Originally published February 20, 2015: WARN Industries introduced its technologically advanced ZEON Platinum winch lineup for trucks and SUVs, combining an electronic clutch with a multifunction wireless remote, IP68-rated protection and pulling capacities reaching 12,000 pounds.
Editor’s note: The ZEON Platinum is a truck and SUV winch rather than a UTV-specific model. This historical announcement is preserved because its remote-controlled clutch and wireless monitoring technology represented an important step in off-road recovery equipment.
WARN ZEON Platinum Arrives for 2015
WARN Industries announced in February 2015 that its new ZEON Platinum winches were available through the company’s worldwide dealer network. The lineup was designed for demanding truck and SUV recovery applications and introduced several features that were unusual for a production winch at the time.
WARN claimed twice the durability and a 20-percent increase in line speed compared with the company’s previous comparable designs. The winches also carried an IP68 rating intended to protect their internal components against water and dust intrusion.
ZEON Platinum Models and Capacities
The initial lineup included three configurations:
- ZEON 10 Platinum: 10,000-pound pulling capacity with steel cable and a roller fairlead.
- ZEON 10-S Platinum: 10,000-pound capacity with WARN Spydura synthetic rope and a polished aluminum hawse fairlead.
- ZEON 12 Platinum: 12,000-pound pulling capacity with steel cable and a roller fairlead.
Although these capacities are far beyond what is normally required for a UTV, the technology introduced with the ZEON Platinum helped demonstrate how electronic controls could make vehicle recovery equipment easier to operate and monitor.
Advanced Wireless Remote and Electronic Clutch
The defining feature was WARN’s Advanced Wireless Remote. In addition to controlling line-in and line-out operation, the handheld remote could electronically engage or disengage the winch clutch. This eliminated the need to reach the clutch lever on the winch when switching to freespool mode.
The remote’s display also provided feedback for winch motor temperature and vehicle battery charge. Operators could control as many as two connected accessories, including auxiliary lights or an air compressor, from the same remote.
WARN’s subsequent operating documentation continued to describe the electronic clutch, auxiliary controls and system-monitoring functions included with the ZEON Platinum platform. Operators should always consult the correct manual and follow current recovery safety procedures before using any winch.
High-Performance Winch Hardware
WARN equipped the ZEON Platinum with what it called its High-Performance Package. Components included a more powerful motor, reinforced geartrain, aluminum drum and a steel sleeve-in-drum braking system.
The company advertised a maximum line speed of up to 44 feet per minute. A convertible control pack could remain mounted on the winch or be relocated to accommodate tight installations and lower-profile mounting arrangements.
The exterior combined a satin-black finish, stainless-steel hardware and an aluminum housing intended to improve strength and corrosion resistance.
A Technological Milestone for Vehicle Recovery
The 2015 ZEON Platinum launch was significant because it moved several winch controls and monitoring functions into a single wireless device. Remote clutch operation was especially notable, allowing an operator to change between powered operation and freespooling without manually accessing the winch.
ZEON Platinum winches were covered by WARN’s limited lifetime mechanical warranty and a one-year electrical warranty in the United States and Canada at the time of their introduction. Warranty coverage and product availability may have changed since this announcement.
Current product information, manuals and recovery guidance are available through the WARN Industries website.
About WARN Industries
WARN Industries designs and manufactures vehicle-recovery winches, mounting systems, hub locks and other equipment for off-road and powersports applications. The company is headquartered in Oregon and has a long history in the four-wheel-drive and vehicle-recovery markets.
