Westin Lighting: When Fabrication Meets Illumination

May 18, 2019April 20, 2022 Mag Boddington 0 Comments LED, LED lighting, Lighting Upgrades, Westin, Westin Lighting

We recently sat down with Junior Calvert of Westin Automotive to chat LED lighting trends, which you can read here. And, as promised, we’re back to take a more in-depth look at how his company is innovating in the segment.

You know the name Westin likely for its heavy-duty exterior accessories—namely steel replacement bumpers, grille guards, and running boards. And while the company has no intentions of giving up that market dominance, it understands the value of a diversified product portfolio.

Enter Westin Lighting.

Today’s lighting segment is a crowded space. On top of the steep competition of legitimate manufacturers, many seats at the table are filled by overseas companies pumping out low price “solutions” and brand name knock-offs. Trends shift in the blink of an eye. And the technology? That progresses so rapidly that today’s breakthroughs will feel obsolete by the time you finish reading this article.

So why would a successful name like Westin even bother?

“We make products that utilize LED lights,” explains Calvert. “We need LED lights to enhance our products. So, [by manufacturing them ourselves] we can offer a complete quality package with cost savings for our customers. For us, we do lighting to complement our current product offerings, and we happen to do it well.”

Take the company’s HDX LED grille for example. Sporting an 11-gauge steel frame, the grille includes one double row combo LED light bar and two flood or spot single row LED light bars, in addition to an adjustable center-row LED bar. Not to mention, the design turns more than a few heads.

Westin lighting products combine years of quality steel fabrication with progressive LED technology—and more than a few good styling cues. *Source: Facebook*

Similarly, Westin’s Contour LED DRL Bull Bar includes a 30” curved light bar. Flush-mount for a sleek, finished look, it also features what Calvert calls a “two-phase” operation. “Most bull bars are designed with a 20” light that’s either on or off, with ‘on’ usually being in a secluded area that calls for a powerful 20” LED light bar,” he explains. “Ours, you can run 24/7 [in Phase 1] as a daytime running light, adding to the look of the vehicle. Then, when you really do need the light, you go to Phase 2 for full LED power.”

Westin’s Contour LED DRL Bull Bar blends seamlessly with the styling on this 2016 Chevy Silverado. — It’s all about options. Westin’s Contour LED DRL Bull Bar offers two phases of operation: daytime running lights and full LED. *Source: Facebook*

Getting into the lighting game has allowed the company to not only provide quality LED-integrated pieces, but to also ensure its customers have a one-stop-shop for all their enthusiast needs—branded with the Westin seal of approval.

Good, Better, Best

“The industry changes so fast,” says Calvert. “Luckily, it’s moving forward, but it leaves people guessing. Today’s fad could be tomorrow’s history. That’s why we stick with the basics—the lights that everyone will continue to use, regardless of passing trends.”

Namely, single and double row LED light bars, auxiliary lights, and work lights. According to Calvert, these are the core lighting products that Westin doesn’t see falling out of favor with consumers. And as for that next-gen laser tech we’ve been hearing so much about?

“A lot of that stuff is so powerful. I just don’t see how it’s going to fit into the everyday off-road vehicle,” surmises Calvert. “High-end SEMA builds? Competitive desert racing? Sure, I can see them getting into laser technology. But for the average enthusiast, I’m just not sure where that category would go.”

For the other 98% of consumers, Westin stays focused on a curated short list. Concentration that allows the aftermarket manufacturer to take a streamlined good-better-best approach in its production, making it easier to match consumers with exactly what they need.

“If somebody wants something that’s simple, inexpensive—we have it,” says Calvert. “Somebody wants something a little further up the ladder, maybe with more of a modern black-housing look, we have that as well. And if they want something that competes with the best out there, we have that too. It’s a good-better-best scenario. It’s based on what you can afford and what the light is being used for,” he adds.

Sweetening the pot even further? A lifetime warranty on every single light, regardless of what tier you’re shopping in. “We’re confident in our lighting program,” adds Calvert. “We won’t put a cheap light in one of our products.”

What’s New?

Is that tax refund money burning a hole in your pocket? Here are some exciting new Westin lighting products that caught our eye.

HyperQ B-Force Auxiliary Lights

Designed with Westin’s patented B-FORCE black diamond tread faceplate, these 3” cube lights pack a wallop of 1,080 raw lumens with 5W Cree LED chips emitting a total of 20 bright watts. The die-cast aluminum housing keeps out moisture and dust, while also offering a trendy, blacked-out appearance. And a post-mount pivoting base makes on-the-fly light adjustments easy and convenient.

Westin lighting products look great, perform well, and feature a true plug-and-play installation. — Westin lighting products look great, perform well, and feature a *true* plug-and-play installation. *Sources: Westin, Facebook*

But the feature that stands out to us? The all-in-one packaging ensuring a headache-free installation. Making life simple, the pair pack includes two HyperQ B-FORCE LED lights, wiring harness with connector, relay and in-line fuse, switch and mounting hardware. Everything you need is packaged together at an affordable price, so you don’t have to purchase each item separately—jacking up cost and frustration.

“Plus, wiring can be complicated,” admits Calvert. “That’s why our products are true plug-and-play. The hardest part is just going through the firewall. And to any installer, that’s easy. When we make the hardest thing the easiest thing, then that makes for a quick, easy installation for anybody.”

Jeep LED Rock Light Kit

And speaking of complete packages—Westin’s new Jeep LED Rock Light Kit includes four (4) LED lights, four (4) angled rubber mounts, four (4) flat rubber mounts, wiring harness with water-resistant connectors, switch, relay, in-line fuse, and mounting hardware.

Self-tapping screws allow you to mount lights on multiple areas of the vehicle, while special lenses keep out dust and moisture—ensuring you can light up the trail with confidence (and style).

B-FORCE Roof Mount 50-Inch LED Light Bar Kit

Also new is the B-FORCE Roof Mount 50-Inch LED Light Bar Kit. Constructed of 12-gauge steel, this kit includes a 50-inch double row LED light bar, laser-cut mounting brackets, and all necessary installation pieces. The combination beam provides both spot and flood beam reflectors and packs a powerful punch of 27,000 raw lumens with 3W LED chips totaling 300 intense watts of output.