Jump to content
Show header slider

ELECTRIC SIGN SUPPLIES
If You're Looking For Premium Electric Sign Industry Components From Trim Cap, LED's, Neon Supplies, Power Supplies, Pattern Paper.  Then Please Visit Our Online Store or Feel Free To Call Us For Inquiries or Placing an Order!!
Buy Now

SIGN INSTALLER MAP
Looking for a fellow Sign Syndicate Company Member For A Sign Install or Maintenance Call?
Click Here

For Sign Company's Who Work As Subcontractors
Before You Work For A National Sign & Service Company You Need To Look At The Reviews Of These Companies Before You Work For Them. Learn When To Expect Payment From Them and What It's Like To Work For Them, The Good, The Bad, The Ugly. Learn and Share Your Experiences Yourself For Others
Click Here

Transco, Ventex & Principal LED Merge?

Sign Ninja

By Sign Ninja
in General Message Board

 Share

Recommended Posts

Sign Ninja Apprentice

Sign Ninja

Posted
Posted

Got wind of this from a buddy? Anyone know about the sale and merger of these two companies along with Principal LED? What it might been for some products that might generate a conflict of interest that might cause some products to disappear out of the line up?

Erik Sine Master Engineer

Erik Sine

Posted
Posted

Came across this doing a search. Not sure what will change, but this is the first time I've heard about it.

http://sdgmag.com/news/ventex-transco-under-new-ownership

Neon sign equipment and electric sign component manufacturer Transco To Go, LLC Columbia, South Carolina, and the assets of Jupiter, Florida-based Ventex Technology, Inc., a leading manufacturer outdoor sign lighting products, have been acquired by a private Texas-based investor group. Both companies will be integrated and will continue to operate as Ventex Technology, LLC.

The investor group led by J. Bryan Vincent and his brother Blake Vincent, are partners at Principal LED, an LED component manufacturer based in San Angelo, Texas. Henry A. Brown, III will assume the position as president and will lead the combined company’s day-to-day operations.

“This acquisition offers sign manufacturers a comprehensive stream of lighting products and leading edge technology sold through a well-established sign supply distributor network throughout North America,” says Bryan Vincent.

Henry A. Brown, III will assume the position as president and will lead the combined company’s day-to-day operations.

Creston W. Brown, currently president of Transco To Go, is very excited about teaming up with the Vincent brothers. “I was born and raised in this business, so working with Blake and Bryan is like working with my extended family. Their drive, dedication and sheer innovation to this industry is second to none, and there will be a lot more innovation driven by this company,” Brown says.

According to Blake Vincent, there are still details to be worked out over the next few months. “The opportunities presented by this acquisition position us not only to maintain our current leadership in the manufacturing and delivery of quality sign lighting systems, but will significantly expand our position and scale of operation, all of which are demonstrative of our long-term commitment to serve the electrical sign industry,” says Vincent.

You have enemies? Good. That means you've stood up for something, sometime in your life. - Winston Churchill

  • !llumenati
imanut Master Engineer

imanut

Posted
  • !llumenati
Posted

Wow! Who would have thought. Vented has changed a lot in the past couple years. Transcontinental was a smaller version of what they were, but this is a major change in the landscape. I wish Blake and his brother well.

  • Board Patron
LiteGirl Journeyman

LiteGirl

Posted
  • Board Patron
Posted

Any news yet? Just wondering how it might affect us, hopefully it won't affect anything on the Sign Syndicate.

  • Board Patron
alltex Master Craftsmen

alltex

Posted
  • Board Patron
Posted

I had a Principal rep at my shop on Thursday afternoon. Yes, Principal now owns Ventex and Transco. The Principal guys seem to be a pretty stand up company. I'm sure they'll make wise choices with those new product lines.

Now, if they drop the Ventex CL transformer line. I'll be the first one pounding down their door.

  • !llumenati
fishing nut Master Engineer

fishing nut

Posted
  • !llumenati
Posted

Sounds interesting, I hope they loose the CL line and bring back the older version. I hope Creston and the Brown Brothers did good on the deal.

I think this is a good merger. consolidation and covering the market on power supplies variation and also consolidate manufacturing/shipping overseas.

