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November 8-9, 2011

Ontario Convention Center

Ontario, California

ADDITIONAL EVENTS:

November 8 2011  COPSWEST Annual Charity BBQ
Ontario Convention Center

November 10, 2011  COPSWEST Annual LA County
Sheriff’s Police Vehicle Test Day
Auto Club Speedway, Fontana

By Jeff Woodburn

Friday, September 23, 2011

‘The low-wage argument doesn’t fly,’ says John Olson, CEO of Whelen Engineering on how the U.S. can compete with offshore manufacturers. ‘Canada and Europe are succeeding at manufacturing.’ (Photo by Annie Card)

Two things make John Olson angry — questions about retirement and the passive acceptance that U.S. manufacturing is dying.

Olson, the president and CEO of Whelen Engineering Company, of Charlestown, N.H., and Chester, Conn. — one of the state’s most successful, innovative manufacturing companies, with over 1,200 employees — scoffs at both suggestions with equal gruffness.

At first glance, the 72-year-old Olson seems more like a relic than a revolutionary. He’s worked at the same company for 53 years and has seen many of his fellow manufacturers go under or move offshore. But Whelen Engineering has not merely survived, it has dramatically expanded while staying true to its niche as a provider of emergency lighting to the aircraft industry and public safety sector.

Whelen Engineering is the only major U.S. manufacturer of emergency warning equipment that still makes its products entirely in the United States.

"He is rabid about making things in the USA," said George Bald, commissioner of the New Hampshire Department of Resources and Economic Development. "(It’s) amazing. He refuses to buy any components offshore. If he can’t find a U.S. supplier, he makes it himself."

When Olson left the University of New Hampshire in 1958, armed with a mechanical engineering degree, U.S. manufacturing ruled — and he was, like his college roommate, Wendell Jesseman, CEO of New England Wire Technologies, destined to make things.

Back then, the majority of New Hampshire’s workforce was employed in manufacturing industries.

"I lived through World War II," he said. "Our ability to win the war was (based) on our capacity to manufacture. Everything we needed we manufactured."

Ambulance lights

After college, Olson went to work for George Whelen III, who in 1952 began developing the earliest rotating strobe lighting for anti-collision aircraft beacons.

But the Connecticut company’s big breakthrough came when it developed the magnetic mountable emergency lights that could easily convert regular vehicles into emergency ones. In those days, it was common for the small-town funeral director’s hearse to be used as the ambulance.

For more than a half century, Olson found himself at the center of an expanding market for emergency technology for police, fire, EMS and other emergency services. In 1976, he became the company’s president.

Whelen has four divisions — automotive, industrial, aviation and mass notification. It has 25 sales, service and warehouse facilities throughout the world.

One of the company’s signature products is the mounted emergency warning light, the "Liberty Light Bar," which was featured on the television series "How It’s Made."

Whelen’s "Howler" ambulance siren sends low-frequency tones that make nearby vehicles reverberate. It has been credited with reducing intersection ambulance crashes by half.

Whelen also partners with NASCAR as the "Officially Licensed Warning Lights of NASCAR" and sponsors the "Whelen All American Series" races.

Granite State gradually

As Whelen Engineering grew larger and expansion became necessary, Olson felt a tug toward New Hampshire. "I always liked New Hampshire," he said, "and vowed I’d do that."

The draw was more than emotional, he said.

"We’re lucky in New Hampshire," said Olson, as he ticked off a list of attributes, including low taxes, little regulation and a high quality of life. He gave bipartisan praise to the Legislature "that works for a living and understands what it takes to be competitive" and Gov. John Lynch, who is "a professional manufacturer (and) he’ll do anything for it."

With his operation split between the two states, he has a unique vantage point.

"When I bring an employee from Connecticut to New Hampshire," he said, "it’s a 25 percent pay hike."

They also join a sturdy local workforce. One of these employees, who moved up from Connecticut, told him, "People up here want to work." Olson said the state should do more to promote itself to smaller manufacturers.

Olson’s move to New Hampshire was gradual. Starting in 1987 with a 4,000-square-foot building, the company now has over 285,000 square feet.

But his New Hampshire operation hasn’t been without problems. He had a 10-year tussle with National Grid to bring electric power to a new 50,000-square-foot building.

"It was empty," he said of the building, "I couldn’t even turn on the lights — now it’s half full of machinery and people." It took Olson going to the state’s Public Utilities Commission to get the power supply he needed.

