Chris was very pleased with the ease of use of these boards, especially the simple programming on the computer system. He said what used to take him 20 minutes to enter now takes him less than 60 seconds in most cases and that was a huge benefit. Running the Convocation Center is a big enough job on its own, and what it’s important to Chris is being able to quickly direct people to where they need to go. Being able to place the boards and immediately get the message out with little hassle is a tremendous time saver by comparison to his previous message boards.

He was also very pleased with the price and value of the boards.  His research concluded that we offered the most competitive pricing available, and the university agreed. Upon our first visit we provided him with a Shopworx catalog and I let him know that we would be able to service all of their needs from this standpoint.  Chris plans on contacting me again in the future as those needs come up. He is very interested in purchasing the remote communications modem for each board, as he feels the ability to control the boards from his office computer would streamline his productivity.

The QPR ShopWorx QPRSMC2000 Full-Matrix Solar Message Board is a portable, changeable full-matrix message sign consisting of advanced LED lamp matrix panels capable of emitting bright distinctive messages to the public.  The board comes already capable of displaying 250 text, 60 graphic and 20 arrow board messages preprogrammed and stored in the controller. Additionally, 100 user-created messages can be programmed and stored.

This information speaks to the sheer volume of activity at this facility each year is directly from the NIU Website:

• 200+ events per year
• Concerts
• Family Shows
• Theatrical Productions
• Commencement Ceremonies
• Job Fairs
• Trade Shows
• Huskies Division I Athletic Events (Basketball, Volleyball, Track, Gymnastics and Wrestling)

Chris informed us that these boards will be in constant use throughout the year – not only for the 200+ events they put on at the convocation center, but also for home football and basketball games and other campus events that draw heavy traffic. They also lend or rent the boards out to local high schools for football games, and to the fire department for various different uses. He was very pleased with the outstanding customer service and support he had been receiving from QPR, and was impressed with the follow up from both our team in the field and our inside reps. His overall impression of QPR was very good and in his words, he “couldn’t be happier” with what he has.

For more information on Northern Illinois University and the Convocation Center, feel free to visit their website below.

http://www.niu.edu/convo/info/index.shtml

One such contractor is Virginia-based TME Enterprises, Incorporated.  Founded in 1992, TME is one of the country’s leading Right of Way Asset Maintenance contractors.  Despite their small beginnings, TME has grown to over 230 employees, and now has over 20 state and local maintenance contracts.  The company credits their success to a “ground up” approach, rather than a “top down” focus.  Steve Pecaut of TME gave me a little insight into what they are currently managing.  Here’s a quick snapshot of what is keeping them busy right now:

• Approximately 1,800 miles of interstate highway
• Over 500 miles of urban primary routes
• Approximately 450 bridge structures
• 9 Tunnels, including the famous Hampton Bay Bridge Tunnel
• 32 Tunnel Support Facilities
• Countless rest areas, school facilities, and park sites

I began working with TME almost four years ago, when I discovered they were using an inferior cold patch product to repair potholes on state highways in Virginia.  They quickly realized this as well, and switched over to using our QPR High Performance Cold Patch bags, which we provided to them through Lowe’s Home Improvement.  When the QPR ShopWorx program launched in recent years, it became a natural fit to partner with them in this initiative as well.  Contractors like TME cannot afford to wait around for safety apparel and equipment.  QPR has been providing TME with custom-printed winter PPE and safety apparel, traffic cones, and safety vests.  If you find yourself driving through Virginia’s pristine roadways and happen to spot a roadway maintenance crew, you won’t be able to miss them because they’ll be wearing a Class 2 QPR Safety Vest complete with the TME logo.

“QPR and Ben have stood behind their products ever since we came on board with them years back, and as we continue to grow they have been there for us every step of the way,” says Pecaut.  ”Having such high quality products at an affordable price makes our job easier, more efficient, and helps with the bottom line.”

The future looks bright for TME, with more and more governmental budgets strapped and city, county, and state agencies looking for ways to manage assets and right-of-ways effectively and cost efficiently.  We plan on helping them continue to grow as a premier partner, and we can help your organization in the same way.  For more information on TME, you can click here to visit their website.

