Whelen: Manufactured in America for over 70 years—we never left, and we’re here to stay.
About us
Whelen Engineering—a global leader in the emergency warning industry—has been manufacturing in America since 1952, proudly marking its 70th anniversary in 2022.
Whelen designs and manufactures reliable and powerful warning lights, white illumination lighting, sirens, controllers, and high-powered warning systems for Automotive, Aviation (Whelen Aerospace Technologies – WAT), and Mass Notification industries worldwide.
Founded in 1952 by George W. Whelen in his garage in Deep River, Connecticut, Whelen now encompasses two state-of-the-art facilities in Connecticut and New Hampshire with over 1,000,000 square feet of manufacturing space.
As the industry leader, Whelen proudly supports American workers in the manufacturing of its products and stands behind quality American innovation and craftsmanship in every product it turns out.
With the largest design staff in the industry and 1,500 employees, Whelen’s mission is to protect those who protect and serve others by making reliable products that people can depend on when lives are on the line.
Whelen products are proudly designed, sourced, and manufactured in America, and tested on-site to meet the toughest industry certifications. With quality as the foundation, Whelen celebrates innovative engineering with every product made.
Whelen: Manufactured in America for over 70 years—we never left, and we’re here to stay.
Design & Engineering
The largest staff of design engineers in the industry. Many of our engineers are fire volunteers and EMTs. They know first-hand the critical need for innovative, life-saving products.
Injection & Vacuum Molding
1,723 molds, 40 molding machines – from 55- to 1,500-ton capacity, 21 million parts produced in the 2021 calendar year. Vacuum forming machines produce irregularly shaped components not suitable for injection molding.
Electronics Manufacturing
Surface mount and through-hole circuit boards are manufactured, assembled, and tested in-circuit.
Fabrication
Our in-house sheet metal fabrication process uses all the latest technology, including robotic laser cutting, bending and drilling. From hard-coating, metalizing, and in-house plastics, all of our production processes combine hand craftsmanship with the most advanced technology for the highest quality products.
Finished Processes
The hard-coating of lenses and powder coating of housings makes them resistant to weather and abrasion. Metalizing reflectors add reflectivity and help prevent corrosion and oxidation.
Production Machine Shop
State-of-the-art milling machines, CNC lathes, and screw machines make the precision parts required for our products.
Quality Control & Testing
Strict quality control is maintained throughout the manufacturing process. Certified on-site test labs facilitate product development and shorten lead times.
Repair, Service & Training
Whelen’s goal is to get a product repaired and back to the customer within 24 hours. Authorized service facilities are located around the globe. Training is available not only at the Chester, CT, training facility, but also at sites around the country.
