Hill & Smith
Hill & Smith Inc., the U.S. subsidiary of UK-listed Hill & Smith Holdings PLC, manufactures MASH-tested transportation safety products — crash cushions, steel barriers, and connected work zone hardware — selling to state DOTs, roadway contractors, and toll-road operators across all 50 U.S. states.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2008
- HeadquartersColumbus, United States
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Hill & Smith does
Hill & Smith Inc. is the U.S. operating subsidiary of UK-listed Hill & Smith Holdings PLC (LSE: HSM), headquartered in Columbus, Ohio, and serves as the company's platform for transportation safety products in the North American market. Its core offering consists of three proprietary crash-protection product families — Smart Cushion® (a speed-dependent, restorable hydraulic impact attenuator), SmartPod® (a MASH TL-3 tapered cartridge-based attenuator), and Zoneguard® (a temporary steel barrier system) — supplemented by ITS/Smart Work Zone hardware (message boards, arrow boards, queue detection trailers, variable speed limit trailers) and the HS Connect software platform for remote device management. Customers are state and local departments of transportation, roadway and bridge contractors, and toll-road operators across all 50 states, with products specified via FHWA Letters of Eligibility and state DOT Approved Products Lists.
The company operates multiple U.S. manufacturing facilities — Columbus, Ohio (HQ), La Mirada, California (National Signal), and St. Charles, Illinois (Work Area Protection, traffic cones since 1969) — with a planned consolidation of Garland, Texas production into La Mirada by November 2025. Revenue is generated through direct hardware sales and equipment leasing (with daily-accrual invoicing) to DOTs and contractors, supplemented by optional installation and professional services. Distribution combines direct regional field sales (five U.S. territories) with exclusive state-level distributors and channel partners such as Gregory Industries. Strategic technology partnerships with Wavetronix (exclusive detection data), INRIX (probe data), and HAAS Alert (V2X Safety Cloud) differentiate the connected work zone offering.
Recent corporate activity signals active portfolio reshaping under the parent: the March 2026 acquisition of an 80% stake in Freeberg Industrial Fabrication ($36M initial, up to $50M earn-out) expands into data center and power generation enclosures, while the May 2026 divestiture of the VRS permanent steel road barrier business to ThreeSixty Investco for £5.25M trims non-core assets. A wave of state DOT approvals across Oregon, Maryland, Texas, Nebraska, and Florida between late 2025 and early 2026 has materially expanded the addressable specification market for the flagship product families.
Hill & Smith firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Hill & Smith
- Legal name
- Hill & Smith Inc.
- Website
- https://hillandsmith.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2008
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- Hill & Smith Inc., the U.S. subsidiary of UK-listed Hill & Smith Holdings PLC, manufactures MASH-tested transportation safety products — crash cushions, steel barriers, and connected work zone hardware — selling to state DOTs, roadway contractors, and toll-road operators across all 50 U.S. states.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Hill & Smith industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Road Safety and Highway Infrastructure Equipment
- NAICS
- Construction Machinery Manufacturing (33312), Construction Machinery Manufacturing (333120), Agriculture, Construction, and Mining Machinery Manufacturing (3331)
- SIC
- Construction Machinery & Equip (3531), Construction, Mining & Materials Handling Machinery & Equip (3530)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Roadbuilding & Paving Equipment Rental/Leasing (TLABAFAB)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Earthmoving & Excavation Equipment Rental/Leasing (TLABAFAA)
Keywords
Where Hill & Smith is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Columbus
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices4 records
Markets served
Hill & Smith business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Hardware Sales (Crash Cushions, Barriers, Trailers): Sale of manufactured safety products including Smart Cushion®, SmartPod®, Zoneguard®, arrow boards, message boards, variable speed limit trailers, queue detection trailers, and traffic cones. Products are sold directly and through dealer/distributor networks to DOTs and contractors.
- Equipment Leasing: Lease of goods (crash attenuators, barriers, trailers) to contractors and government agencies. Lease charges accrue daily throughout the lease period with monthly invoicing. Minimum days and delivery/pick-up charges apply per contract terms.
- Professional Services (Installation): Optional installation, support, training, consulting, and related services for leased or purchased goods. Services include on-site installation, dismantling, and removal of safety equipment.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Multi-year contract | Quote-based pricing with regional sales coverage across 5 U.S. regions |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels8 records
Hill & Smith product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Hill & Smith Inc. is a US-based manufacturer of transportation safety infrastructure products. The company designs, produces, and supplies crash cushions, steel barriers, traffic cones, and message boards for roadway and work zone applications. It also offers ITS and Smart Work Zone solutions for highway contractors and transportation agencies.
