With the proliferation of construction sites in Quebec, orange cones manufacturers are overworked this year. There are currently nearly 100,000, on roads in the province to ensure the safety of motorists without reflective clothing.
These twenty companies, mainly located in the region of Montreal, involved assembling these signaling objects.
Each cone sells for about $ 70.
"They have a lifespan that can range from a few hours, say three hours if the cone is hit by a truck, almost three or four years," says vice president of SMG Signaling Christian Fay.
And even if we often speak of orange cones, that's not entirely true. They are not all orange!
"In fact, each signaling company has developed its own color. Is that a few years ago, we did steal cones. Like all the orange cones were, it was easy to take a cone someone and change the name, "explains the president of Innovation Traffic, Robert Lafourche.
"Now they have a color, if someone takes a cone with us, we will recognize it right away."
But beyond color, the cones must meet specific criteria the Ministry of Transport, including reflective stripes.
The biggest player in the industry, Traffic Innovation, is based in Saint-Eustache in the Laurentians.
It is this company that has developed the model that the more we see on construction sites. This year we had to produce 20% more in 2015.
"There are many more sites than before, because the last two years we had the Charbonneau commission and the effects it had. The industry fell by almost 50% to that time, "Mr. Lafourche.
However, among the competitors, it is estimated that the production of orange cones may not be very profitable.
"There is not enough volume. There are many companies (manufacturing cones, Ed) and then, there are many small sites. These are difficult to monetize because there are not many signs and cones. It must also bring and maintain them, "indicated Christian Fay SMG signaling.
Motorists in safety jacket continue to see these objects as signaling Transports Québec has planned nearly 2,000 road projects by 2017.
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