Ten Safety Innovations that Transformed an Industry

Pioneering safety solutions since 1972

ECCO maintains a tradition of innovation in safety that stretches over 47 years. What started with the back-up alarm has blossomed into an extensive catalog of devices and solutions designed for multiple industries to fill a variety of safety needs.

The Electronic Controls Company was founded in 1972 with a mission to protect people by manufacturing performance optimized products. Since then, ECCO has trailblazed a path towards that goal with ground-breaking technology and industry-leading innovations.

Backing Up, Going Forward

1 Only a few years after bringing the humble back-up alarm to market, ECCO engineers devised two significant improvements that set an industry standard. In order to reduce noise pollution and maximize efficiency, the Smart Alarm was the first device to listen as well as alert. It was calibrated to adjust its tone 5 dB above the ambient sound that the device measured. Not only did this enhance worker safety in noisy construction sites but it lessened the audible footprint of commercial vehicles that routinely operated in residential areas.

2 The next significant upgrade followed soon after. The Reverse Motion Sensor (RMS) activated the alarm as soon as it detected any backwards motion, whether the vehicle was running or not. This added layer of warning further enhanced worker and public safety.

A Few Bright Ideas

3 As technology improved and LED modules took the industry by storm, ECCO listened to customers transitioning from traditional halogen lights. The RotoLED™ had the look and functionality of a conventional rotator beacon but used an LED head and a brushless, magnetic drive. The unique drive system boosted efficiency, reduced maintenance issues and made the device whisper quiet. This hybrid beacon was a hit when it launched and it is still available to order today.

4 Smaller LED components allowed warning lights to be placed virtually anywhere on a vehicle’s surface. The Hide-A-LED™ series was introduced to complement beacons and lightbars. These compact warning lights were flush-mounted and delivered intensely bright output.

5 In the same category, the Stick-A-LED™ line offered the very first warning light with an adhesive back elminating the need to drill holes or permanently alter the vehicle's surface.

6 Total Internal Reflection (TIR) optics shifted the industry into high gear by controlling and focusing the light beam. The first major warning light platform to feature these improved optics was the Reflex® minibar. The Reflex series is low-profile and packs a powerful LED punch with 360° of coverage. The streamlined design and advanced optics make Reflex the most popular safety solution in ECCO’s catalog. major vehicle modifications greatly reduced costs and lead time.

Meeting Tomorrow's Safety Challenges

7 Like the RotoLED, ECCO’s engineers and product managers acted on customer feedback and introduced Lo-Glo functionality to an innovative worklight, the Equinox™. The soft, even beam was built into the center of the light head and its purpose was to illuminate obstructions or hazards in and around the vehicle.

8 The most recent breakthrough was the debut of the world’s first modular lightbar system. The line of Axios® lightbars represents ECCO’s commitment to its customers. For the first time, distributors and end-users had the power to customize their lightbars with unlimited build options. Modifying the components did not require the use of tools. Built to suit with zero lead time; this advancement was as much a technical achievement as a huge step forward for customer service.

9 ECCO continues to explore new technologies that will mold the industry well into the digital age. Like the Smart Alarm 35 years earlier, the Electric Vehicle Alert System (EVAS) represents the next evolution in automotive safety. EVAS provides a 360° perimeter of audible warning for electric vehicles that are otherwise silent while driving.

10 Digital alerting is another revolution on the horizon. Beyond flashing lights and alarms, vehicles’ infotainment displays can be used to communicate the locations of hazardous situations or public works vehicles operating on the roadway.