Product overview
Hill & Smith Inc. offers a portfolio of transportation safety products organized around three core roadside safety brands: Smart Cushion (speed-dependent restorable impact attenuator), SmartPod (tapered cartridge-based MASH TL-3 attenuator), and Zoneguard (temporary steel barrier system). The product portfolio extends into Smart Work Zone solutions via the HS Connect platform, which integrates with detection systems (Wavetronix SmartSensor, INRIX probe data), communication devices (message boards, arrow boards), and safety alerting (HAAS Alert Safety Cloud). Additional products include traffic cones through Work Area Protection brand, impact notification devices, proximity warning systems, and variable speed limit solutions. The company operates manufacturing facilities across the US including Columbus, Ohio (headquarters), La Mirada California, and St. Charles, Illinois, with a parent company Hill & Smith PLC tracing back nearly 200 years.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Smart Cushion: Industry-leading speed dependent, restorable impact attenuator crash cushion for roadside safety
- SmartPod
- Zoneguard
- Work Area Protection
- HS Connect
Products and services
- Smart Cushion
- SmartPod Crash cushion product designed for use in work zones and along roadways to absorb vehicle impacts. Sold to transportation agencies and infrastructure contractors.
- Zoneguard Movable steel barrier system used to separate opposing traffic flows in construction zones and on highways. Designed for state DOTs and large infrastructure contractors.
- Traffic Cones High-visibility traffic cones used in work zones, lane closures, and roadway delineation. Sold to contractors, municipalities, and DOTs.
- Message Boards Portable electronic message boards used to communicate with motorists in active work zones and incident management scenarios. Used by DOTs and traffic management contractors.
- ITS / Smart Work Zone Solutions Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) and Smart Work Zone solutions that provide real-time traffic monitoring, queue detection, and dynamic messaging in construction zones. Targeted at state DOTs and large highway construction projects.
Quantifiable outcome
- Zoneguard® reduces trucking by 75%: 750 LF per truck vs. 150 LF of K-Rail or 280 LF of standard concrete barrier per truck
- +5 more outcomes
Companies that use Hill & Smith
Customer profileNamed customers14 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles1 record
Hill & Smith technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration6 records
Feature4 records
Hill & Smith partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Gregory IndustriescoreHill & Smith Inc. announced a partnership with Gregory Industries in October 2025 to deliver integrated roadside safety solutions. The collaboration aims to integrate both companies' technologies and products to meet increasing demand for innovative safety products and improve roadway safety nationwide.
- WavetronixcoreHill & Smith uses Wavetronix as its exclusive provider of detection data in Smart Work Zones. The SmartSensor HD (built into Queue Detection Trailers) collects speed, volume, occupancy, and classification data across up to 22 lanes with a 250-foot range from a single sensor. Data feeds into HS Connect™ software for real-time work zone management.
- INRIXcoreHill & Smith has a data partnership with INRIX providing exclusive vehicle probe data in Smart Work Zones. INRIX aggregates cell phone data, fleet management data, and OEM vehicle data to provide work zone impact area intelligence without requiring equipment placement. HS Connect™ software ingests INRIX data for alternate route solutions, enhancing Smart Work Zone efficiency.
- HAAS AlertcoreHill & Smith Inc. partnered with HAAS Alert to integrate Safety Cloud® collision prevention and digital alerting into its ITS/Smart Work Zone product line. Safety Cloud delivers real-time 'Workers Present' driver alerts via Waze and vehicle navigation systems, providing advance warning to approaching motorists. The integration began with an RTC Southern Nevada project and expanded across Connected Arrow Boards and work trucks. HAAS Alert's Safety Cloud has processed over 200 million driver alerts and is used in over 100 U.S. cities.
- D&M Traffic ServicescoreD&M Traffic Services serves as Hill & Smith's distributor in California, proposing and deploying Zoneguard® on CalTrans projects. D&M approached Pacific Restoration Group for the Route 8 El Centro project and partnered with ACC West on the CalTrans Worker Memorial Bridge project, achieving significant trucking and cost savings.
- TraMar ContractingminorTraMar Contracting, based in St. Charles, MO, partnered with Hill & Smith to implement steel traffic barriers on Missouri projects. First contractor in Missouri to use steel barriers, completing at least 15 projects with Zoneguard® including the $33M Blanchette Memorial Bridge project. TraMar described Zoneguard® as 'the barrier of the future.'
