What Star Safety Technologies does

Star Safety Technologies (legal name: Star Safety Technologies by Grote) is a USA-based manufacturer of LED-based safety lighting and audible warning systems, headquartered at 455 Rochester St., Avon, New York. The company designs, manufactures, and assembles all products domestically and sells exclusively through an authorized distributor network. Its portfolio spans three core categories: amber, emergency, and police lighting (LED beacons, minibars, full lightbars, traffic directors, perimeter lights, sirens/speakers, backup alarms); railroad safety lighting (trainmen's lanterns, car inspector lanterns, personal safety lights); and a growing European product line. Core proprietary technologies include Star Generation IV LEDs, the patented Star Halo® rotating dual-color beacon (#8,662,702 / #8,840,268), X-Fire™ compact Class 1 LED beacon technology, Lineum X™ interior dual-color bars, S-Link System™ synchronization, CRS Technology™ rear-facing backup alarm speakers, and STARMATIC™ auto-adjust volume. Products carry SAE Class I/II/III, J845, J994, J1849, California Title 13, and IP67 certifications, and are ISO 9001:2015 manufactured. Customer segments include police/fire/EMS fleets, railroad operators, utility and construction fleets, school transportation, and traffic safety contractors.

Star was founded in 1889 as Star Headlight and Lantern Co., Inc. and was controlled by the Jacobs family across five generations before being acquired by Grote Industries on April 17, 2023, creating Star Safety Technologies by Grote as a wholly-owned holding company. Grote Industries, founded in 1889 and headquartered in Madison, Indiana, employs over 1,600 people globally across operations in Canada, Mexico, Europe, and Asia, providing Star with an expanded sales platform and cross-sell opportunities. Star's commercial motion is channel-partner-led: the website directs buyers to contact customer service to locate a nearby distributor, complemented by a "Become a Distributor" program, online catalogs, a Phazer Configurator tool for lightbar configuration, and vehicle-specific mounting brackets for fleets. Pricing is not publicly disclosed and is set via distributor negotiation.

Name

Star Safety Technologies

Legal name

Star Safety Technologies by Grote

Website

https://starsafetytechnologies.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1889

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Star Safety Technologies by Grote designs, manufactures, and assembles LED safety lighting and audible warning systems in the USA for emergency vehicle, railroad, utility, school transportation, and traffic safety fleets, selling exclusively through authorized distributors.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Vehicle Safety Lighting

NAICS

Commercial, Industrial, and Institutional Electric Lighting Fixture Manufacturing (335132)

SIC

Electric Lighting & Wiring Equipment (3640), Electronic & Other Electrical Equipment (No Computer Equip) (3600)

akta.pro primary industry

Industrial Signaling & Stack Lights (Tower/andon lights, beacons, strobes, signal columns) (IMAGAIAE)

akta.pro secondary industry

Audible-Visual Alarms & Notification Devices (Sounders, horns, siren/strobe combos for industrial use) (IMAGAIAF)

Keywords

• Emergency vehicle lighting
• LED warning beacons
• Railroad safety lanterns
• Vehicle light bars
• Backup alarms

Headquarters

HQ city

Avon

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Operations, Supply Chain, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Emergency and Warning Light Sales: Sale of LED beacons, light bars, strobe lights, warning lights and accessories for emergency vehicles, police cars, trains, and buses
2. Railroad Lighting Products: Sale of railroad-specific lighting including trainmen's lanterns, car inspector lanterns, and personal safety lights
3. Accessories and Mounting Solutions: Sale of mounting brackets, switchboxes, backup alarms, speakers, dust covers, and other accessories
4. Replacement Parts: Sale of replacement bulbs, strobe tubes, lenses and other consumable/replaceable components

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Star Safety Technologies designs, manufactures, and assembles LED-based safety lighting and audible warning systems for emergency vehicles, railroad workers, utility/construction fleets, and school transportation markets. The product portfolio includes LED beacons, light bars, minibars, traffic directors, warning sticks, railroad lanterns, personal safety lights, backup alarms, and siren speakers. All products are made in the USA at the company's Avon, New York facility and sold exclusively through an authorized distributor network.