Now will it stay distributor friendly or direct to majors and distributor to minors?

GOOD things happen for a reason......

  • 3 months later...
Erik Sine Master Engineer

Erik Sine

Posted
Posted

Sorry, I'v been dragging my ass to get this reply out .

I’ve been asked a lot by phone, email, as well as at the Vegas ISA Show and I’ve been meaning to post this update .

I don’t know what’s going on with Transco, now Ventex nor do I know their future plans or endeavors with current or future products of both Transco & Ventex.

There are some big changes coming to the new Ventex now owned by Principal LED, who for the most part last I was told & read was going to be run by the former Transco Company....and those changes don’t include The Sign Syndicate any longer.

But first let me say this.

It’s not everyday, and it’s not something that the average Joe can get the opportunity to do what they love everyday as work (if they can call it that), or be a part of something that they are fond of. Transco was one of my favorite products when I arrived in this glorious trade in the 90’s. Never did I see it coming that, I myself.....would ever have a chance to be apart of. I truly think myself blessed for this opportunity.

Creston Brown has been real generous with us and gave us a great opportunity, most of all it was a joy to work with him and it’s been a great relationship and it’s been a VERY fun ride and it never really felt like work.

BUT....Transco is no more and it seizes to exist. And so our partnership also seizes. The Sign Syndicate is no longer distributing/selling Transco, now Ventex Products.

From what I was told, the two brothers Bryan & Blake Vincent (Principal LED) don’t like The Sign Syndicate for whatever reason. I don’t know why, I have no explanation or idea as to why, I didn’t bother to ask from the short answer I was given. I can only guess that maybe it has something to do with the fact that we threw their LEDs into our testing some years back (The Great White Hope, Project Tighty Whitey, Red Light District). Maybe it was my part of being very outspoken against Ventex when it came to John Boyds fuzzy math when it came to his Sign Association seminars. http://www.thesignsyndicate.com/forums/index.php?/topic/6618-led-retrofit-mythology-101/

Ironically, we use to have a very good relationship with Ventex before we started distributing Transco Products, and because of that new relationship John Boyd’s secretary let me know by email that because of that new relationship, Ventex would no longer be a Board Vendor on The Sign Syndicate due to a conflict of interest. John, whom I’ve had a good relationship with couldn’t even tell me himself but it came through his secretary. How distributing Transco products that was a conflict of interest I have no idea. The Ventex CL transformers used Transco’s GTO. But then John started to come out with very fuzzy ROI figures on his LEDs, something he used to pride himself in dispelling when they were primarily just a Neon power supply manufacturer. I guess desperate times call for desperate measures when it comes to marketing ans sales.....but this was over a year ago and John hasn’t been the president of Ventex for sometime.

Maybe the integrity of The Sign Syndicate and being the only source in this industry for measuring light sources with real numbers in light output and power for Neon, LEDs, & Fluorescent and debunking marketing claims is an issue for the new Ventex now Owned by Principal LED.

Like I said, I can’t say for sure because I don’t really know, just taking a stab at it with the very little information that was passed on down to me by Transco. Or maybe it’s none of that and the problem is more with someone else than what I’m being told, but for now I can only state what I was told ( I don’t get paid to investigate) and so there it is.

If anyone should ask them how come The Sign Syndicate is no longer a distributor anymore and the response is, “They are not a Ventex Distributor, and we’re only sticking with Ventex Distributors going forward”, well that’s just NOT true. The fact is, existing Transco Suppliers who are not Ventex Suppliers are resuming with Ventex.

Well.....it’s been a fun ride and we’ll be selling what we have left in stock of Transco related items, and after that..... no more Transco replenishment because now it goes by under a new name.

And so we’re moving on.....hope this answers those curious questions.

You have enemies? Good. That means you've stood up for something, sometime in your life. - Winston Churchill

  • Board Patron
Brian Master Engineer

Brian

Posted
  • Board Patron
Posted

Well I hope this does not mean the end of the neon transformers.....