What are we looking for?  Well, really…anything!  What are you working on?  What is the business climate where you live?  Are you staying busy, or is your company looking for new opportunities to get back on track?  Thousands of people read our blog every day, and the contractor spotlight could be a great new way to share your company’s story with a large number of those in the same industry.  You could tell us about a recent job you took on, or a new innovation you are making in the work you do.  All you’ll need to do is fill out a brief questionnaire about your company, spend a few minutes with us over the phone, and send us a few pictures of one of your latest projects.  We want to hear your story!

We are hoping that Contractor Spotlight will be a great way to share news, tips, and stories in an industry where communication can be limited because of the hours people work.  The internet has obviously become a great way for us to share information and ideas, and we think the QPR ShopWorx blog can be even better at helping to communicate that information and those ideas.  If you have any thoughts or would like to share your company’s story in an upcoming segment of our blog, please email me at tmagill@QPRmail.com.

Thanks!  We look forward to hearing from you.

We recently sent out a mailer highlighting our Mini Full-Matrix Solar Message Board for gameday traffic control, and the responses have been great.  This week, I traveled through my home state of North Carolina meeting with a handful of universities about this fantastic piece of equipment.  The QPRSMC4000 is the perfect option for those with traffic control needs that can vary dynamically between construction, public events, lane closures, and a host of other happenings.  The board has 21-day autonomy, meaning when fully charged you could disconnect the solar panels and it will run for three weeks straight.  The board can display 250 pre-programmed messages in text, as well as 60 graphic messages.  In addition, 100 user-created messages can be stored.  One of the best features of the board is its size.  While still giving you maximum visibility of your message display, the footprint and weight of this board is much less than traditional 3-line message boards.

One university was considering the benefits of owning solar message boards versus renting them, and on the spot rattled off a list of nearly a dozen additional ways they could use the board to benefit the university and its students.  Since there are constant events on campuses aside from football and other sporting events, the message board can assist with student parking, lane closures, special events, graduations, etc.  We brought a full-size three line message board along with us in most cases to show people the differences in size and capabilities, and in every case the staff determined the smaller board to be most compatible with what they were looking to use it for.

I brought along a couple of “experts” with me as well to show off these boards.  ShopWorx Program Manager Towner Magill and Charles Frick, our manufacturer’s rep from Precision Solar Controls, both came along for the ride.  The demonstrations went very smoothly, aside from one slight “technical” glitch.  While changing out a component in the controller box Charles accidentally cut open his thumb with a utility knife, but still managed to finish the rest of the demonstration in top form!  Our thanks and well-wishes go out to Charles and his thumb.

Thumbs up, Charles! The customers loved your demonstrations.

Whether you’re a college or university, a small municipality, an event facility, or many other types of users, the Mini Full-Matrix Solar Message Board has a host of great features and potential for use in your day-to-day operations.  Please contact your nearest QPR representative for a demonstration of this great board!

Follow us on Twitter @QPR_Quality or Like Us on Facebook at our page, QPR Engineered Solutions for Infrastructure.  At both locations you can look for tips, find out about new products, and get feedback from other loyal QPR customers on our entire line.  You can also reach out to us via either location and get your questions answered promptly!

We’ve got some customer giveaways and contests upcoming, so spread the word in your organization to make sure and connect with us on the internet!  You could be the next winner!

Last week, Kevin Dye and I visited with the manufacturer of our traffic control supplies, Work Area Protection, to tour the facility and develop a better understanding of how they operate. Keep in mind that all of our traffic control supplies are made in the USA.  I was surprised to learn that many of their processes were done by hand. For example, the reflective striping that is placed on each cone is done by hand one at a time. This is also true for their channelizers and drums. At their St. Charles, IL plant they specifically make traffic cones, and it was interesting to see that process from start to finish. They actually pour a white rubber over a mold until it dries in the desired shape. From there, it moves down a mechanical assembly line and is coated with orange paint, which gives it its glossy appearance.

