What PSS does

PSS (Plastic Safety Systems, Inc., DBA PSS Innovations) is a Cleveland, Ohio-based manufacturer of traffic safety devices for roadway and pedestrian work zone applications, founded approximately 1989. The company designs, manufactures, and sells hardware products — including the FirstGard folding traffic cone, Navigator tiered channelizers, RoadQuake Temporary Portable Rumble Strips, BoardWalk ADA-compliant modular pedestrian ramps, LifeGard traffic drums, and an array of barricades, delineators, and crash cushions — alongside automated deployment equipment (RAPTOR handling machine, ROVER trailer) and training products (ADA Work Zones Guides, on-site training, quick reference guides).

The company's technology centers on physical product engineering rather than software: proprietary mechanical designs such as the FirstGard three-panel structure (folding to 1.5 inches while reflecting up to 2x more light than traditional cones) and the tiered Navigator channelizer (launched 1998, design subsequently adopted industry-wide) form the technical differentiators. PSS partners with 3M for retroreflective sheeting — a critical visibility component — and co-developed FirstGard with a Florida law enforcement officer over a two-year prototyping cycle. Products are engineered to MUTCD and ADA compliance standards, positioning the company to benefit from mandatory nationwide adoption of the 11th Edition MUTCD by January 18, 2026.

PSS generates revenue primarily through direct hardware sales via a quote-based pricing model (no public list pricing), supplemented by training products and on-site services. The go-to-market is sales-led, with the website serving as a 'Request a Quote' funnel and phone-based enterprise sales (800-662-6338). Customers are organized into four primary segments: state departments of transportation (the largest, with 63% of U.S. DOTs already using TPRS products), construction contractors, utility companies, and emergency responders. Distribution is domestic-only via direct sales, with manufacturing centralized at the Cleveland, Ohio headquarters. The company is privately held with no disclosed external funding, M&A activity, or parent-subsidiary structure, suggesting organic, founder/management-led growth over a 35+ year operating history.

Name

PSS

Legal name

Plastic Safety Systems, Inc.

Website

https://pss-innovations.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1989

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

PSS (Plastic Safety Systems, Inc.) is a Cleveland, Ohio-based manufacturer of traffic safety devices for roadway and pedestrian work zones, selling folding cones, rumble strips, ADA ramps, channelizers, and barricades directly to state DOTs, contractors, utility companies, and emergency responders across the United States.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Traffic Safety Equipment

SIC

Motor Vehicle Parts & Accessories (3714)

akta.pro primary industry

Pedestrian Safety Infrastructure (Crosswalks, Refuge Islands, Ped Signals, Sidewalk Safety Treatments) (TLAJAGAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Road Signage, Markings & Delineation (Regulatory/Warning/Guide Signs, Pavement Markings, Reflectors) (TLAJAGAB), Road Safety Barriers & Crash Attenuation Systems (Guardrails, Median Barriers, End Treatments) (TLAJAGAA)

Keywords

• Traffic safety devices
• Work zone safety
• Portable rumble strips
• ADA pedestrian ramps
• Traffic control equipment

Headquarters

HQ city

Cleveland

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Safety Products Sales: PSS designs and manufactures innovative safety devices for roadway and pedestrian work zone applications. Products include barricades, ADA ramps, crash cushions, channelizers, drums, delineators, fencing, RoadQuake TPRS system, traffic supplies, and training products. Revenue is generated through direct product sales to transportation agencies, contractors, and emergency responders.
2. Training Products and Services: PSS offers training products including ADA Work Zones Guides, On-Site Training, Quick Reference Guides, Roadquake Best Practice Guide, and Start Group Training. These professional services complement hardware products.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

PSS designs and manufactures innovative safety devices for roadway and pedestrian work zone applications. The product portfolio includes folding traffic cones (FirstGard), temporary portable rumble strips (RoadQuake), ADA-compliant modular pedestrian ramps (BoardWalk), traffic drums (LifeGard), channelizers (Navigator), barricades, crash cushions, delineators, fencing, and automated deployment equipment (RAPTOR/ROVER). The company also offers training products including guides and on-site training for ADA compliance and RoadQuake deployment.