Product overview

Star Safety Technologies, now a subsidiary of Grote Industries, manufactures a comprehensive portfolio of safety lighting and warning systems primarily for emergency vehicles, railroad, and industrial applications. The product portfolio centers on LED-based lighting solutions including beacons, light bars, lanterns, and traffic directors, complemented by audible warnings (backup alarms, sirens/speakers) and mounting accessories. Core technologies include Star Generation IV LEDs, Star Halo® patented technology, X-Fire™ LED technology, Lineum X™ dual-color technology, and S-Link System™ synchronization. Products are organized across three main categories: Amber/Emergency/Police lights (beacons, minibars, lightbars, traffic directors), Railroad products (lanterns, car inspector lights, personal safety lights), and European products. The company maintains vertical integration with all products proudly designed, manufactured, and assembled in the USA, headquartered in Avon, New York.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Star Safety Technologies: Emergency warning lights, LED beacons, lightbars, railroad lanterns, and safety lighting products for police, fire, EMS, utility, and railroad markets

Products and services

• Workshield Ultra Thin Warning Light Ultra-thin profile bezel mount warning light designed to enhance worksite visibility for police, fire, EMS, and utility workers. Can be used with or without an external flasher.
• 79243 Low Profile 360° LED Beacon Mini 360-degree LED beacon built with Star Generation IV LEDs, S-Link System synchronization, polarity protection, polycarbonate lens and base; SAE Class I and IP67 rated.
• SB44 Advanced Programmable Switchbox Compact 8-button control panel that fits in the palm of a hand, operating up to 8 lights/devices with programmable switching options and smartphone programmability.
• 2021-LED Trainman's Lantern LED-powered railroad lantern operating with three C-cell batteries; nine signal LEDs providing 360-degree illumination, 20% brighter LEDs than the 2012 model, and low-voltage red LED battery indicator.
• School Bus Safety Kit Auxiliary warning light kit that enhances safety of children boarding or leaving school buses by adding red LED lights above the front and rear bumpers to alert motorists.
• Multi-Color DLXT*MC Warning Light Ultra-thin (0.6 inch) tri-color LED warning light with thirty-six super bright Star LEDs, twenty selectable flash patterns, and auxiliary stop/tail/turn or back-up functionality.
• X-Fire™ LED Beacon Compact Class 1 LED beacon featuring X-Fire LED technology with 12 selectable flash patterns plus steady-on and durable ABS plastic base.
• 9900LED Equalizer Minibar Compact minibar featuring four Lineum LED heads providing 360-degree coverage with 12 customer-selectable flash patterns in two phases plus steady-on; SAE Class I amber rated.
• Star Phazer LED Tow Bars Economically designed LED tow bars built with Lineum Technology, featuring 12 customer-selectable flash patterns and extra-bright PC amber Lineum LED heads.
• 9100 Star Contour Dual-Color Mini-Bar Full dual-color mini-bar with 35 selectable flash patterns; available in amber/blue and amber/white configurations, Class 1 rated.
• Quick Stick Series Warning Sticks Next-generation waterproof interior/exterior mount warning sticks with 34 selectable warning flash patterns, 5 phase options, and built-in traffic director patterns.
• Ford F-Series Mounting Bracket Vehicle-specific mounting bracket for Ford F-150, F-250, and F-350 trucks that mounts with the third brake light, eliminating the need to drill holes.
• 2012™ LED Trainman's Lantern LED-powered railroad lantern utilizing LED technology for both signal and spot lamps; polycarbonate base withstands -75°F to +150°F with LEDs rated up to 100,000 hours (Design Patent D716,481).
• 215 LED Blue Light Lantern LED lantern with solid-state LEDs lasting over eleven years, low voltage warning circuit, rechargeable battery lasting up to 80 hours; available in red, blue, and orange case colors.
• 292 Trainman's Lantern Railroad lantern with computer-designed lens/optical system for increased light output and visibility; available with halogen or incandescent bulbs, Lexan base withstands -75°F to +150°F.
• 360DL LED Personal Safety Light Lightweight personal safety LED light with 60 lb. pull magnet mount and metal safety pin for clothing attachment; LEDs rated for 100,000 hours with 38+ hours average battery life.
