Traffic
Traffic is a company that focuses on providing high-quality portable and temporary traffic signals, as well as designing and manufacturing.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1931
- HeadquartersCheltenham, United Kingdom
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Traffic does
Traffic Group Signals Ltd is a UK-based manufacturer of portable and temporary traffic signals, headquartered in Cheltenham and operating as a subsidiary of The Traffic Group conglomerate. The company's origins trace to 1931 when George Pike founded Pike Signals; the business launched the UK's first radio-controlled temporary traffic light system in 1999 and was acquired by The Traffic Group in 2014. In April 2019, Pike Signals and sibling Traffic Group subsidiary Hollco were merged to form Traffic Group Signals, and Pike Signals ceased trading independently in April 2022.
The core product portfolio comprises portable traffic signals, temporary traffic signals, trailer-mounted signal units, non-highway signals (pedestrian crossings and urban junctions), and accessories. The hardware is paired with a proprietary software stack — Signal Studio for signal control and configuration, TMdesk for desktop traffic management, and embedded features such as AutoGreen sequencing, Active Channel Management, and Endurance power-management technology. The company also operates Signal Hire, a rental service for short-term deployment, alongside service, maintenance, and repair professional services. The company preserves the Pike heritage brand through Heritage Plates affixed to products manufactured at the Pike Works facility.
Traffic Group Signals generates revenue through three streams: one-time hardware sales of portable and temporary traffic signal equipment; usage-based rental income via Signal Hire; and professional services for service, maintenance, and repair. Go-to-market is primarily direct-to-customer via the company website, supplemented by trade show presence (Traffex) and a horizontal segmentation across road construction, emergency services/utility, pedestrian safety, and industrial/mining end-markets. All revenue is currently generated in the United Kingdom; pricing is opaque and managed through direct quotes.
Traffic firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Traffic
- Legal name
- Traffic Group Signals
- Website
- http://pikesignals.co.uk
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1931
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- Traffic is a company that focuses on providing high-quality portable and temporary traffic signals, as well as designing and manufacturing.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Traffic industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Traffic Management Equipment Manufacturing
- NAICS
- Electric Lighting Equipment Manufacturing (33513), Power and Communication Line and Related Structures Construction (237130)
- SIC
- Communications Equipment, Nec (3669), Electric Lighting & Wiring Equipment (3640)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Temporary Traffic Signal Systems & Portable Detection (Portable Signals, Radar, CCTV Trailers) (TLAJALAH)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Work Zone Intelligent Transportation Systems (WZ-ITS) & Temporary Signal Systems (TLAJACAN), Portable/Temporary Signage & Message Systems (Temporary Signs, PCMS/VMS, Arrow Boards) (TLAJALAC), Traffic Management & Intelligent Transportation Systems (Signals, TMCs, Congestion) (BPAIALAC), Traffic Systems & Road Safety Infrastructure (Signals, ITS, Barriers, Signage, Markings) (IMAFAEAI)
Keywords
Where Traffic is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Cheltenham
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Traffic business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Portable Traffic Signal Equipment Sales: Sale of portable and temporary traffic signal equipment including trailers, accessories, and non-highway signals. Hardware-based revenue model with one-time purchase transactions.
- Signal Hire: Temporary rental of traffic signal equipment for short-term traffic management needs such as construction sites and emergency works.
- Professional Services: Service, maintenance, and repair services for traffic signal equipment.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels5 records
Traffic product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Traffic Group Signals designs, manufactures, and supplies portable and temporary traffic signal systems, including trailer-mounted portable traffic signals, temporary traffic lights, non-highway signals, and supporting accessories. The company also provides a Signal Hire rental service, maintenance and repair services, and professional traffic management consulting, supported by proprietary control software platforms (Signal Studio, TMdesk) and patented technologies.
Product overview
Traffic Group Signals is a unified platform delivering portable traffic control equipment and traffic management solutions. The core product portfolio includes Portable Traffic Signals, Temporary Traffic Signals, Trailers, and Non-Highway Signals, supported by Accessories and services (Signal Hire, Maintenance & Repair, Professional Services). Supporting the hardware are technology platforms including Signal Studio and TMdesk for signal control and monitoring, complemented by features like Active Channel Management, AutoGreen Technology, Endurance, and Urban Traffic Control. The company also preserves the Pike Signals heritage brand (founded 1931), with heritage products still manufactured and sold under their brand names with Heritage Plates.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Pike: Heritage brand for portable traffic control equipment, now consolidated under Traffic Group Signals with Heritage Plates celebrating Pike's long history.
Products and services
- Portable Traffic Signals Portable traffic control equipment designed for temporary traffic management on roads and work sites, including radio-controlled systems. Sold to construction, infrastructure, emergency, and local authority customers in the UK.
- Temporary Traffic Signals Temporary traffic signal systems used to manage traffic flow during construction, maintenance, or events. Targeted at road contractors, local authorities, and event operators needing short-term signal infrastructure.
- Portable Traffic Signal Trailers Trailer-mounted portable traffic signals built for easy deployment and transportation to work sites. Sold to contractors and infrastructure operators needing mobile traffic control.
