Federal Signal Corporation

{{Short description|American manufacturer headquartered in Downers Grove, Illinois}} {{for|the railway signal manufacturer|Federal Signal Company}} {{primary sources|date=May 2017}} {{Infobox company | name = Federal Signal Corporation | logo = Federal-signal.svg | type = Public | traded_as = {{nyse|FSS}}<br>S&P 600 component | industry = Public safety | founded = {{sda|1901}} | location = Downers Grove, Illinois, United States | key_people = Jennifer Sherman, President & CEO | products = Emergency vehicle equipment, warning sirens and public safety systems | revenue = {{profit}}$1 billion+ USD (reference: 2018 10K) | num_employees = ~3,300 | website = https://www.federalsignal.com }}

'''Federal Signal Corporation''' is an American manufacturer headquartered in Downers Grove, Illinois. Federal Signal manufactures street sweeper vehicles, public address systems, emergency vehicle equipment, and emergency vehicle lighting.

The company operates two groups: '''Federal Signal Environmental Solutions''' and '''Federal Signal Safety and Security Systems'''. Federal Signal Environmental Solutions Group manufactures street sweeper vehicles, sewer cleaner and vacuum loader trucks, hydro excavators, waterblasting equipment, dump truck bodies, and trailers. Federal Signal Safety and Security Systems Group manufactures campus alerting systems, emergency vehicle lighting, emergency sirens, alarm systems, outdoor warning sirens, and public address systems.

Currently, the company has 14 manufacturing facilities in 5 different countries.<ref name="Who We Are">{{cite web|url=https://www.federalsignal.com/who-we-are|title=Who We Are|website=Federal Signal|access-date=3 September 2019}}</ref>

==History== Federal Signal was founded in Chicago, Illinois, as the Federal Electric Company in 1901 by brothers John and James Gilchrist and partner John Goehst, manufacturing and selling store signs lit by incandescent lamps. By 1915, they began manufacturing and selling electrically operated mechanical sirens (such as the Q Siren and the Model 66 Siren). During this time, Federal Electric came under the ownership of Commonwealth Edison, eventually becoming a part of the utility empire of Samuel Insull.<ref name="History">{{cite web|url=http://www.company-histories.com/Federal-Signal-Corp-Company-History.html|title=Federal Signal Corp.|website=Company Histories|access-date=14 May 2015}}</ref>

By the 1950s, the company was manufacturing outdoor warning sirens, most notably the Thunderbolt series, primarily intended for warning of air raid attacks or fallout during the Cold War.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://wiki.airraidsirens.net/Thunderbolt_Siren_Series |title=Thunderbolt Siren Series |website=wiki.airraidsirens.net |access-date=2020-11-27}}</ref> Many of these sirens have been removed, but some still are operating in tornado siren systems. Longtime engineer Earl Gosswiller patented the Beacon-Ray and TwinSonic products, which were popular emergency vehicle lightbars.

In 1955, the company became a corporation, renaming itself "Federal Sign and Signal Corporation" {{Citation needed|date=June 2022}}. By this time, it made outdoor warning sirens, police sirens, fire alarms, and outdoor lighting.

By 1961, Federal Sign and Signal had gone public, trading on the NASDAQ market. This was when new products started being manufactured and sold, such as the Federal Signal STH-10. In 1962, the company merged with Electrical Products Corporation, a sign manufacturer based in Los Angeles.<ref>{{cite news |title=Other Meetings |url=https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1962/06/26/82048628.html?pageNumber=41 |work=The New York Times |agency=UPI |date=June 26, 1962 |page=41 |url-access=subscription}}</ref>

In 1976, the company became Federal Signal Corporation.

On Feb 22, 2000, Federal Signal Corporation announced the signing of a definitive agreement for the acquisition of P.C.S. Company.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/277509/000027750901000006/0000277509-01-000006-0004.txt|title=Federal Signal Annual Report, 2001, See note K|date=September 3, 2019|website=SEC.gov}}</ref>

On June 27, 2005, Federal Signal Corporation announced the signing of a joint venture agreement to establish a Chinese company, Federal Signal (Shanghai) Environmental & Sanitary Vehicle Company Limited, based near Shanghai, China.<ref>{{cite web|title=Federal Signal Corporation Announces Establishment of Federal Signal Environmental & Sanitary Vehicle Company, Ltd|url=http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Federal+Signal+Corporation+Announces+Establishment+of+Federal+Signal...-a0133589383|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141031214705/http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Federal+Signal+Corporation+Announces+Establishment+of+Federal+Signal...-a0133589383|archive-date=October 31, 2014|website=The Free Library}}</ref>

On February 29, 2016, Federal Signal announced the signing of a definitive agreement for the acquisition of Canada's largest infrastructure-maintenance equipment supplier Joe Johnson Equipment ([https://www.jjei.com/ 1]), and the rights to the name and company.<ref>{{cite press release |url=http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/federal-signal-executes-agreement-to-acquire-joe-johnson-equipment-300227444.html|title=Federal Signal Executes Agreement to Acquire Joe Johnson Equipment|website=PR Newswire|access-date=13 May 2016}}</ref>

On May 8, 2017, Federal Signal announced the acquisition of Truck Bodies and Equipment International (TBEI), making it the owner of six dump body and trailer brands, including Crysteel, Duraclass, Rugby Manufacturing, Ox Bodies, Travis and J-Craft.<ref>{{cite web |title=Federal Signal Executes Agreement to Acquire Truck Bodies and Equipment International |url=https://www.federalsignal.com/federal-signal-executes-agreement-acquire-truck-bodies-and-equipment-international-0 |publisher=Federal Signal Corporation |access-date=2020-11-13 |archive-date=2020-10-26 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201026164214/https://www.federalsignal.com/federal-signal-executes-agreement-acquire-truck-bodies-and-equipment-international-0 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Federal Signal to Acquire Truck Bodies and Equipment International |url=https://www.forconstructionpros.com/trucks/press-release/20860654/federal-signal-corporation-federal-signal-to-acquiretruck-bodies-and-equipment-international |website=For Construction Pros Magazine |date=8 May 2017 |access-date=2020-11-13}}</ref>

