Federal Signal Acquires Global Vacuum Systems for $29 Million

Federal Signal Corporation (FSS ) announced on October 28, 2026 that it has completed the acquisition of substantially all the assets and operations of Global Vacuum Systems, Inc., a family-owned manufacturer of custom liquid vacuum tank trucks, for a purchase price of approximately $29 million. The purchase price includes the acquisition of GVS’s manufacturing facility for approximately $15 million.

Founded in 1985 and based in Navasota, Texas, Global Vacuum Systems designs and manufactures custom code and non-code liquid vacuum tank trucks in carbon steel, stainless steel, and aluminum. The company generated net sales of approximately $12 million for the year ended December 31, 2025, according to the announcement.

“GVS expands our presence in the code LVT truck market, a currently underserved sub-segment of the vacuum truck market for Federal Signal,” said Jennifer L. Sherman, president and chief executive officer of Federal Signal. “The acquisition expands our manufacturing capacity and complements our existing vacuum truck portfolio, further strengthening the capabilities and market reach of our Vactor, TRUVAC, Guzzler, and Westech brands.”

Financial Position Entering the Transaction

For the second quarter ended June 30, 2026, Federal Signal reported consolidated net sales of $670 million, up 19% from the prior-year quarter, and orders of $637 million, up 18%, according to its second-quarter earnings release. Consolidated backlog at June 30, 2026 was $1.00 billion, compared with $1.08 billion a year earlier. Consolidated operating income for the quarter was $118.2 million, up 21%, and adjusted EBITDA was $144.4 million, up 22%, the company reported.

In the Environmental Solutions Group, second-quarter net sales were $578 million, up 20% from the prior-year quarter, and orders rose 24% year-over-year, including high-single-digit organic growth, the company said. Net cash provided by operating activities during the quarter was $113 million, up 89% from the prior-year period, and the company paid down approximately $97 million of debt during the quarter. At June 30, 2026, total outstanding debt stood at $454 million, cash and cash equivalents totaled $63 million, and the company had $1.04 billion of availability for borrowings under its credit facility.

Sherman said at the time that the cash generation and credit capacity gave Federal Signal “significant financial flexibility to invest in organic growth initiatives, pursue additional strategic acquisitions, pay down debt, and provide returns to stockholders through dividends and opportunistic stock repurchases.” In the same release, the company raised its full-year 2026 net sales outlook to a range of $2.58 billion to $2.67 billion and its full-year adjusted earnings per share outlook, a non-GAAP measure, to a range of $5.12 to $5.30.

Earlier 2026 Acquisition Activity

The Global Vacuum Systems acquisition follows another asset agreement disclosed earlier in 2026. On June 12, 2026, Federal Signal announced the signing of a definitive agreement to acquire certain assets and operations of Western Technology, Inc., a Bremerton, Washington-based manufacturer of proprietary portable explosion-protected lighting solutions for mission-critical applications. Western Technology serves end-customers across industrial processing, petrochemical, and aerospace and defense industries, and it generated revenues of approximately $6 million over the last twelve months, the company said at the time. Sherman described Western Technology as the first acquisition in an inorganic growth pipeline within the Safety and Security Systems Group. The company said in June that the transaction was expected to close within 90 days, subject to customary closing conditions.

Founded in 1901, Federal Signal is headquartered in Downers Grove, Illinois, with manufacturing facilities worldwide. The company describes itself as a leading global designer, manufacturer, and supplier of products and total solutions serving municipal, governmental, industrial, and commercial customers, and it operates two groups: Environmental Solutions and Safety and Security Systems.

On October 27, 2026, Federal Signal’s board of directors declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.15 per share, as listed on the company’s news page. The company will announce third quarter 2026 earnings before the market opens on Thursday, October 29, 2026, followed by an investor conference call and webcast at 10 a.m. Eastern Time with Sherman and Ian A. Hudson, senior vice president and chief financial officer, according to an October 15 notice.