The Federal Signal story begins at the dawn of the 20th century, when the Gilchrist brothers founded Federal Electric Company, a manufacturer of electric store signs in Chicago. Since joining the New York Stock Exchange in 1969, we have grown as a diversified industrial manufacturer of specialized vehicles for maintenance and infrastructure markets, as well as safety and security products, serving customers in municipal, government, industrial, and commercial markets.
Federal Signal operates 23 principal manufacturing facilities around the world while directly managing over 30 service centers. Our customers are also supported through a network of thousands of distributor and dealer locations.
Corporate Headquarters
Downers Grove, Illinois
Fayette, Alabama
Leeds, Alabama
Tempe, Arizona
Long Beach, California
Denver, Colorado
Tampa, Florida
Post Falls, Idaho
Elgin, Illinois
Streator, Illinois
University Park, Illinois
Highland, Indiana
Gonzales, Louisiana
Lake Crystal, Minnesota
Tishomingo, Mississippi
Belgrade, Montana
Billings, Montana
Missoula, Montana
New Brunswick, New Jersey
Albany, New York
Rochester, New York
High Point, North Carolina
Monroe, North Carolina
Rugby, North Dakota
Williston, North Dakota
Toledo, Ohio
Hadley, Pennsylvania
Saegertown, Pennsylvania
Lexington, South Carolina
Houston, Texas
La Porte, Texas
Midland, Texas
Salt Lake City, Utah
Snohomish, Washington
Tacoma, Washington
Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
Nisku, Alberta, Canada
Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
Courtland, Ontario, Canada
Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
Innisfil, Ontario, Canada
London, Ontario, Canada
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Newcastle, United Kingdom
Katowice, Poland
Barcelona, Spain
Madrid, Spain
Gauteng, South Africa
As an organization, we are relentless in our commitment to our customers to build and deliver equipment of unmatched quality that moves material, cleans infrastructure, and protects the communities where we live and work.
Federal Signal’s equipment keeps society moving, which means we have a duty to help solve the trickiest problems of the future in a sustainable and ethical manner. With every product we manufacture and every service we provide, we remain steadfast in our commitment to always do what is right.
This commitment is shared throughout our organization, from our leadership to our people – and the 4,500 individuals who work each day to make this vision a reality.
We believe that the core values of integrity, honesty, and equality are fundamental to all that we do. Beyond these basic values, we believe in:
We believe “why” is the most important question of all, and we encourage each other to ask it.
Our commitment to developing our workforce means that changing business conditions will not impede the accomplishment of our mission.
While we are free to choose different tactics along the way, we will not waver from our strategy, our value proposition, and our commitment to delighting our customers.
With candor and coherence, we are willing to speak our minds.
We strive to take action wisely, applying our extensive body of knowledge for the benefit of our customers, our employees, and our company.
We care deeply about our customers, and about our fellow employees. We are relentless in the pursuit of solutions to customer problems, and we will empower our employees to help them better meet those customer needs.
Without the belief that we are likely to succeed, we guarantee that we will not.
Founded in 1901, Federal Signal joined the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) in 1969, trading under the ticker symbol FSS. Our story is one of more than a century of innovation and growth.
The Federal Electric Co., a manufacturer of electric signs is incorporated in Illinois by brothers John and James Gilchrist and partner John Goehst.
The young company diversifies its growing product line by purchasing the patents for an electrically operated siren.
Federal Electric comes under the ownership of Commonwealth Edison, becoming part of the utility empire of Samuel Insull.
The company becomes independent again and sales continue to grow as new applications for its signs and signals are developed. During World War II, the company provides sirens to warn Londoners of incoming air raids, and, after the war, its signs are used to illuminate Las Vegas casinos.
The company is renamed the Federal Sign and Signal Corporation with a focus on warning with products such as police sirens, fire alarms, and outdoor lighting.
The company goes public, trading on the NASDAQ exchange. Net income reaches $1 million and sales hit a record $15 million. Federal Sign and Signal subsequently joins the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) in 1969, trading under the ticker symbol FSS.
After changing the company’s name to Federal Signal Corporation, the corporate offices are moved to Oak Brook, IL.
Elgin Sweeper Co., the leading manufacturer and pioneer in street sweeping machines, is acquired.
Aplicaciones Tecnologicas Vama S.L., a leading European manufacturer of emergency vehicular signaling products located in Barcelona, Spain, is acquired.