• 500C Car Inspector Lantern Railroad lantern with strong polycarbonate case and pillow optics providing a square beam of outstanding brightness; positive action switch and easy bulb replacement.
• 500J LED Car Inspector Lantern LED-powered car inspector lantern with nine signal LEDs providing 360-degree illumination; LEDs rated for 100,000 hours with three-position sealed push button switch.
• 255HTC Star Halo® LED Beacon LED beacon with patented Star Halo® Technology (#8,662,702) featuring photocell for automatic night mode switching and modular encapsulated circuit; 12 selectable flash patterns, exceeds SAE Class I J845 standards.
• 255HTL / 255H8TL Star Halo® LED Beacons High and ultra-high intensity Star Halo® LED beacons with 12 selectable flash patterns, fully encapsulated circuitry for weather and shock resistance, and multiple mounting options.
• 240 Star X-Fire® LED Beacon LED beacon with X-Fire technology and S-Link System synchronization; durable polycarbonate lens with rugged die-cast aluminum base and powder-coat finish, SAE Class I rated.
• 200S Star X-Fire® LED Beacon LED beacon with 12 selectable flash patterns in either of two phases plus steady-on; universal permanent mount and optional magnet mount with cigarette plug, SAE Class I rated.
• ULB48-TD Star Phantom® Lineum X™ Traffic Director Dual-color undercover interior bar with 120 high-intensity Star Generation IV LEDs; traffic director capability with 6 or 8 head options, 31 selectable flash patterns, and 13 head enable settings.
• ULB38-TD Rear Window Light Dual-color interior traffic director undercover bar with Lineum X technology; six-head, 72 high-intensity Star Generation IV LEDs designed for unmarked vehicle applications.
• ULB34-1 Rear Window Light Interior-only six-head LED light with 18 high-intensity Star Generation IV LEDs and 35 customer-selectable flash patterns for undercover vehicle applications.
• ULB18 / ULB28 Star Phantom® Lineum X™ Lightbars Ultra-thin profile interior lightbars with ULB18 (48 LEDs) and ULB28 (96 LEDs) using Star Generation IV LEDs and all-white forward-facing takedown/pursuit lights with vehicle-specific mounting.
• ULB24 Star Phantom® LED Lightbar Split-Phantom interior mount LED lightbar with 24 long-life Star Generation IV LEDs; mounts under center visor clips in 15-20 minutes with included adjustable baffle to eliminate flashback.
• 258HTDL Dual-Color Star Halo® LED Beacon Dual-color warning light featuring first full-image dual-color technology with independent pattern selector for each color; Patent #8,840,268 with S-Link System synchronization.
• DLXT Series Ultra-Thin Perimeter Warning Lights Ultra-thin (0.5 inch) LED warning lights with fully encapsulated circuitry for interior or exterior mounting; available with black, chrome, or white bezels and multiple configurations.
• 1000 Phazer LED Lightbar Ultra-low profile modular lightbar with built-in two-wire Traffic Director control; available in 37, 44, 51, 58, and 65-inch lengths with configurable LED heads including spot optic and wide-spread Lineum options.
• 1400-ES & 1500-ES Phazer Essential Lightbars Economically designed LED lightbars with built-in Traffic Director; 15 customer-selectable warning flash patterns and 12 traffic director patterns, lengths 44 and 51 inches.
• DLQSMC Multi-Color Quick Stick Multi-color warning stick with 36 customer-selectable flash patterns plus 5 phase options; available in 4, 6, and 8-head configurations with built-in Traffic Director function.
• Dual Alert Smart Backup Alarm Smart backup alarm with auto-adjustable standard tone (87-112 dB) based on environmental noise levels; secondary warble tone for additional safety hazards such as liftgates, glass-filled nylon housing.
• White Noise Backup Alarms Multi-frequency white-noise backup alarms (models 73340, 73450, 73460, 73470) that reduce noise pollution while maintaining safety effectiveness; SAE J994 Type rated.
• 66 CRS Star Alarm® Back-Up Alarm Backup alarm with CRS Technology featuring a compact rear-facing speaker with heavy-duty housing, Patent #8,669,852; multiple decibel options from 77dB to 107dB.
• D-44 Cyclone Siren Speaker Ultra-compact 100-watt siren speaker (3 inches deep) with rugged glass-filled nylon housing; Patents #8,265,320 B2 and D615,443 S; SAE J1849 and California Title 13 Class A approved.
• Branch Guards (Beacon Protection) Black powder-coated steel guards protecting tall and short beacon series (240, 255, 256, 266) from branch and impact damage.