Rubber is poured over a mold before it dries and then is covered with PVC

Reflective striping is added by hand to a channelizer cone

Something else I found very interesting was the process we can use to put a company’s name or logo on a cone.  Traditionally, this is done with a stencil and some spray paint by hand.  However, we can offer an option where the company’s “stencil” is actually inlayed withing the layer of the PVC so that it can’t be washed off and is a more long-lasting identifier of whose property it is.

An example of a logo inlayed within PVC

We were lucky to have Mike Linkimer from Work Area Protection show us around the plant and give us a behind-the-scenes look at the process.  Mike also described to us the different suppliers they partner with to get materials, and how that affects costs. This is due in large part to the varying state laws relating to the specs of each item they sell. For example, they had an order from New York City for cones, and they are required to use green cones in certain situations.  I’d like to thank Mike and the folks at WAP for having us in for the day, it was a very educational experience.

Keep in mind that if you have questions or needs involving cones, channelizers, or drums, as well as any of our traffic control devices, we are here to help!  Please don’t hesitate to call or or any of our QPR ShopWorx representatives!

We have plenty of channelizer drums in stock for you!

“Melting Asphalt, Kinking Rail Tracks: Weather Extremes Buckle U.S. Infrastructure”

We talked about it last week, and its still here.  The heat just won’t go away.  We know you feel it, and we want to know how you beat it.

QPR ShopWorx reps are still trucking across the country to get the word out about our great products, but back at HQ the heat has us too tired to pitch you any products this week!  That’s why we want to hear from you about how your work is going this summer!  Whether you are working to keep the asphalt plant running all summer, applying sealer to 150 degree pavement, or you take care of over-stressed and over-heated underground utility lines, we want to hear from YOU!  How are you staying cool this summer, and how is your work holding up?  Every day we hear contractors telling us they are getting busier and putting more people to work.  Are you getting busier?  Do you see your workload increasing?  Drop us a line and let us know!  Feel free to leave your responses in the comments section of the blog, or email them to support@qpr.cc.  Include your name and address, and we’ll send you out a free QPR ShopWorx hat and t-shirt!

We appreciate your feedback!  Have a great rest of the week.

Has your plant manager thought out providing warm mix asphalt to your customers and paving crews?  While traditionally thought of as a additive for cold weather paving options, our QualiTherm warm-mix additive can be used to lower the temperature of both your plant, saving fuel, and your production temperatures, saving your paving crew from additional heat exposure.  These crews are already exposed to extreme temperatures and conditions improving our infrastructure, and a 75 degree difference in laydown temperatures can mean a lot less stress on a worker’s body.

Paving Crews work better in hot summer conditions when the laydown temperature is lower using WMA

Staying cool while out on the job site can also be done by taking more frequent breaks, staying in the shade as often as possible, and wearing loose-fitting clothing with a lighter fabric for summer heat.  Staying out of the sun is also important for a worker’s skin health – be sure to wear plenty of sunscreen with high SPF rating (55+).  Make sure someone on your crew is trained in first aid in case of a heat emergency.  Stay safe this summer – hopefully Fall won’t be along too late!

Some other news of note – QPR ShopWorx reps are coming to your area with demonstrations of our great line of message and arrow boards.  We have demonstration units throughout the country and are visiting with contractors, local government, and other agencies on a regular basis, and we can come to you too!  Contact your rep today and schedule a demonstration of our user-friendly, durable message boards.

The Federal Highway Administration is the final authority for safety vest standards and this federal organization works closely with ASNI/ISEA in the designing of these vests.  Highway workers are required to wear ANSI Class 2 and/or Class 3 safety vests.  These classes of vests differ in design, allowing for greater visibility when it is necessary.  Right-of-way workers, flaggers, and adult crossing guards must meet ANSI/ISEA 107 and public workers such as law enforcement, firefighters, and other emergency responders must meet ANSI/ISEA 207.  QPR ShopWorx has safety gear that meets these standards.

Personal Protective Equipment will protect from many different risks on the job site, including falling objects, toxic chemicals, heat/fire, loud noise and many more.  QPR ShopWorx offers many different products in each of these categories, insuring that you will always have what you need to stay safe.

QPR ShopWorx even has a “Free Cooler Promotion”, where you can get a commercial grade cooler of free with your next purchase of $150 of PPE.

Visit www.QPRShopWorx.com today!