Installation & Maintenance Services

Brian Phillips | expresssignandneon@sbcglobal.net | P. 812-882-3278

Express Sign & Neon | 119 S. 15th Street - Vincennes - IN 47591

express%20neon%20sig.jpg

Erik Sine Master Engineer

Erik Sine

Posted
Posted

There is still Alanson and good ol dependable France transformers

You have enemies? Good. That means you've stood up for something, sometime in your life. - Winston Churchill

gvidas Apprentice

gvidas

Posted
Posted

Anybody care to prognosticate on future production of federal bushings and other relatively more obscure neon components?

It seemed like Transco was doing a great job holding up the thin end of the neon supply chain. I'd hate for this shuffling of ownership to change that for the worse.

jdragun Apprentice

jdragun

Posted
Posted

I agree about the obscure stuff......I use West Coast Designs for some of that stuff.........always liked transco's boot though.......I bet my $$ the Ventex will now kill the neon transformer lines.....back to France and Alison i guess.

Erik Sine Master Engineer

Erik Sine

Posted
Posted

Tecnolux makes a real nice silicone caps and boots as well.

You have enemies? Good. That means you've stood up for something, sometime in your life. - Winston Churchill

  • Board Patron
LiteGirl Journeyman

LiteGirl

Posted
  • Board Patron
Posted

Tecnolux makes a real nice silicone caps and boots as well.

We went back to using Tecnolux, consistency is better.

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

×
 Share
Go to topic listing


  • Topics

  • Posts

    • Erik Sine
      Rant - Vendor paperwork is getting crazy

      By Erik Sine · Posted

      Wow, you will have to root through "their" protections.
    • Rocco
      Rant - Vendor paperwork is getting crazy

      By Rocco · Posted

      A national sign company that I've dealt with for at least twenty-five years wants us to sign their vendor packet again this year.   At first it was a few pages but grew over time.   Last year it was fifteen pages.   Now it's twenty-two pages., plus a three page NDA.   I will have someone look it over and give me their opinion but it's getting ridiculous.    Their paperwork pusher will say that its' all "standard things" but standard for who and in whose favor?   Even if they gave me a ton of work, and it's only been one or two jobs a year recently, I'd be hesitant.   if i didn't know someone that does contacts for a living, I'd have to pay an attorney to go over this packet.    This is a national that has a good rep but it's getting to the point that we all need an attorney on hand at all times to go over paperwork.    Rant over.
    • Erik Sine
      The Great White Hope IV - Year 1

      By Erik Sine · Posted

      This is the late April 2026 Update   This month we added in: GE's TX GEN4 12v .9w 6500K LED Module     G2G's WOW II Red 12V .72W     Also Including the GWH IV Snap Shot of the Project which is also included in the April Evaluation PDF Sheet.   The most important thing to take notice i2 the FC / Watt (Foot Candles per Watt).    This is the LED Chip Quality and Efficiency, this is the amount of Light Per Power.  The bigger the number the more efficient that Light Source is.  You might see a Higher Wattage LED Module with a low FC/Watt value, that means it's not too efficient....could even be pushed and in some cases over driven running hot, which can result in shorter life.   I'm going to drop an example to put things in perspective. Let's take two 2LED Modules...the Brighton - II, and the EveryLite Rebel LED Module.   The Brighton II is .8 watts, the EveryLite Rebel is almost a 1 watt Module at .96w   The 362 Foot Candle average EveryLiteRebel is brighter than the B-II Module at 348.5 FC AVG.  However the B-II Module has a 108.91 Foot Candle Per Watt Average.    So if we were to boost the Module Power of the Brighton - II and make it say, a .84w module instead of a .8w module then we can project the Brighton II Module with Foot Candle per Watt of 108.91 to have a Foot Candle Average of 365.93.   The .84w Brighton - II Module would be brighter, under driven, and more efficient than the .96w EveryLite Rebel.   Now the Flip Side...   If we made the .96w EveryLite Module to a .8w Module apples to apples to the Brighton - II Module, we can project the Foot Candle of the .8watt EveryLite Module would be 301.66 instead of the 362 FC Average.  You can see the Handicap here   So Boosting the power of so-so chips will give you more light for the "Wow" factor, but in some case is over driving, there is more heat involved....and like all electronics...they hate and fail with heat.  This is why a lot of LED MFG's recently make a 2 LED almost 1 watt Module and sell for $40 a bag....   Just something to take note of.....          On another Note, I will be taking down the TBA Vendor as the light is too low, and the Principal / Sloan Prism Module as it is dated   April's 2026 GWH IV Sheet GreatWhiteHope IV 042826 WOA.pdf
    • Erik Sine
      The BrightON Ruby Red Efficiency