Quantifiable outcome

• LED lifespan of 100,000+ hours rated
• +3 more outcomes

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature8 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Grote IndustriescoreOthers · 17 April 2023Grote Industries acquired Star Headlight & Lantern Co., Inc. on April 17, 2023. The acquisition created Star Safety Technologies by Grote, a holding company wholly owned by Grote Industries, Inc. This combines two multi-generational family businesses focused on safety and lighting systems. Star continues to support rail, amber light, and emergency lighting markets while benefiting from Grote's combined resources and expertise.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Truck-Lite: Major commercial-vehicle lighting supplier with LED headlamps, marker lights, and signal products serving fleets and OEMs—overlaps with Star on commercial-vehicle signaling and warning visibility products.
• Federal Signal: Publicly traded diversified safety, signaling, and warning-systems company whose public-safety segment (including the legacy Whelen competitor portfolio) competes head-to-head with Star in beacons, lightbars, sirens, and backup alarms.
• Grote Industries: Star's parent company and itself a major vehicle lighting and safety systems manufacturer; significant product overlap in commercial-vehicle and work-truck lighting that creates both partnership leverage and internal cannibalization risk.
• Hella (HELLA GmbH): Global automotive lighting and electronics supplier with automotive-grade warning, signal, and work-light products that compete in adjacent commercial-vehicle and emergency-lighting categories.

Direct peers

• Code 3 (Public Safety Equipment): Specialty manufacturer of emergency-vehicle warning lights, sirens, and lightbars sold primarily through emergency-vehicle upfitters—directly comparable product portfolio to Star's emergency/police line.
• Whelen Engineering: Privately held manufacturer of LED and strobe warning lights, lightbars, and sirens for police, fire, EMS, and emergency vehicles—the closest direct competitor to Star's core amber/emergency/police product line.
• ECCO Safety Group: Manufacturer of commercial vehicle safety lighting (beacons, lightbars, backup alarms) and emergency-vehicle products—directly comparable to Star's product portfolio including the white-noise backup alarm category.
• SoundOff Signal: Manufacturer of LED warning lights, lightbars, sirens, and interior vehicle lighting for law enforcement, fire, EMS, and amber markets—direct overlap with Star's emergency-vehicle and utility/construction amber offerings.

Emerging players

• Maxxima: Value-tier LED commercial vehicle and emergency lighting supplier competing on price in beacons, lightbars, and strobes—represents the commoditization threat to Star's premium positioning.
• J.W. Speaker: Specialty LED vehicle lighting manufacturer focused on heavy-duty, agricultural, and emergency-vehicle applications with patented optics and integrated electronics—comparable in the high-performance LED niche Star targets.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/starsafetytechnologies
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/starsafetytechnologies

Compliance10 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Star Safety Technologies