Whelen Engineering’s mantra is "quality throughout," from research to design, production to service. This takes the right mix of people and machinery, Olson said, and the company invests heavily in both.

Whelen employees have enjoyed profit sharing since the 1950s, and they stay with the firm an average of 22 years.

"The goal has to be better design and more efficiency," he said. That means designing robots to do monotonous work, increasing responsibility and rewards for employees and staying on top of the newest trends and cutting-edge know-how.

For example, certain assembly line positions were hard to fill, with lots of costly employee turnover, so Olson replaced these low-paying, boring jobs with robots and hired people to run them.

This, he said, "made the job more interesting and (the employee) made better money" — and now stays longer.

This is the future, Olson said, not the rap that U.S. manufacturing can’t compete with low-wage, offshore competitors.

"The low-wage argument doesn’t fly," he said, "Canada and Europe are succeeding at manufacturing."

Buy American

It is Olson’s commitment to buying local that really puts him on the opposite end of a troubling trend.

While most companies and consumers are lured away to foreign-made products, he is steadfast in his commitment to buy American. His company has benefited from the grassroots effort to give preference to local companies, but he’s quick to point out that "in 60 years," his company has received "not a single subsidy, government program or tax incentive."

Olson insists manufacturing can enjoy a rebirth in the United States. The key, he said, is investing in modern technology. Manufacturing produces "jobs for (people of) every ability, from the mentally handicapped to Ph.D.s," he said.

At the state level, he would like to see LLCs taxed similarly to corporations, and on the federal level, a more equitable tariff system.

When "I sell products to China, I pay a tariff," he said. "Ninety-nine percent of what you buy at Walmart goes to China."

He also said he worries that schools are pushing "high-minded, not practical, math."

He needs good machinists, draftsman and technical people. Students need to be encouraged to look at careers in manufacturing, he said, but now, "kids don’t want to go into the area where their parents lost their jobs."

For more than five decades, John Olson’s products have been warning people of impending danger — and today he sees the loss of U.S. manufacturing as a serious threat.

"America will become a colony if it stops making things," he said, adding that the situation can be turned around. "It can be done."

The long awaited debut of Fueled By The Fallen (FBTF) newest memorial cars, the "9/11
Angel Series” staged  this past Tuesday morning on the lawn in front of  the  U.S. Capitol.  After months of work and consultation, FBTF founder Kevyn Major Howard (Full  Metal Jacket), volunteers and board members arrived in Washington D.C. for the unveiling.

Five new Pearl White Camaros in the 9/11 Angel Series commemorate every aspect of the  events of 9/11/2001.  One car honors the First Responders at Ground Zero, two represent the  Trade Towers, another commemorates those lost at the Pentagon and the fifth Angel Car  honors the flight victims lost on board each of the four flights.  In dynamic recognition, each  Angel Cruiser lists the names of every victim lost on that horrific day.

Thursday the Angel Cars joined the “Crossing of America” Spirit of Liberty Foundation Tour on  their final leg to New York City.  We were invited to the Pentagon where they were  met by hundreds of visitors and Pentagon staff members.   Many of the employees located the  names of family members, friends, and co-workers on both the Pentagon and Flight Victims  Memorial Cars.  As always, the emotions of all present were on full display.

November 8–9, 2011
Ontario Convention Center
Ontario, California

ADDITIONAL EVENTS:

November 8 2011
COPSWEST Annual Charity BBQ
Ontario Convention Center

November 10, 2011
COPSWEST Annual LA County
Sheriff’s Police Vehicle Test Day
Auto Club Speedway, Fontana

Six and ten switch control centers provide complete
control in a fully assembled, low cost package.

FEATURES

• Ignition controlled LED backlighting
• Compact design
• PCC6W is fully wired with six 25 amp rocker style switches
• PCC10W is fully wired with ten 25 amp rocker style switches
• Single pole/single throw switches, rated at 25 amps peak, with ‘active’ LED indicators that light up to indicate function in use
• “Piano style” back with rear mounted “captive” terminal block for easy installations
• Backlighted legend windows for easy visibility in any light

72 commonly used press-on switch function label legend tabs standard

• Backlight circuit can be connected to vehicle dimmer switch to control backlight intensity
• Individual spade-type fuses conveniently located on rear mounted fuse strip
• Aftermarket console mounting recommended but includes an adjustable 2 position universal bail bracket strap mounting kit for over or under dash mounting

Black epoxy-finished, steel housing

• Common ground post for ease of installing
• Console unit size 6” (152mm) L x 3-9/16” (91mm) D x 2-1/4” (57mm) H
• Size with adjustable bail bracket: 6-9/16” (166mm) L x 3-9/16” (91mm) D, x 3-3/8” (86mm) H (lower bracket position), 3-3/4” (96mm) H (higher bracket position)
• 12 VDC

The SCIENCE CHANNEL will be featuring an episode on the production processes of a Whelen Liberty Series Lightbar, as Whelen is the only true manufacturer of emergency warning equipment both designed and manufactured entirely in the United States. The broadcast will be on their series HOW IT’S MADE.

