Federal Signal Vama is a company founded in 1969, pioneering the concept of police cars as we know them today. In 1992 it was acquired by the Federal Signal Corporation Industrial Group, a world leader in warning systems, which is listed on New York stock exchange. Federal Signal Vama became the European market business unit responsible for the emergency sector (Police, Fire and Ambulance) and services (Heavy Duty).

With important annual investments to develop new products, the engineering department can offer integrated solutions for all end user requirements. Because of Federal Signal Vama employee’s constant development and innovation Federal Signal Vama has built an excellent reputation for quality and performance that is appreciated by customers all over Europe.

INGENEERING AND R+D

Federal Signal Vama’s R and D department comprises a team of engineers divided in three technical categories; software, electronics and mechanics. This way, Federal Signal Vama offers integrated hardware and software solutions to enable the management of all the communications systems in the emergency and service vehicles.
A 3D printer allows the rapid development of prototypes in the early stages of the product development project. Thanks to this, Federal Signal Vama’s engineers can check that the project is practical and the product is suitable for its intended market. Market information is collected both by marketing and commercial departments.

QUALITY

The Quality department does a variety of tests and checks to ensure the products meet the level of quality expected by the European market, Federal Signal Vama’s main market place. These tests include life tests, vibration, temperature, humidity and many more, to ensure products achieve the relevant European homologations, including Regulation R65 relating to colour, light intensity and flash patterns (carried out with a photometric device and oscilloscope) and Regulation R10 relating to electromagnetic compatibility (carried out with a Faraday chamber). This high level of quality has lead to Federal Signal Vama achieving ISO 9001 and ACAU (Auto Certification Automotive Unity) certification.

PRODUCTION LINE

With two production facilities (one in Poland and one in Barcelona, Spain), Federal Signal Vama achieves a leadership and manufacturing capability that leads to a high reliability in its emergency warning systems, one of its highlights.

Our Barcelona manufacturing facility covers 7,500 square meters. Within this is our printed circuit production area utilizing Pick and Place robots, mounting components directly onto multilayer printed circuit boards. Final soldering in a convection oven is also fully automated.

Once the printed circuit boards have been checked, they have a protective varnish applied to ensure protection from adverse climatic conditions and to help to achieve an excellent performance.
Federal Signal Vama produces more than 400,000 wiring harnesses every year, using over 1,400,000 meters of electrical cable. Wiring harnesses are designed to assist installation into the emergency vehicle. All wiring harnesses are manufactured using electrical cables matched to the electrical loads and fitted with appropriate connectors.

Our lightbar production lines supply lightbars to all Europe. Federal Signal Vama manufactures more than 10 different lightbar platforms, among these, Valor lightbars with its “V” form, which reduces the risk and increases the emergency vehicle security at intersections, or the Traffic Storm lightbar, that includes a foldable LED panel, providing additional information in emergency situations. Each lightbar model is designed to meet the requirements of the different European markets.

The grill light assembly area produces lights using the latest LED technology, taking a special care in lights’ sealing, to ensure perfect waterproof products when required.

In the special production area the well known Prisoner Kits are manufactured. This system converts the rear passenger area of a police vehicle into a secure area for the prisoner, while ensuring the safety of the police officers. A thermo forming machine manufactures the different elements included on the kit, like the separated shield and the rear seats, with a 5 axis CNC machine which finishes the process and gives the final and distinctive appearance.

In the mechanical workshop a computer programed punching machine starts the manufacture of the metal housings.

The metal housings then continue to a computer programmed bending machine which finishes the product ready for final assembly.