FUTURA in focus - sustainable and robust leading the way
FUTURA TRAFFIC LIGHT - The usage phase
Now we want to focus on the next and by far the most important step within a product life cycle: The usage phase.
- How does a FUTURA prove itself in everyday use?
- Why does the "Made in Neutal" label enjoy such a high level of trust in the industry?
- And how can we make its use even more sustainable?
FUTURA has established itself as the reference among traffic signals. Why?
We wanted to find out more, so we asked two long-serving employees about their experience with this high-quality product.
It's bound to fall apart!
Thomas Krohn, Head of Technical Service SWARCO Traffic Systems (STS) South, started working for the company almost 40 years ago as a skilled laborer and is a true "veteran" who has lived through the days when traffic lights were delivered with light bulbs. Together with Tuncay Soenmez, Service Technician and Site Manager Technical Service STS South, who joined STS as an apprentice in 2006 and has therefore already become familiar with all facets of our products, he has extensive experience with signal heads in practice.
"It's bound to fall apart" - according to Krohn, this was a common refrain from customers when the Eco Design signaling device called FUTURA was launched on the market over 15 years ago. "It was viewed very critically, and the mood was skeptical," Soenmez recalls, but adds with satisfaction: "However, it has more than proven itself, and rightly so!"
The reason for the initial skepticism on the part of customers was the lighter construction achieved by using thinner housing walls. An unfounded concern, as practice has shown with its impressive durability. "Your material is hardly stressed in everyday life, as the traffic light is ultimately 'just' hanging. As long as no extreme external influences occur, the housing remains reliable and stable!", both experts agree. And it was precisely this more efficient use of materials, which was initially viewed with mixed feelings, that proved to be the biggest advantage of FUTURA over time.
Advantages during installation and maintenance - The lightweight that sets standards
But to what extent does reducing the weight of signaling devices have an effect? A major advantage of the lower weight is definitely the simplification of installation and maintenance. Compared to heavier traffic light systems, handling is easier (literally), which not only has a positive effect when installing one, but also during any maintenance work. "Everything is easier because the signal heads have lost a lot of weight!", notes Krohn enthusiastically. This improvement was also highlighted as particularly positive by other users. And the environment will also gratefully take note of this, as saving in material conserves resources and thus significantly reduces the ecological footprint of every single FUTURA produced.
But this is not the end of the story: "The excellent service that goes hand in hand with our products is also very much appreciated," explains Soenmez, adding: "Our service drivers can be at the customer's premises in the shortest possible time in the event of a fault and can resolve most problems quickly and easily. Our expertise and fast response times set SWARCO apart from many of its competitors, which is why the company is often chosen as a partner - even if it is not always the cheapest solution on the market.”
All smoke and mirrors?
Quite the opposite! And the Austrian Federal Ministry for Climate Action, Environment, Energy, Mobility, Innovation and Technology agrees. It is responsible for the so-called "Kompass Kreislaufwirtschaft", a cooperation between the Circular Economy Forum Austria, the Vienna University of Technology, the Institute of Management Sciences and the Resources Forum Austria. On this online platform, our SWARCO Futurit production facility - and FUTURA in particular - is presented as a best-practice example of marketable eco-design and its ecological and economic benefits are recognized. (Link only available in German: Kompass Kreislaufwirtschaft).
Optimization potential and future prospects
There are currently hardly any major suggestions for improvement from our customers and partners. However, according to our experts, there is potential for further development in terms of energy efficiency and durability through a more modular design of the signaling device with the already available "Low Energy VDC LED modules" (more details here: Green Light for the Environment: Sustainability at Every Intersection | SWARCO):
"Switching from 230V LED to 40V or even less is definitely a big step forward. The low-energy LED modules last noticeably longer and do not deteriorate in quality even after years. On average, SWARCO Futurit products are in use for 15 - 20 years, with individual devices lasting much longer. The frontrunners in the field are already around 40 years in non-stop use for road safety."
We never tire of emphasizing this: A traffic light is far more than just red, amber and green - it is a conductor of road traffic, combining safety, efficiency and innovation. The FUTURA has proven that modern design and maximum functionality are not a contradiction in terms. It combines lightness with robustness, resource efficiency with reliability and shows how pioneering technology makes urban areas safer. With every switch, every light signal and every traffic situation, it confirms its claim: a traffic light that not only controls, but sets standards!