      By Erik Sine · Posted

      The Brighton LED modules are Top-Tier, High Efficiency LED Modules no matter which Brighton LED Whites or Colors you pick up.  All Brighton LED Modules ONLY use High Efficiency chips....meaning more light per power compared to other like powered LED modules.   First let me say it's important to always use the same color LED behind solid colored faces (No Outline), i.e. Blue LEDs behind Blue Faces, Green Behind Green etc etc.   In another Topic we discussed and displayed why it's better to use Red Behind Red and how much Luminance you will lose on a sign face if you use White LEDs behind Red Faces Here   The 12V & 24V .8W Brighton-II and the Brighton Lightning 12V .72W LED modules both have Ruby Red.   So let's display just how just how efficient these two High-End LED Modules perform compared to other Red LED modules on the market....and no better way than to show you a comparison than to put other like Power LED modules in a side by side comparison and show what the differences are, with comparing Like Power LED Modules this is truly a great Apples to Apples Comparison!     Let's first bring out the two 12V .72Watt LED Modules, the G2G WOW II Red & the Brighton Lightning Ruby Red.   Some other big characteristic differences are the following.   The Brighton LED Modules are Constant Current, and uses a 18 AWG Wiring.  The G2G LED Module is Constant Voltage, and uses a 20 AWG Wiring.   Thicker Wire is alway better for long runs and you won't get as much voltage loss in those runs which can incur lower light output especially for Constant Voltage LED Modules.    Constant Current LED Systems have IC chips or current regulators on board each Module on top of the conventional resistors for protection, this is added protection for each LED Module as well as assuring that the first LED on a long string is equally as bright as the last LED Module on the string.  With Constant Voltage LEDs the first LED on the string will be brighter than the last, also the first LED Module will take a bigger hit than the last LED on a string.  With CV Systems, any small reduction in voltage coming from the LED Power Supply due to long runs or inefficient Power Supplies the LEDs will dim even with the smallest fraction of a volt, this does not happen with CC systems...even and consistent lighting, as well as longer life is the advantage of Constant Current Systems.              The Comparison is composed of channels for each LED Line that measure 12"L x 4.25"W x 3" Depth Returns    The Sign faces are 1/8" 7328 White with one of the Deepest Red Color....3M's 3630 series 33 Red.   Each Channel has three LED modules equally spaced 5" On Center Module to Module.     Before going further I must stress that it is very difficult to take pictures of Red Light Sources and Sign Faces, it is very hard to truly show the stark differences between the Brighton & G2G LED Modules and how truly brighter the Brighton LED's perform in real life.   Using an ExTech Light Meter and measuring the Luminance or light right on the sign face we get the following:   For the Brighton Lightning Ruby Red channel we get a Foot Candle high of 81, and Low of 71, averaging out at 76 Foot Candles.  With three .72 Watt LED modules we get a total of 2.16 Watts, and putting out 35.19 Foot Candles per Watt.  The Foot Candles / Watt is important because it's showing the efficiency of the LED Module when it comes to light output.   For the G2G WOW II Red channel we get a Foot Candle high of 40, and Low of 36, averaging out at 38 Foot Candles.  With three .72 Watt LED modules we also get a total of 2.16 Watts, and putting out 17.59 Foot Candles per Watt.          In our next comparison we will bring out the slightly higher LED Modules.....the 12V .8 Watt Principal / Sloan Qwik Mod 2 Red & the Brighton II Ruby Red available in both 12V & 24V .8watt LED Module.  No matter which version Brighton you use 12V or 24V, the Light Output is the same...at 24Volts it's just half the current of a 12V version.         Nothing is different in this comparison other than switching out the LED modules, the Faces and Channel Sizes are the same.  In this instance we will only use two LED modules form each LED Manufacturer with a spacing of 6" On Center, Module to Module.   For the Brighton II Ruby Red channel we get a Foot Candle high of 56, and Low of 47, averaging out at 51.5 Foot Candles.  With the two .8 Watt LED modules we get a total of 1.6 Watts, and putting out 32.19 Foot Candles per Watt.  Again......The Foot Candles / Watt is important because it's showing the efficiency of the LED Module when it comes to light output.   For the Principal / Sloan Qwik Mod 2 Red channel we get a Foot Candle high of 26, and Low of 23, averaging out at 24.5 Foot Candles.  With two .8 Watt LED modules we also get a total of 1.6 Watts, and putting out 15.31 Foot Candles per Watt.         Again I have to stress that the lighting results are better in person than trying to display in a picture, and the stark difference between the two is truly something to see and pay attention to in real time.   Chip quality and efficiency is everything when it comes to LEDs, and a comparison like this also makes aware of the other differences such as system wire thicknesses for voltage loss....and are you paying for a Constant Current System, or a Constant Voltage System?    Comparisons such as this really shows Custom Sign shops what they are truly paying for, and the quality they are paying for!    You could be overpaying for mediocrity with mediocre lighting results.   If you're looking for something special, and can pay less for it compared to other products that cannot perform the same then....You've found it!   With our Brighton Ruby Red LED Modules, you'll get a High-End, High Efficiency product that will give you Competitive Light, NOT usable Light.  The Brighton Ruby Red will Punch at night over those average conventional Red LEDs. Brighton LEDs are all Constant Current for longer life and consistent lighting , and uses a much thicker system wiring for less voltage loss in long runs.   Remember this....as a wise man once told me..."Always buy the most expensive and only cry once!"    Brighton LEDs are not expensive in cost for $79.99 (Bag of 80), but Expensive in Quality!       You can find our Brighton Ruby Red LEDs in a link below.  Feel free to log into your account and place orders, or for questions or order by phone (858) 880-1400 orders@thesignsyndicate.com https://www.thesignsyndicate.com/forums/index.php?/store/category/51-brighton-led/  
    • Erik Sine
      The BrightON IV Pylon Sign Retrofit

