FEATURE
Pavement
Striping!
Making its mark
on the future
by Jeff Winke
avement marking contractors most
likely don’t wish to think about the
craziness that can occur in a lot they
finished striping.
“Pavement marking is a growing sector
of the construction and pavement main-
tenance industry,” stated Lee F. Lowis,
president of GemSeal Pavement Products,
Charlotte, NC. “Seemingly unnoticed
by many, the business has grown and ex-
panded to meet the needs of highways,
airports, parking lots, and sports surfaces
such as running tracks and tennis courts.
Not only is the demand for striping in-
creasing, so are the opportunities for strip-
ing contractors to become the problem
solver for their customers.”
Part of being a problem solver for many
customers is the striping contractor’s
knowledge of the rules and regulations
as Guy Gruenburg, president of RAE
Products & Chemicals, Corp., Alsip, Ill.,
pointed out: “The market is very strong
partly because contractors need to be well
versed in the ADA Guidelines for handi-
cap parking and the red curbs that define
fire equipment access lanes.”
Functioning as a property owner’s re-
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source that could keep a property from
facing fines, can add value and profit mar-
gin to a project.
“A parking lot striping specialist can
and should offer several value-added ser-
vices beyond laying gallons of paint,”
Lowis said. “Installing signs, signposts,
and bollard covers have become standard
practices. Speed bumps and car stops, as
well as thermoplastic installation, and
electric vehicle charging station markings
are valuable services that are also in high
demand.”
Underscoring the strength and potential
in the marking and striping market, Acu-
men Research and Consulting, a global
provider of market research studies, in a
Spring 2019 published report finds that
the international traffic road marking
coatings market’s size is anticipated to be
worth $6.5 billion by 2026 and the indus-
try is expected to display a compound an-
nual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.2% during
the predicted years.
Companies wanting to participate in
the industry growth will want to consider
the advice from Jim Spielman, president
of Mark Rite Lines Equipment Co., Inc.,
[10]
Billings, Mont. Spielman said: “Deter-
mine what your appetite for growth is
and plan accordingly. Most companies
can survive winning an impulse bid that
stretches your current capacities, but win-
ning a second, third or even fourth im-
pulse bid can result in not being able to
meet deadlines; which can damage your
company’s reputation, burn out employ-
ees and have you paying expensive rent-
al fees for needed equipment. Second,
ensure that you are including adequate
margins in your quotes to cover increased
equipment operating and replacement
costs. Third, no business grows without
‘buy-in’ from the managers and employ-
ees. Cultivate a company culture that
keeps everyone engaged and passionate in
the growth mindset.”
Adding to Spielman’s advice, Tom
Heine, markings division sales manag-
er, Midwest for Titan Tool, Plymouth,
Minn. cautions contractors to not lose
track of the fundamentals: “Be mindful
of your cash-flow; monitor your current
and future business; and ensure that your
business plan is strategic.”
The mid- and small-size contractor will
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