Product overview

PSS designs and manufactures innovative safety devices for roadway and pedestrian work zone applications. The company offers two main product lines: Safety Products (barricades, ADA ramps, crash cushions, channelizers, drums, delineators, fencing, traffic supplies, and the RoadQuake TPRS system) and Training Products (ADA Work Zones Guides, On-Site Training, Quick Reference Guides, Roadquake Best Practice Guide, and Start Group Training). Key products include the BoardWalk ADA-compliant modular ramp system (available in wood and metal variants), RoadQuake Temporary Portable Rumble Strips, FirstGard folding traffic cones, LifeGard/ LifeGard II traffic drums, Navigator channelizers, and various Type III barricades. PSS also offers automated deployment equipment including RAPTOR and ROVER for the RoadQuake system. The products are designed to reduce accidents, alert distracted drivers, protect workers, and ensure ADA accessibility for all pedestrians.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• RoadQuake: Temporary Portable Rumble Strip (TPRS) system for alerting distracted drivers in work zones
• Navigator
• LifeGard
• FirstGard
• BoardWalk
• RightPath
• CrashGard
• Anchor Mast
• LaneGard 3

Products and services

• BoardWalk ADA-Compliant Modular Ramp Modular ADA-compliant pedestrian ramp system with engineered sections maintaining maximum 1:12 slope ratio, detectable edge castings for pedestrians with cane and walking devices, slip-resistant surface, and modular customization. Available in wood and metal (steel) variants for temporary pedestrian access through obstructed work zones.
• RoadQuake Temporary Portable Rumble Strips (TPRS) Temporary portable rumble strips providing visual, audible, and tactile/haptic feedback to alert distracted drivers approaching work zones. Quick installation without glue or nails for daily deployment and removal, ideal for work zones requiring daily take down.
• RAPTOR Rumble Strip Handling Machine

Quantifiable outcome

• FirstGard folding cones reflect up to twice as much light as traditional cones with the same grade of reflective material
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• 3McoreTechnology or Integration3M supplies retroreflective sheeting used in PSS products including FirstGard folding cones. PSS uses 'industry-leading 3M retroreflective sheeting' on their traffic safety products, which is critical to the visibility and safety performance of the devices.
• Edgardo Santiago (Florida Law Enforcement Officer)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEdgardo Santiago, a Florida law enforcement officer, conceived and co-developed the FirstGard folding traffic cone with PSS over two years of refinement. He developed prototypes in his garage before approaching PSS to help refine and produce the concept. The design addresses visibility and storage challenges for emergency responders.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• TrafFix Devices: Direct competitor manufacturing work zone traffic control devices including cones, barricades, signs, and crash cushions. Closest comparable in product breadth and customer base (DOTs, contractors, emergency responders) to PSS.
• Work Area Protection Corp. Specialty manufacturer of work zone safety equipment including arrow boards, barricades, and channelizers, serving DOTs and contractors in overlapping geographies with PSS.
• Cortina Safety Products: Direct competitor producing traffic cones, delineators, and barricades for roadway and work zone safety, competing head-to-head with PSS's cone and channelizer lines.
• Plasticade: Manufacturer of plastic traffic safety products including cones, barricades, and delineators sold to the same DOT and contractor channels as PSS, with overlapping product categories.

Broad incumbents

• SWARCO: Global road safety and markings company providing signage, delineators, and work zone safety products. Competes with PSS in road delineation and channelization but operates globally with a much larger installed base.
• Valmont Industries: Diversified infrastructure manufacturer with highway safety products (lighting, poles, traffic structures). Adjacent incumbent with overlapping DOT customer base and significantly greater resources than PSS.
• Trinity Highway Products: Large incumbent in highway safety infrastructure offering crash cushions, barriers, and end terminals. Overlaps with PSS's CrashGard and barricade lines but operates at significantly greater scale as part of Trinity Industries.
• Geveko Markings: Specialist in road markings, temporary road safety products, and work zone delineators. Overlaps with PSS in delineation and temporary traffic control but with a primarily European footprint.
• Hill & Smith: International infrastructure safety group with US road safety barriers, temporary and permanent traffic management products. Competes with PSS in work zone safety products but with global scale and broader portfolio.
• 3M (Traffic Safety Division): PSS's retroreflective sheeting supplier and adjacent incumbent in traffic safety. 3M's broader traffic safety portfolio (signs, pavement markings, reflective materials) overlaps with PSS products and benefits from the same MUTCD regulatory tailwind.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/PlasticSafetySystems
• Facebookfacebook.com/pssinnovations
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/pssinnovations
• Xx.com/PlasticSafety

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about PSS