SignalTraffic Forums

RunsWithCrouse-Hinds wrote:Pardon me for interjecting, but what about the "shine" of a new poly signal guarantees its quality? If you wanted I could ask my uncle the plastics engineer about this, but I'm pretty sure the shininess is just cosmetic, and wears off over time anyway. Traffic signals are overall made to be functional safety devices, not aesthetic devices (at least not anymore).

-Dan

+1, I don't think it matters if it's shiny when it's installed. Cosmetics are pretty low on the list as Dan noted, and when it's sitting in a yard in pieces in 20 years it won't matter who made it or if it was shiny when installed.

Macsignals wrote:

RunsWithCrouse-Hinds wrote:Pardon me for interjecting, but what about the "shine" of a new poly signal guarantees its quality? If you wanted I could ask my uncle the plastics engineer about this, but I'm pretty sure the shininess is just cosmetic, and wears off over time anyway. Traffic signals are overall made to be functional safety devices, not aesthetic devices (at least not anymore).

-Dan

+1, I don't think it matters if it's shiny when it's installed. Cosmetics are pretty low on the list as Dan noted, and when it's sitting in a yard in pieces in 20 years it won't matter who made it or if it was shiny when installed.

I never said it guarentees quality 110%, but I firmly believe that quality does show when a product has a "fresh, clean" look to it. I have sources that tell me both McCain and Econolite both have moved their production of signal heads to Mexico (cheaper labor), however Eagle is still producing all its equipment at their Austin, TX facility. We've used Eagle equipment for years here, and even the fairly old-for-poly (late 1990s, early 2000's) stuff still has a nice finish to it...but theres four intersections here, two have McCain polys, and two have Econolite polys, and a few more do not have signals yet, but all those have a matte (almost as if they were used, when they were not) finish. And really if you think about it, why would we have switched from Eagle? Cheaper signals? Cheaper usually means not as high of quality in most cases...not all, but most.

I too work in plastic manufacturing and work with urethanes, polycarbonates, nylons, and other plastics and we make sure the parts have a nice gloss to them when they're done for the customer.

I happen to like gloss on products, but sometimes products are produced new with a mat or texture to them.... look at back plates that are plastic, they are normally flat/mat

notMUTCDcompliant wrote:I happen to like gloss on products, but sometimes products are produced new with a mat or texture to them.... look at back plates that are plastic, they are normally flat/mat

yeah i agree, maybe that was what was the idea here for the signal heads...but I still think gloss is the way to go. It just has that brand new, fresh, finish.

Maybe they bought 'em used....... LMAO!!!!

Joe, you may be onto something...

EPAC-EPIC-MARC wrote:

Macsignals wrote:

RunsWithCrouse-Hinds wrote:Pardon me for interjecting, but what about the "shine" of a new poly signal guarantees its quality? If you wanted I could ask my uncle the plastics engineer about this, but I'm pretty sure the shininess is just cosmetic, and wears off over time anyway. Traffic signals are overall made to be functional safety devices, not aesthetic devices (at least not anymore).

-Dan

+1, I don't think it matters if it's shiny when it's installed. Cosmetics are pretty low on the list as Dan noted, and when it's sitting in a yard in pieces in 20 years it won't matter who made it or if it was shiny when installed.

I never said it guarentees quality 110%, but I firmly believe that quality does show when a product has a "fresh, clean" look to it. I have sources that tell me both McCain and Econolite both have moved their production of signal heads to Mexico (cheaper labor), however Eagle is still producing all its equipment at their Austin, TX facility. We've used Eagle equipment for years here, and even the fairly old-for-poly (late 1990s, early 2000's) stuff still has a nice finish to it...but theres four intersections here, two have McCain polys, and two have Econolite polys, and a few more do not have signals yet, but all those have a matte (almost as if they were used, when they were not) finish. And really if you think about it, why would we have switched from Eagle? Cheaper signals? Cheaper usually means not as high of quality in most cases...not all, but most.

I too work in plastic manufacturing and work with urethanes, polycarbonates, nylons, and other plastics and we make sure the parts have a nice gloss to them when they're done for the customer.

You all raise good points. The "cheaper" signals may not be cheap in the long run if their service life is shorter.

On a side note, where are Peek/TCT signals manufactured?

And this may raise a question: Why build signals outside the US? Sounds like a NAFTA issue. Anyway, thank you for the insights!

Government = Lowest bidder.

EPAC-EPIC-MARC wrote:The local guys know that we've used all-Eagle equipment for our modern box-span flashing yellow arrow signalized intersections. I was driving through the intersection of 23 mile and schoenherr which is getting new signals, and the heads are hanging and strapped up, with the original Eagle (LFE) polys still operating.

I only took a quick glance but the signals do not appear Eagle designed, they look like Econolites button back design, all of them. Ped signals aren't there yet but lately they've been 16 inch Eagle countdowns. It's the first modernized intersection I've seen here that hasn't been all Eagle, other then one intersection with McCain 16 inch ped signals. I wonder if we're getting away from Eagle equipment now and going to the cheaper Econolite equipment. I will get a better look next time.

-Nick

Is this intersection located in Detroit or a suburb?

Crunge98 wrote:

EPAC-EPIC-MARC wrote:The local guys know that we've used all-Eagle equipment for our modern box-span flashing yellow arrow signalized intersections. I was driving through the intersection of 23 mile and schoenherr which is getting new signals, and the heads are hanging and strapped up, with the original Eagle (LFE) polys still operating.

I only took a quick glance but the signals do not appear Eagle designed, they look like Econolites button back design, all of them. Ped signals aren't there yet but lately they've been 16 inch Eagle countdowns. It's the first modernized intersection I've seen here that hasn't been all Eagle, other then one intersection with McCain 16 inch ped signals. I wonder if we're getting away from Eagle equipment now and going to the cheaper Econolite equipment. I will get a better look next time.

-Nick

Is this intersection located in Detroit or a suburb?

These are all well north of Detroit, where I live. I live in an outskirt suburb of Shelby Township.