What's New

Jan 10, 2008
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

LOOKS, PERFORMANCE OF RONTAN'S SWEPT-BACK WINGLUX® LIGHTBAR WINS OVER POLICE FORCE

Award-winning redesigned Brentwood Police Department cruiser sports a swept-back, aerodynamic Winglux® lightbar. Photo Rontan North America.

Tarpon Springs, Fla. — The Brentwood, Calif. Police Department had already decided on the swept-back Winglux® lightbar from Rontan North America as the new look for its cruiser fleet even before winning an award for “Best Cruiser Design” at the Cops West Trade Show last fall, according to Joe Garcia, BPD Fleet Manager.

The redesigned Brentwood PD cruiser sports a new paint job, changing from all white to a black and white color scheme. Rontan’s wing-shaped lightbar replaced a conventional, linear lightbar, related Garcia, who noted that the new design has received nothing but positive feedback from members of the department and community. Three new cruisers have been outfitted with the Winglux lightbar, and the department plans to put the Winglux on the rest of the fleet, he noted.

“The Winglux has a modern look and is much more appealing than traditional lightbars that we looked at. The Winglux gives you much more lighting at a 360-degree view. The overall lighting is definitely above and beyond the other competitors,” he observed. “Our goal is to have our entire patrol fleet outfitted with the new lightbar,” he added. The BPD fleet totals 25 patrol cruisers and 40 other vehicles, including unmarked vehicles and motorcycles.

Before selecting the Winglux for the new cruiser design, the department did its homework and researched products by other lightbar manufacturers, recounted Garcia. Technology was important, as was overall lighting, he noted. “We had an abundance of vendors come in and show us their products, but ultimately our decision was based on what we felt would fit our department,” he continued.

“No matter where you’re standing, you get the full luminosity from the Winglux lightbar. That’s important to us because it not only protects our officers, but it gives us the confidence of knowing that the city is not going to be in jeopardy of a lawsuit because of ineffective lighting. The Winglux covers both the safety and the liability aspects,” Garcia commented.

In the competition, Best of Cops West 2007, this advice was offered to entrants by the sponsoring California Peace Officers Association: “Sure, we all drive Fords; most of them are black and white; many have awesome graphics. But the merit of a police car is in the equipment and the placement of that equipment. We are interested in the whole car. Someone in your agency has spent a great deal of time and money making it something your officers can rely on.”

The aerodynamic Winglux is the newest roof-mounted lightbar from Rontan North America, which specializes in emergency vehicle warning systems for law enforcement, emergency response and service vehicles. The innovative design of the WingLux® enables full 360-degree visibility and modern styling, observed Eros Vladovich, president and CEO, Rontan North America.

“Due to the swept-back design of the Winglux, at least three light heads are visible at any given time, even from the sides of the vehicle, for exceptional off-axis visibility,” he related. “Off-axis visibility and field expandability were top priorities in designing this product.”

Like all Rontan lightbars, the Winglux incorporates high-intensity LED lighting and 100% digital technology. The plug-and-play operability and modular design of the lightheads facilitate installation, quick color changes, and field upgradeability, said Vladovich.

The lightweight, low-profile lightbar assembly features a durable, one-piece polycarbonate dome and triple rubber sealing surfaces for superb weather-tight integrity, he pointed out. The lightbar is engineered for low amperage draw and long service life, he added.

The Winglux provides user-selectable flash patterns and can be configured to meet any lighting and color requirements. Directional stick functionality is standard; take-down and alley lights are available as options. All Rontan North America products are SAE compliant and meet Calif. Title 13 standards.

Rontan offers the LC1000 Digital Light Controller for serial connectivity and operational simplicity. With the LC1000, any Rontan lightbar assembly can be installed by connecting only two serial wires. The digital controller can also operate in analog mode to control other 12VDC devices.

The Rontan digital controller enables an entire lighting system to be easily programmed and activated, said Vladovich. The controller features tri-block architecture with three internal, independent electrical circuits to maximize operational readiness. Nine built-in relays drive 12V outputs.

Emergency lighting is controlled by a three-position slide switch, plus five functional switches, including a momentary contact switch, he explained. Soft-touch, positive feedback switches are backlit with a night-dimming function. The backlight color of the switches changes to red in the ON position.

Rontan lightbars are equipped with an Interface Control Module (ICM), which also enables them to be operated with controllers from other manufacturers, Vladovich related. He noted that this capability can represent a cost savings when replacing an existing lightbar.

“We developed this interface so that our digital lightbar can be used on a vehicle that already has another manufacturer’s controller installed,” he explained. “The user doesn’t have to buy our controller if the vehicle already has one. Our ICM allows us to interface with any controller in the marketplace.”

Rontan North America also offers the versatile, all-purpose Slimbar®, a low-profile, compact lightbar in multiple lengths from 23” to 57” wide for either exterior or interior applications. The 47” Slimbar is available in five standard lighting configurations, along with optional take downs and alley lights. Directional stick functionality is standard.

For low-profile vehicles, Rontan offers the Vizorlight®, a lightweight interior light assembly in a one- or two-piece design for popular vehicle models. Custom fitting and rear headliner and rear deck models are also available. The Vizorlight’s low-heat design does not require additional cooling or ventilation. It can be operated with a cigarette-plug power connection or wired with a wiring harness.

Rontan North America is a subsidiary of Brazil-based Rontan Eletro Metalurgica, Ltda., a global manufacturer of special-purpose vehicles, emergency warning systems and protective equipment. Rontan North America products are designed specifically for the U.S. market and assembled in facilities at Tarpon Springs, Fla., said Vladovich. A nationwide sales and service network operates to support users of the products.

RONTAN NORTH AMERICA, INC.
Anclote Industrial Center, Bldg. C
764 Anclote Road
Tarpon Springs FL 34689

EDITORIAL CONTACT:
McSHANE COMMUNICATIONS
Charlie McShane
(813) 832-3373
cmcshane@mcshanecom.com