- Give 'Em A Brake SafetyminorGive 'Em A Brake Safety, based in Grandville, Michigan, partnered with Hill & Smith Inc. to offer a combined barrier and attenuator package on the Battle Creek Bridge M-66 project. The company was impressed by Zoneguard®'s ease of installation and now advocates for the product in Michigan.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Hill & Smith competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Wanco Inc. US manufacturer of traffic safety equipment including message boards, arrow boards, variable message signs, and portable work zone ITS products; an apples-to-apples competitor in the same DOT-spec work-zone trailer category.
- Ver-Mac: Canadian manufacturer of portable message boards, arrow boards, radar speed trailers, and ITS smart work zone equipment; competes with Hill & Smith's HS Connect-connected trailer and message-board portfolio for DOT and contractor bids.
- Solar Technology Inc. Manufacturer of solar-powered portable message boards, arrow boards, and radar speed trailers for highway work zones; overlaps Hill & Smith's SMC message board and variable speed limit product lines selling to the same DOT and contractor buyers.
- Trinity Highway Products: Major US/Canada roadside safety manufacturer with MASH-tested barriers, transitions, and crash cushions sold through DOT contracts and dealer networks; direct competitive overlap with Smart Cushion, SmartPod, and Zoneguard.
- Roadway Construction Products: Manufactures portable steel barriers (Roadway Steel Barrier / Vulcan) and MASH-tested attenuators; a direct product-line peer to Zoneguard and Smart Cushion, selling via DOT approvals and dealer networks.
- Lindsay Transportation Solutions / Valent Group: Direct competitor in MASH-tested crash cushions, end terminals, and roadside safety hardware. Gerrit Dyke (Hill & Smith VP Engineering) rose through Lindsay over 19 years, underscoring product-line overlap in attenuators and barriers serving the same DOT customers.
- Valtir (formerly Trinity Highway Safety): Major US competitor in roadside safety hardware, including crash cushions, steel barriers (such as Triton), and MASH-tested end treatments sold to DOTs and contractors; competes head-to-head with Zoneguard and SmartPod on state APL listings.
Broad incumbents
- Nucor Corporation (Highway Products): Large diversified steel manufacturer with a highway products division producing Nucor steel barriers and related roadside safety systems; competes on price in the temporary steel barrier category where Zoneguard operates.
- Gregory Industries: Established roadside safety manufacturer (guardrail end terminals, sign posts, attenuator systems) and Hill & Smith's October 2025 integration partner; competes broadly with several Hill & Smith SKUs across DOT product lists.
Others
- TraMar Contracting: Missouri-based highway contractor deploying Zoneguard on major bridge projects; included as a channel/ecosystem participant that exemplifies the contractor-deployment side of Hill & Smith's GTM rather than as a direct product competitor.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Hill & Smith social profiles
Digital presenceHill & Smith compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance12 records
Hill & Smith financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Hill & Smith leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Hill & Smith subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries2 records
Hill & Smith funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Hill & Smith M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A1 record
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Hill & Smith
What does Hill & Smith do?
Hill & Smith Inc. is a US-based manufacturer of transportation safety infrastructure products. The company designs, produces, and supplies crash cushions, steel barriers, traffic cones, and message boards for roadway and work zone applications. It also offers ITS and Smart Work Zone solutions for highway contractors and transportation agencies.
Is Hill & Smith a public or private company?
Hill & Smith is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was Hill & Smith founded?
Hill & Smith was founded in 2008. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is Hill & Smith based?
Hill & Smith is headquartered in Columbus, United States, in the North America region.
How does Hill & Smith make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Hardware Sales (Crash Cushions, Barriers, Trailers) is the primary driver. The others are equipment Leasing and professional Services (Installation).
Who are Hill & Smith's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Wanco Inc., Ver-Mac, Solar Technology Inc., Trinity Highway Products, Roadway Construction Products, Lindsay Transportation Solutions / Valent Group and Valtir (formerly Trinity Highway Safety). Broad incumbents are Nucor Corporation (Highway Products) and Gregory Industries. TraMar Contracting is listed as an others.
Does Hill & Smith have an API?
No public API is recorded for Hill & Smith.
What industry is Hill & Smith in?
Hill & Smith's product category is Road Safety and Highway Infrastructure Equipment. Its primary akta.pro industry code is TLABAFAB, Roadbuilding & Paving Equipment Rental/Leasing, with a secondary code of TLABAFAA, Earthmoving & Excavation Equipment Rental/Leasing. Its NAICS code is 33312 and its SIC code is 3531.