On July 2, 2019, Federal Signal completed the acquisition of the assets and operations of Mark Rite Lines Equipment Company, Inc., a manufacturer of road-marking equipment. along with HighMark Traffic Services, Inc., which provides road-marking services in Montana. The signing of the purchase agreement was previously announced on May 14, 2019.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.federalsignal.com/sites/default/files/InvestorNewsReleases/2019-07-02_federal_signal_completes_acquisition_of_mark_rite_lines_equipment_company_inc._.pdf|title=Federal Signal Completes Acquisition of Mark Rite Lines Equipment Company, Inc.|date=July 2, 2019|website=Federal Signal|access-date=2019-09-03|archive-date=2019-09-03|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190903191302/https://www.federalsignal.com/sites/default/files/InvestorNewsReleases/2019-07-02_federal_signal_completes_acquisition_of_mark_rite_lines_equipment_company_inc._.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref>

On November 17, 2022, Federal Signal announced the signing of a definitive agreement to acquire substantially all the assets and operations of Blasters, Inc. (“Blasters”), a leading manufacturer of truck-mounted waterblasting equipment, for an initial purchase price of $14 million, subject to post-closing adjustments. In addition, there is a contingent earn-out payment of up to $8 million. <ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.federalsignal.com/federal-signal-expand-its-specialty-vehicle-platform-executing-agreement-acquire-blasters-inc|title=Federal Signal to Expand its Specialty Vehicle Platform by Executing Agreement to Acquire Blasters, Inc.|date=November 17, 2022|website=Federal Signal|access-date=November 18, 2022|archive-date=November 18, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221118193320/https://www.federalsignal.com/federal-signal-expand-its-specialty-vehicle-platform-executing-agreement-acquire-blasters-inc|url-status=dead}}</ref>

On February 12, 2025, Federal Signal announced the acquisition of Waterblasting, LLC, owner of Hog Technologies ("Hog"), a leading U.S. manufacturer of truck-mounted road-marking, line-removal, and waterblasting equipment for an initial purchase price of $78.1 million. The initial purchase price, which was funded through existing cash on hand and borrowings under the Company's revolving credit facility, was subject to certain customary adjustments for working capital and debt-like items. In addition, there was a contingent earn-out opportunity included of up to $15 million, based on the achievement of specified financial targets during 2025. Additionally, Federal Signal entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Hog's primary manufacturing facility in Stuart, Florida for $14.5 million. <ref>{{cite press release |title=Federal Signal Completes Acquisition of HOG Technologies, a Leading US Manufacturer of Road Marking, Line Removal, and Waterblasting Equipment |url=https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/federal-signal-completes-acquisition-of-hog-technologies-a-leading-us-manufacturer-of-road-marking-line-removal-and-waterblasting-equipment-302374807.html |publisher=PR Newswire |date=February 14, 2024 |access-date=February 15, 2025}}</ref>

November 26, 2025 — Federal Signal Corporation announced that it has completed the acquisition of Scranton Manufacturing Company LLC d/b/a New Way Trucks (“New Way”), an industry-leading U.S.-based designer and manufacturer of refuse collection vehicles. The signing of the purchase agreement was previously announced on Sept. 24, 2025

January 16, 2026 — Federal Signal Corporation (NYSE: FSS) (the “Company”), a leader in environmental and safety solutions, announced that it has completed the acquisition of Mega Corp. (“Mega”), a leading manufacturer of specialty vehicles and equipment for use in global metal extraction and construction markets.

==Discontinued products== ===Federal Signal STH-10=== thumb|Federal Signal STH-10 The '''Federal Signal STH-10''' is a discontinued omnidirectional siren produced by Federal Signal over a span of 50 years.<ref>{{Cite web |title=2-5-SD10-STH10-STL10-255A154F.pdf |url=https://www.civildefensemuseum.com/sirens/manuals/2-5-SD10-STH10-STL10-255A154F.pdf |access-date=October 1, 2024 |website=Civil Defense Museum}}</ref> It has twelve ports with a 10 horsepower AC Motor. Most examples are still around today.

===Federal Signal Thunderbolt=== The '''Federal Signal Thunderbolt''' is a discontinued series of rotating sirens produced by Federal Signal from 1952 to 1990, during the Cold War to warn of a nuclear attack. The three most common models made were the single-tone 1000, dual-tone 1000T, and the 1003 that came with a solenoid to make a hi-lo signal. Many towns in the United States still use Thunderbolts to warn the public in the event of severe weather, such as when a tornado warning is issued, but many Thunderbolts are now collecting rust in graveyards of companies assigned to install and remove civil defense sirens, where they can be purchased and refurbished by private collectors.

==References== <references /> {{refbegin}} * [http://www.fundinguniverse.com/company-histories/Federal-Signal-Corp-Company-History.html Company History - Federal Signal Corp. (Funding Universe)] {{refend}}

Category:Companies listed on the New York Stock Exchange Category:Fire detection and alarm companies Category:Emergency population warning systems Category:Sirens (alarms) Category:Oak Brook, Illinois Category:Companies based in DuPage County, Illinois Category:Emergency services equipment makers Category:Articles containing video clips