Optronics International presented its new LampLock Anti-Theft Lighting System at the 2015 Technology & Maintenance Council (TMC) Annual Meeting in Nashville. Integrated into 4-in. round stop/tail/turn lamps and 3/4-in. marker lamps, the anti-theft design makes the lamps impossible to steal without destroying them, according to the manufacturer.
During its preliminary report to the Intermodal Association of North America (IANA) members, the Lighting Theft and Avoidance Task Force disclosed that a poll of four intermodal equipment provider fleets revealed they had collectively spent $13.5 million in 2013 to replace missing, broken or burned-out lighting on vehicle chassis. In short, more than a million stop/tail/turn and marker lamps were replaced at an average cost of $13 each (including labor and parts)—and a significant percentage of those replacements were attributed to issues of missing lamps.
“It’s clear that vanishing lights is a big problem for intermodal carriers, and this issue has plagued fleets and owner-operators within the shipping industry for years,” said Brett Johnson, president and chief executive officer of Optronics International. “We set out to solve the problem by designing an LED-based anti-theft lighting system that’s both easy to use and price competitive.”
The LampLock Anti-Theft Lighting System replaces missing 4-in. round stop/tail/turn lamps and 3/4-in. marker lamps, fitting into the holes they leave behind. The system is comprised of a specially designed single-diode LED lamp, an integrated anti-theft ring and a foam rubber gasket. In the case of the 4-in. round lamp, an available locking PL-3 receptacle grips the connector plug body, increasing resistance to detachment due to shock and vibration, noted Optronics International. The lamps snap into position and once installed, are impossible to remove without being destroyed.
“We were apprised of the IANA Lighting Theft Task Force and its mission at the same time as others in the vehicle lighting industry,” said Johnson. “The difference is we’ve used the ensuing nine months to develop and bring to market a completely viable system solution that is ready to save our industry money and headaches today.”
The 4-in. round stop/tail/turn lamps will be available with either PL-3 or weather-tight connectors, said the company. The 3/4-in. marker lamps will feature 0.180 molded bullet connectors. The new lamps meet all FMVSS 108 photometric requirements for visibility and safety. Each lamp comes with a lifetime LED warranty, and lenses and housings are made of polycarbonate material that is sonically welded.
Optronics added that its new lighting solution looks indistinguishable from incandescent lamps, making it less noticeable or attractive to thieves. Both 4-in. round and 3/4-in. lamps are expected to sell for about the same price as other LED lamps. Optronics expects the lamps to begin shipping on or about March 31, 2015.
To learn more about Optronics International, visit www.optronicsinc.com.
