with exceptional performance and reliability. In April, 1987 Whelen incorporated a second facility, Precision Assembly Company which was quickly moved from a leased facility to its present location in Ceda Industrial Park. There, in a 10,000 square foot building, less than two dozen employees built sub-assemblies for the emergency warning products marketed by the parent company. In 1991 TPG, The Plastics Group, joined PAC to fill the need for high quality, injection molded plastic components, vital to the product line. As demand for the highly regarded Whelen products grew, so did the two companies and today the facility supports a work force of approximately three hundred people in a plant of over 126,000 square feet! Besides millions of plastic components, the Charlestown facility manufactures a wide range of products from single beacons and power supplies to lightbars and complete lighting systems. The garage workshop in Deep River, Connecticut has grown to a bustling 125,000 square foot plant in Chester. Today, the acknowledged leader in the emergency warning industry, Whelen Engineering Company, along with Precision Assembly Company, and The Plastics Group, look confidently to the challenges of the new century. This confidence is grounded on a belief that the support of customers, employees, and community provides the synergy for success. Click on the link to see the company home page. Whelen Engineering (opens in new window)
|
