Traffic / Technology & Integration

VMS Installation & Integration

Installing a Triplesign variable message sign is a matter of hours instead of days. Plug-and-play mounting, grid or solar power and open interfaces make prismatic VMS straightforward to install, power, control and integrate.

How installation works

From plan to a working sign

Triplesign is a modular system, built in Sweden and assembled close to where it will be installed. That keeps transport simple and time on the road short.

Plan the site

Review the mounting, access, control connection and power supply for the site, together with the messages the sign needs to show. We help you specify sign size, sections and set-up.

Built to size

The modular design allows for almost any size of sign. Signs can be partially or fully disassembled for shipment, which decreases transportation costs.

Assembled near the site

Final assembly takes place close to the installation site, so large signs do not have to travel as one piece.

Mounted and connected

With the plug-and-play installation system, a pre-assembled sign on a prepared foundation is up and running in an hour or two. Installation has a limited impact on traffic flow and needs no major or expensive roadblocks.

Configured for control

Messages, schedules and remote access are set up, and the sign is connected to your traffic management system or the Triplesign web portal.

Final assembly near the site

Installation crew at work

Mounted on the gantry

Mounting options

Where a Triplesign VMS can be installed

The same prismatic technology is used for large overhead signs, compact roadside units and mobile signs.

Triple Sign variable message signs mounted on an overhead gantry above a motorway

Gantry & overhead portal

Larger signs have a supporting back structure designed to attach to an overhead portal, for motorways, tunnels and terminals.

Pole-mounted Triple Sign prismatic sign showing a 20 zone on a city street

Pole & roadside

Smaller signs have a light back structure that attaches to a pole, for urban streets, school zones and rural roads.

Vehicle-mounted

For flexible traffic direction at road works and incidents. See portable VMS signs.

Triple Sign VMS section built into a static direction sign

Built into a static sign

A Triplesign can be built into a static sign. The prisms are flush with the frame, giving a smooth appearance.

Power supply

Grid, solar or battery backup

A prismatic sign needs no power to keep a message visible, only to change it and to communicate. That gives you more freedom in where and how the sign is powered.

Solar operation can reduce the need for grid cabling and trenching. Power supply and battery capacity depend on the location and operating requirements.

Grid connected

Connect the sign to existing power where it is already available, for example on gantries and in tunnels.

Solar and battery

Solar panels from 20 to 60 watts, combined with an integrated 38.5–49.5 Ah battery, can sustain the sign through several months of darkness, even in Nordic countries.

UPS for remote locations

Solar supply combined with an uninterruptible power supply lets the sign be placed exactly where it is needed.

Control & integration

VMS integration with your traffic systems

Run the sign stand-alone, from the Triplesign web portal or as part of a complete traffic management system. The Triplesign is API enabled and IoT ready.

TIM - Triplesign Internet Manager interface

Control options

Dry contact control as standard
On site: directly on the PLC, turn switch, push button or manual crank
Wireless: 3G/4G/5G, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth
TIM – Triplesign Internet Manager web interface
On-site control can override remote control, or vice versa

Triplesign control cabinet, opened, with PLC and wiring diagram

Integration

Ethernet: Modbus TCP/IP, static or dynamic IP
RS485: Modbus RTU, multi-drop
API integration with existing systems
Partner portals for complete Traffic Management Systems
Connect signs to sensors, cameras and counters

A prismatic VMS warning drivers of a queue ahead: Stau

Automatic operation

Program a yearly calendar for various events
Control, group and ungroup signs
Sensor-triggered messages, fully autonomous if required
Monitor the sign's status through the secure portal

Example:

Automatic queue warning

A radar sensor detects slow traffic

The signal goes via modem to the Triplesign Portal

The sign upstream turns to its warning face within 3 seconds

After installation

Low maintenance for decades

The expected lifetime of a Triplesign is at least 20 years, with limited and simple maintenance. All installations are backed by support and warranty services.

Routine care

With no diodes to replace and minimal wiring, the sign rarely needs more than regular visual inspections and occasional cleaning of the display faces.

Batteries

On solar signs, the small integrated batteries are replaced through an access point in the beam cover, only at the end of their lifespan.

Mechanism exchange

The entire mechanism, including motor and sensors, slides out of the frame and is replaced as a whole unit, recommended after approximately 20 years.

Another 20 years

The prisms, frame and back structure stay in place and last for 40 years. With a new mechanism, the sign is as new and ready for another 20 years of service.

An hour or two

For a pre-assembled sign on a prepared foundation.

Gantry, pole, vehicle

Or built into a static sign.

Grid, solar or UPS

Power supply chosen to suit the site.

Modbus & API

Ethernet (TCP/IP), RS485 (RTU), API enabled and IoT ready.

Remote control

3G/4G/5G, Wi-Fi or Bluetooth via a secure web portal.

20+ years

Lifetime with limited maintenance.

Questions & answers

FAQ

How long does it take to install a Triplesign VMS?

A standard sign that arrives pre-assembled, on a mobile foundation or a foundation already in place, is up and running in an hour or two. With several signs in the same area, it drops to under an hour per sign. Larger signs are delivered in sections and assembled close to the installation site, so installation is a matter of hours instead of days.

Does installing a VMS require road closures?

Installing a Triplesign VMS has a limited impact on traffic flow, and no major or expensive roadblocks and traffic safety measures are required. The exact traffic management depends on the site and mounting method.

Can a VMS be installed without a grid connection?

Yes. Because a prismatic sign uses no power to hold a message, it can run on solar panels of 20 to 60 watts with an integrated 38.5–49.5 Ah battery, sustaining operation through several months of darkness even in Nordic countries. A UPS can be added for remote locations. The right set-up depends on the location and operating requirements.

Which mounting options are available for prismatic VMS?

Triplesign signs can be mounted on gantries and overhead portals, on poles at the roadside or on vehicles. Larger signs have a supporting back structure for overhead portals, and smaller signs a light back structure for poles.

Can a variable message sign be built into a static sign?

Yes. A Triplesign can be built into a static sign, with the prisms flush with the frame, so variable and fixed information appear on one sign.

How is a Triplesign VMS integrated with a traffic management system?

The sign supports Modbus TCP/IP over Ethernet and Modbus RTU over RS485, and is API enabled for integration with existing systems. Together with partners, Triplesign also offers portals for complete Traffic Management Systems.

Can the sign change messages automatically?

Yes. Messages can follow a yearly calendar in the web portal, or be triggered by sensors, for example a radar that detects queues. The sign can operate fully autonomously if required.

What maintenance is needed after installation?

Usually regular visual inspections and occasional cleaning of the display faces. After approximately 20 years, the mechanism can be exchanged as one unit while the frame stays in place, extending the service life by another 20 years.

Contact

Planning a traffic project?

For more information about what solution suits your needs, contact us today.

Discuss your project Download Triplesign VMS 2025

info@triplesign.com

+46 (0)8 626 7350