- Non-Highway Signals Traffic signal equipment designed for non-highway applications including pedestrian crossings and urban junctions. Targeted at local authorities, schools, and urban infrastructure operators.
- Signal Hire Rental service allowing customers to hire portable traffic signal equipment for short-term traffic management needs such as construction sites, emergency works, and events. Targeted at UK customers needing temporary solutions without purchase.
- Service, Maintenance and Repair Professional maintenance, servicing, and repair services for traffic signal equipment purchased from the company. Targeted at existing hardware customers needing ongoing equipment support.
- Professional Services Expert consulting and technical services supporting traffic management solutions, including configuration and deployment assistance. Targeted at customers needing specialist guidance on temporary traffic signal deployments.
Quantifiable outcome
- Queens Award for Innovation 2016 - recognized for innovative portable traffic signal systems
Companies that use Traffic
Customer profileSegments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Traffic technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature7 records
Traffic partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- The Traffic GroupcorePike Signals has been a part of The Traffic Group since 2014. In April 2019, Traffic Group Signals was formed to combine over 100 years of knowledge and experience from Pike Signals and Hollco.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights4 records
Traffic competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Wanco Inc. US-based manufacturer of portable and temporary traffic signals, message boards, and speed trailers. Directly competes with Traffic Group Signals in the portable traffic signal category, serving similar road construction and work-zone customers with trailer-mounted signal systems.
- Horizon Signal: US-based specialist manufacturer of portable traffic signal systems. Offers radio-controlled and pre-timed portable traffic signals for work zones, directly comparable to Traffic Group Signals' flagship product line.
- Rennicks: UK-based provider of temporary traffic management equipment and road safety products. Operates in the same UK temporary traffic management category as Traffic Group Signals, serving road contractors and highway authorities.
Broad incumbents
- SWARCO: Global traffic management and signaling systems incumbent. While SWARCO's primary focus is fixed traffic signals and ITS, its portable/temporary signaling offerings and broader portfolio overlap with Traffic Group Signals' addressable market.
- Hill & Smith Holdings: UK-listed infrastructure products group with road safety and traffic management assets. Overlaps with Traffic Group Signals in the UK road safety equipment category, offering a broader portfolio to the same highway authority customer base.
- Siemens Mobility (Traffic Solutions): Global ITS and traffic management systems incumbent. Comparable as a broad incumbent operating in adjacent urban traffic control and signal categories; sets the technology benchmark Traffic Group Signals' Urban Traffic Control integration competes against.
Regional players
- Chevron Traffic Management: UK-based traffic management services provider that both supplies and operates temporary traffic equipment. Comparable as a UK regional buyer/deployer of portable signaling equipment and a potential customer or competitor in the rental channel.
- Paragon Traffic Management: UK-based traffic management contractor providing temporary signals and lane closures. Comparable as a regional UK market participant that both procures and uses portable traffic signal equipment in its service operations.
Emerging players
- MVIS (Mobile Visual Information Systems): UK-based specialist in portable variable message signs and intelligent transport solutions for work zones. Comparable as a niche/emerging UK player in portable work-zone traffic management equipment, partially overlapping with Traffic Group Signals' portfolio.
- Bartco UK: UK-based supplier of portable traffic and pedestrian signals, variable message signs, and traffic management products. Comparable as an emerging/niche player in the UK portable traffic signals category.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Traffic social profiles
Digital presenceTraffic financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Traffic leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Traffic subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
Traffic funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Traffic M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Traffic
What does Traffic do?
Traffic Group Signals designs, manufactures, and supplies portable and temporary traffic signal systems, including trailer-mounted portable traffic signals, temporary traffic lights, non-highway signals, and supporting accessories. The company also provides a Signal Hire rental service, maintenance and repair services, and professional traffic management consulting, supported by proprietary control software platforms (Signal Studio, TMdesk) and patented technologies.
Is Traffic a public or private company?
Traffic is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was Traffic founded?
Traffic was founded in 1931. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is Traffic based?
Traffic is headquartered in Cheltenham, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does Traffic make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Portable Traffic Signal Equipment Sales are the primary driver. The others are signal Hire and professional Services.
Who are Traffic's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Wanco Inc., Horizon Signal and Rennicks. Broad incumbents are SWARCO, Hill & Smith Holdings and Siemens Mobility (Traffic Solutions). Regional players are Chevron Traffic Management and Paragon Traffic Management. Emerging players are MVIS (Mobile Visual Information Systems) and Bartco UK.
Does Traffic have an API?
No public API is recorded for Traffic.
What industry is Traffic in?
Traffic's product category is Traffic Management Equipment Manufacturing. Its primary akta.pro industry code is TLAJALAH, Temporary Traffic Signal Systems & Portable Detection (Portable Signals, Radar, CCTV Trailers), with a secondary code of TLAJACAN, Work Zone Intelligent Transportation Systems (WZ-ITS) & Temporary Signal Systems. Its NAICS code is 33513 and its SIC code is 3669.