Commack product helps power troops in Afghanistan

We have been following the various types of military equipment Long Island companies have supplied to the Defense Department for some time now and have always felt stirred by the designations given them: Tomcat, Prowler, Intruder.

But a designation we heard earlier this week left us wondering: 6 Pack!

Could it be beer? We had to go see for ourselves. Here's what we learned: 6 Pack is the designation for what is basically a big battery now in use by U.S. troops in Afghanistan to power sensors, computers and radars in the field. 6 Pack is manufactured by a relatively small company, Bren-Tronics Inc., in Commack, which has been in business since 1973 and is owned by a Vietnam veteran, Leo Brenna, who is chairman and chief executive.

6 Pack gets its power from a variety of energy sources, including solar and wind, said Sai Fung, Bren-Tronics's president. It is called 6 Pack because it is equipped with six BB-2590 batteries.

"We developed this at our own cost" last year, said Fung. And so far the investment has paid off. Fung and company contracts director Kyle Roelofs said that more than 500 of the units have been sold to the U.S. military. The 6 Pack costs between $10,000 and $20,000, depending on accessories.

Bren-Tronics describes itself as a can-do company, is privately held, and intends to stay that way. "Here, we just say, 'Let's do it,' " said Fung. "We find that so refreshing in today's world." The company has hired about 30 people this year, bringing its workforce to about 250.

The military contractor wants to expand into the industrial world and has developed a battery-based product for the New York City Fire Department. "We want to diversify," Fung said. "In peacetime, how do we sustain our business and grow?"