      By Erik Sine · Posted

      The High-End Top Tier Brighton-IV Constant Current LED Module for Sign Cabinets & Large Channel Letters for when you want strong Competitive Light NOT, usable light!    The BrightON IV Module as low as $75.00 per bag in small case quantities with FREE SHIPPING       The Existing Pylon Sign 44"H x 17'L x 18"D Existing Fluorescent HO Lamps spaced 12" OC as per usual Electric Sign Industry Standard     In this simple low cost Retrofit no need for high cost proprietary tracks, clips...just simple aluminum stock you already have in your shop for sign fabrication. $85 worth of 1-1/2” x 1-1/2" angle, 3/4” square tube       1 hour of using self-tapping screws to attach the 1.5" x 1.5" Aluminum angles to the top and bottom of the Pylon Sign and adding in the vertical aluminum bars to where the HO Fluorescent lamps once were.   HO Lamps 12” OC Center. 18 Rows, 144 1.6w B-IV Modules, three 96w France TruPower LED PSU’s for the B-IV Modules.      The result???.....Godly Light that tears into Daylight! Brighton - IV LEDs Powered by France TruPower 100% Loadable LED Power Supplies         Again, the Aluminum angles in this project cost came to $85 total!   No Need for high cost proprietary bars, clips, holders.... just use the angles your custom sign shop typically already have in stock for Sign Fabrication.    With the BrightON IV Spacing the module cost for double sided projects come to $3 per foot.   High Efficiency LED Modules (180 l/w) for more light per power, Constant Current NOTConstant Voltage for Consistent / Even Lighting & Longer Life.  24V instead of 12V for half the current which results in half the heat and resistance.     You can purchase the BrightON IV Modules from our store (Here), and in small case quantities $75.00 per bag of 60 as well as our preferred France Lighting Solutions LED Power Supplies which include FREE SHIPPING all across the Continental US Only! ...or feel free to phone in your order (858) 880-1400    
×
×
  • Create New...