Guzzler Manufacturing, Inc., an Alabama-based manufacturer of state-of-the-art vacuum technology is acquired, providing a wide range of mobile vacuum solutions to support existing and new markets.
The Pullman Company is acquired and renamed Vactor Manufacturing. Based in Streator, IL, Vactor has since become the industry standard for sewer cleaners in municipal markets.
Jetstream of Houston is acquired, providing a comprehensive range of innovative and automated industrial cleaning solutions.
Vactor introduces the HXX, a dedicated hydroexcavator designed specifically for safe-digging applications.
The manufacturing of Guzzler industrial vacuum loaders is moved to the Vactor manufacturing facility in Streator, IL, to create greater product synergies and manufacturing economies.
The traditional Q Siren sound is trademarked, making Federal Signal the first manufacturer in the fire industry to trademark the sound of a siren.
Dennis J. Martin is appointed President and CEO.
Elgin Sweeper celebrates 100 years of manufacturing street sweepers.
Jennifer L. Sherman is appointed President and CEO and joins the Board of Directors. Dennis J. Martin is elected Chairman of the Board.
Westech Vac Systems, a Canadian manufacturer of high-quality, rugged vacuum trucks, is acquired.
Federal Signal announces the growth of its North American business with the acquisition of Joe Johnson Equipment (JJE), a leading Canadian-based distributor of maintenance equipment for municipal and industrial markets.
Truck Bodies and Equipment International (TBEI) is acquired, making Federal Signal the owner of six dump truck body and trailer brands, including Crysteel, DuraClass, Rugby, Ox Bodies, Travis, and J-Craft.
Vactor introduces TRUVAC, a brand of premium vacuum excavator trucks satisfying safe-digging requirements for locating and verifying underground utility lines and pipes.
The company completes the acquisition of Mark Rite Lines Equipment Company, Inc. (MRL), a leading manufacturer of road-marking and line-removal equipment, along with Highmark Traffic Services Inc., a provider of road-marking services in Montana.
The company acquires Public Works Equipment and Supply, Inc. (PWE), a distributor of maintenance and infrastructure equipment covering North Carolina, South Carolina and parts of Tennessee. This distributor is subsequently rolled into our JJE business.
The company continues its rapid pace of growth with three key acquisitions:
OSW Equipment and Repair LLC, a leading manufacturer of dump truck bodies and custom upfitter of truck equipment and trailers, and its wholly-owned subsidiaries: Northend Truck Equipment (NTE) and Western Truck Body (WTB).
Ground Force Worldwide (GFW), a leading manufacturer of specialty material handling vehicles supporting the extraction of metals and minerals.
Deist Industries, and its wholly-owned subsidiaries: Bucks Fabricating, Roll-Off Parts, AmeriDeck, and Switch-N-Go, manufacturers of interchangeable truck body systems and waste hauling products.
The first, plug-in, hybrid-electric street sweepers in the United States are sold to the city of Los Angeles.
The company acquires TowHaul Corporation, a leading manufacturer of off-road towing and hauling equipment serving the mineral extraction industry.
Federal Signal acquires Blasters Inc., a manufacturer of truck-mounted waterblasting equipment, with applications in road-way projects, airport runway rubber and marking removal and other surface preparation projects.
Federal Signal acquires Trackless Vehicles, a leading manufacturer of multi-purpose, municipal sidewalk tractors, with applications in snow removal, mowing, asphalt repair, leaf loading, sweeping, and hauling.
Federal Signal Corporation's corporate offices are moved to Downers Grove, IL
Information on our website may contain unaudited financial info and various forward-looking statements as of the date hereof and we undertake no obligation to update these forward-looking statements regardless of new developments or otherwise. Statements included in information on our website that are not historical are forward-looking statements. Such statements are subject to various risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to vary materially from those stated. Such risks and uncertainties include but are not limited to: economic and political uncertainty, risks and adverse economic effects associated with geopolitical conflicts, legal and regulatory developments, foreign currency exchange rate changes, inflationary pressures, product and price competition, supply chain disruptions, availability and pricing of raw materials, interest rate changes, risks associated with acquisitions such as integration of operations and achieving anticipated revenue and cost benefits, work stoppages, increases in pension funding requirements, cybersecurity risks, increased legal expenses and litigation results and other risks and uncertainties described in filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Contact: Ian Hudson, Chief Financial Officer, +1-630-954-2000,
IHudson@federalsignal.com
1333 Butterfield Road Suite 500
Downers Grove, IL 60515
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