BELTON, Mo. — Specialty Manufacturing, a Safe Fleet brand, has released its new Defender electric stop arm, which features a new intelligent drive system for enhanced durability and reliability.

The stop arm’s new intelligent drive system is also designed to help reduce wind flutter and overall maintenance costs for the stop arm. It will replace the 7 Series stop arm.

The new intelligent stop arm drive system includes a new motor with 200% more torque than previous versions, and a sealed design for increased reliability and reduced downtime, according to the company. An integrated closed loop controller with motor encoder was created to improve deployment accuracy. Obstruction detection technology helps prevent blade damage and can eliminate premature motor failures.

Additionally, a new heavy-duty design features a 30% thicker blade, and an increased bend radii designed to improve strength and durability. A hinge arm with a heavier gauge and single-piece component further increases the strength of the stop arm, while improving its overall aesthetic, according to Safe Fleet.

The new stop arm comes with a warranty period of three years, an increase from the previous two-year warranty.

“Defender Electric is an excellent addition to our line of school bus safety products. Its innovative design and improved reliability will help our customers reduce maintenance costs and at the same time ensure safety of students outside the bus,” said Douglas Campbell, national account manager, school bus. “The new product also comes with some options, one of which is a new wind guard. This feature will be beneficial for high-wind states where weather conditions and high traveling speed of buses usually increase the stop arm wear.”

The Defender Series electric stop arm is now available to the school bus market across the U.S. and Canada.

Detailed information about the new product is available here.