What does Federal Signal Corporation do?
Sarah Martinez
Updated on January 10, 2026
Federal Signal specializes in emergency and warning lights, sirens, directional lighting, and tire deflation devices. Federal Signal’s signaling product line is universally recognized as both the broadest and the most comprehensive with greater product selection and more design options.
Where is Federal Signal made?
Federal Signal Corporation is an American manufacturer headquartered in Oak Brook, Illinois….Federal Signal Corporation.
| Type | Public |
|---|---|
| Key people | Jennifer Sherman, President & CEO |
| Products | Emergency vehicle equipment, warning sirens and public safety systems |
What is a Federal Signal truck?
Federal Signal is driving technology to provide safe and reliable emergency warning systems for first responders and work truck operators. We are leading the way in innovative lights and siren solutions.
How does a Federal Signal Modulator work?
Modulator provides a flat frequency response up to 2000Hz producing intense warning signals and digital voice messaging over a large area. The Modulator design enables the siren to produce a high sound level and intelligible voice communications.
How many employees does Federal Signal have?
Company Growth (employees)
| Employees (est.) (Dec 2020) | 3,500 | (-2%) |
|---|---|---|
| Job Openings | 88 | |
| Website Visits (Apr 2021) | 8.2 k | |
| Revenue (FY, 2020) | $1.1 B | (-7%) |
| Share Price (Jul 2021) | $38.5 | (+2%) |
How does the Rumbler siren work?
The Rumbler system senses the primary siren tone signal and reduces the signals’ frequency by 75%. It then amplifies the sound through a pair of high output woofers. The system’s timer allows the tone to sound for eight seconds, providing a highly effective warning, and then automatically shuts off.
What is the wail signal?
Outdoor Warning Sirens
| Signal | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 3 Minute Wail : a high tone increasing in pitch | Natural disaster such as a tornado, high wind, hail or flash flood |
| 3 Minute Attack: a wavering siren tone, warbling in pitch | National emergency: information will come from TxDOPS and Federal Emergency Management System |
What is a wail signal used for?
The 2 types of warning signals used are: Wail Signal: This is used for severe weather (including an actual tornado warning) as well as our Wednesday siren testing.
How does a Thunderbolt siren work?
The Thunderbolt siren pumps a large volume of low pressure air through it’s chopper rotor with the blower to increase the sound volume coming out the horn. This Thunderbolt 1000 that I restored is a single tone siren with with a rotor with one row of 5 openings. The dual-tone Thunderbolt chopper has 2 rows of slots.
What is the purpose of a Rumbler siren?
A Rumbler siren is a type of emergency vehicle siren used primarily in the United States. Developed in 2007 by Federal Signal Corporation, and sounding at a low-frequency level, it is designed to be heard by motorists who may otherwise be unable to hear high-frequency sirens due to ambient noise, such as urban traffic.
Who are the founders of Federal Signal Corporation?
Federal Signal was founded in Chicago, Illinois, in 1901 as Federal Electric Co. by John Goehst and James and John Gilchrist. Samuel Insull later acquired the company. The company went public in 1969 under the leadership of Robert T. Gilchrist. Currently, the company has 14 manufacturing facilities in five different countries.
When did Federal Sign and signal go public?
In 1956, the company became a corporation, renaming itself “Federal Sign and Signal Corporation”. By this time, it made outdoor warning sirens, police sirens, fire alarms, and outdoor lighting. By 1961, Federal Sign and Signal had gone public, trading on the NASDAQ market.
When was the General Railway Signal Company founded?
The origins of the company go back to June 13, 1904, the date the General Railway Signal Company was founded in New York. For most of its history, the company supplied control equipment to the railroad industry.
How big is Federal Signal Company in Chicago?
Federal Signal was one of the Chicago area’s largest publicly traded companies. Ranked in the top 20 with the largest increase in revenue from 2017. Federal Signal is proud to be the winner of a Chicago Innovation Award.