See the episode – Click the image below:

Goulian Aerosports partners with Whelen Engineering
Two innovative partners create multi-year strategic alliance

Maynard, MA (February 21, 2011) – Goulian Aerosports, a leading aviation marketing and air show company built upon champion pilot Mike Goulian, today announced a new partnership with Whelen Engineering Co., Inc, Chester, CT.

Whelen is a leader in aviation, automotive, and mass notification lighting and warning signals. Whelen is the only major US manufacturer of emergency warning equipment to still manufacture its products entirely in the United States in two facilities, one in Connecticut and the other in New Hampshire.

“I am very proud to be associated with Whelen Engineering not only because of their amazing products, but also because of what this company represents,” said Goulian. “To be partnered with a family owned business dedicated not only to building leading edge products but to the well being of their employees is very inspiring for my team and me. We’re looking forward to telling the world the great story of Whelen Engineering.”
Mike Goulian, an award-winning American aviator from Massachusetts, performs at air shows across North America. Mike has spent his life advancing his flying skills and showmanship through competitive aerobatic flying, constant coaching and practice, and high-performance air show display flying.

George Whelen III, founder of Whelen, developed the one of the earliest rotating, anti-collision aircraft beacons in 1952 and launched the technology that currently provides innovative safety lighting for police, fire, EMS and other emergency services. “The pride of our company is deep rooted in aviation. Mike Goulian’s commitment and dedication to excellence is shared by Whelen employees and sales partners. This makes a perfect alliance.” said Whelen’s Vice President of Aviation, Jim Olson.

This partnership will debut at the Sun’ n Fun Fly-In (Lakeland, FL) in late March. Other Whelen/Goulian 2011 aviation events will be AirVenture (Oshkosh, WI), the AOPA Summit (Hartford, CT) and one other air show in the US to be announced.

ABOUT GOULIAN AEROSPORTS Mike Goulian is an aerobatic pilot and was a three-time member of the US Unlimited Aerobatic Team – during which time he became the US National Aerobatic Champion (the highest level any pilot can achieve). He has spent the last 15+ years performing extreme aerobatics at air shows around North America. During the last 5 years he has also raced in the Red Bull Air Race World Championship. His success in the air show industry and savvy business sense gained him a 6-year sponsorship with Castrol, and more recently with airshowbuzz.com. Mike is President of Boston based aviation business, Executive Flyers Aviation.

For more information about Mike Goulian – the aviator, competitor, showman, author, lecturer and family man, please visit: www.MikeGoulian.com.

ABOUT WHELEN Whelen Engineering began in 1952 when George W. Whelen developed a rotating aircraft “anti-collision beacon.” This original concept was expanded to create a magnetic mounted beacon used by police, public safety, fire departments, and, to convert hearses to ambulance service! Throughout the years Whelen has developed strobe light technologies, outdoor warning sirens, lightbars, programmable emergency lighting and LED lighting systems for multiple industries. Whelen strives to fill the need for innovative safety warning systems with a large engineering staff backed by a state-of-the-art environmental testing laboratory.

For more information about Whelen, please visit www.whelen.com

CONTACTS

Goulian Aerosports: Marketing & Sponsorship, Karin Goulian, 617-283-2464
Whelen Engineering: Aviation Lighting Products, 860-526-9504 x 2000

FEATURES

• Fluorent Series utilizes one diode
per inch, and Fluorent Plus Series
utilizes two diodes per inch for
greater illumination.

• Clear light tubes.

• Rugged 120° Super-LED light
assemblies provide light without
taking up valuable compartment
space.

• Light tube can be rotated to direct
light where it is needed when using
the “C” clip mounting.

• Standard sizes available in 9” increments up to 63”.

• Custom lengths available.

• Includes both “C” clips for snap-in mounting and “P” clips for fixed mounting.

• LEDs provide years of trouble-free reliability, are moisture and vibration resistant for all those tough interior or exterior applications.