The HANKUN HK-PTMS-CS-1207-44-5C is a compact, trailer-mounted variable message sign (VMS) with a 48 × 28 five-colour pixel matrix, 3 lines of 8 characters or variable format, and a character height of 198.0 mm (7.80 in) with the 5 × 7 character matrix; character size is set by the message format selected — on a 1364 × 792 mm (53.70 × 31.18 in) active display area, powered by a self-sustaining solar array for remote roadside operation.
Compact Five-Colour Trailer VMS
Model HK-PTMS-CS-1207-44-5C | Compact · Five-Colour · Trailer-Mounted
| Active Display Area | Max Character Height | Pixel Structure | Display Colour | Cabinet Dimensions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1364 × 792 mm / 53.70 × 31.18 in | 198.0 mm (7.80 in) with the 5 × 7 character matrix | 48 × 28 full-matrix, discrete per-colour LEDs — 17 LEDs per pixel, no colour blending | Five-colour; the amber configuration of the same platform is also available | 1564 × 992 mm (100 mm border basis; depth 200–250 mm) |
The HK-PTMS-CS-1207-44-5C is a compact, trailer-mounted variable message sign (VMS) with a 48 × 28 five-colour full-matrix display — 17 LEDs per pixel (4 red, 4 amber, 3 green, 3 blue, 3 white), no colour blending — 3 lines of 8 characters or variable format, and a 198.0 mm (7.80 in) character height on a 1364 × 792 mm (53.70 × 31.18 in) active display area, powered by a self-sustaining solar array for remote roadside operation.
Share：
The HK-PTMS-CS-1207-44-5C is part of the HANKUN variable message sign range, built for road authorities, contractors and rental fleets that need a legible, power-autonomous message sign at the roadside. It is a compact trailer-mounted variable message sign (VMS) with a full-matrix display, and its published figures are taken from the released engineering drawings.
PCMS
In North America this class of equipment is called a portable changeable message sign, or PCMS — which is how this model is specified.
Trailer VMS
In Australia and New Zealand the trailer-mounted version of this equipment is commonly specified as a trailer-mounted VMS board, per AS 4852.2 practice.
Trailer VMS
UK and European road authorities and contractors refer to the trailer-mounted version as a mobile VMS or trailer-mounted VMS in tenders and specifications.
— Core Characteristics
01
Every model in this range is a full-matrix display — each pixel is individually addressed — so message text, left and right arrows and work-zone warning symbols can all be combined on the same panel. Models differ in pixel matrix, display colour and active display area, not in whether symbols can be shown. Symbol capability is stated as a display capability and is not tied to any compliance claim.
02
198.0 mm (7.80 in) with the 5 × 7 character matrix; character size is set by the message format selected. Character height depends on the character matrix selected, so the two are always published together.
03
48 × 28 pixels, full-matrix, discrete per-colour LEDs — up to 17 individual LEDs per pixel (4 red, 4 amber, 3 green, 3 blue, 3 white); no colour blending.
04
1364 × 792 mm (53.70 × 31.18 in) — the illuminated area, stated separately from the cabinet.
05
3 lines × 8 characters per line (variable format) — lines and characters per line are always published together, because one without the other does not describe the information capacity.
06
Five-colour for a colour hierarchy on high-priority warnings; the same platform is also available in amber.
07
Cabinet 1564 × 992 mm on a 100 mm border basis, depth 200–250 mm. Trailer-mounted with a road-tow configuration.
08
Automatic dimming — display brightness and grey level are adjusted to ambient light conditions; a manual brightness setting is also available. The display therefore draws less power in low light, which extends the working time available from the solar array and battery bank.
09
Powder-coated and oven-baked finish. 2,000 lb (907 kg) capacity; 5-on-4.5 in. bolt-circle idler hub. Double-eye leaf spring group, 1.5 t (3,300 lb) gross capacity. Wheel track 1,800–2,200 mm matched to the active display area. Tires ST205/75 D15. Lifting: electro-hydraulic; manual winch (optional).
10
4G; GPS position reporting. Message management from phone, tablet or PC. Open API and SDK protocol provided, for integration into an existing fleet management platform.
11
This page states what is confirmed and what is not. Confirmed for this model: the 48 × 28 display matrix, the 1364 × 792 mm active display area, the character height of 198.0 mm (7.80 in) and the pixel structure, together with the solar array, battery, chassis and lifting figures. The remaining items are listed as to be confirmed rather than estimated, so nothing on this page is a placeholder value.
12
Every published dimension — including the 48 × 28 matrix and the 1364 × 792 mm (53.70 × 31.18 in) active display area — is taken from the released engineering drawings and is internally re-checkable, so the figures can be quoted in a project specification.
Lower-speed streets and municipal works. This model carries 3 lines of 8 characters or variable format on a 48 × 28 matrix with 1364 × 792 mm (53.70 × 31.18 in) of active display area — read at 198 mm (7.80 in) from a close approach — and five colours let one priority message carry its own colour above the advisory text, which suits a street where the message rarely changes.
Short-lived works in built-up areas. A 1564 × 992 mm cabinet keeps the footprint small at the kerb, the 48 × 28 matrix still holds the closure sequence, and five colours let a pavement crew mark the closure line apart from the hazard line.
Works measured in hours or days. Road-tow trailer mounting with an independent solar array means no generator and no cabling at the site, and a two-layer message — the priority layer in a second colour on the same matrix — keeps the panel simple for a crew that redeploys it mid-shift.
Immediate warning at short notice. 1364 × 792 mm of active display area is what the approaching driver reads, a 198 mm (7.80 in) character height is the other half of that decision, and the five-colour panel can hold the warning and the speed advisory in separate colours.
Internal roads and access control, read at walking or turning speed. The 48 × 28 matrix suits notices and symbols rather than long traffic phrases, and a colour-coded message — which suits sites that carry a priority item beside routine instructions — fits an internal route message.
Long-term placement at a fixed point. The 1564 × 992 mm cabinet and the 48 × 28 matrix are specified against the position, the five-colour output covers a yard notice beside a safety message, and the mounting arrangement is confirmed with us.
§ MUTCD Part 6 (Chapter 6F)
§ MUTCD Table 2E-4
US practice sets letter height from the posted approach speed. MUTCD Part 6 (Chapter 6F) gives 18 in (457 mm) as the minimum letter height for a portable changeable message sign and permits shorter letters on low-speed facilities; Table 2E-4 adds that 450 mm (18 in) should be used where speeds are greater than 90 km/h (55 mph), in persistently poor weather, or where the driving task is complex. Messages are limited to two phases, and animation, flashing and scrolling are not used.
§ AS 1742.3:2019
§ State roadworks guidance
AS 1742.3:2019 and the state roadworks guidance size characters to the approach speed, at roughly 120 mm for 60 km/h approaches and 160–200 mm for 80 km/h approaches, with the larger alphabet series applied to high-speed and multi-lane works. The sign face is confirmed with the road authority for each project.
§ NZTA CoP for Temporary Traffic Management
§ Published NZ figures for LED message signs
The NZTA Code of Practice for Temporary Traffic Management sets a temporary speed limit at least 20 km/h below the normal limit, gated across the carriageway, with repeat signs at 400 m intervals. The published NZ figures for LED message signs set characters at not smaller than 300 mm inside a 50 km/h area and not smaller than 400 mm elsewhere.
§ Traffic Signs Manual Ch. 8, Table A1.2
§ TSRGD 2016
The UK sizes characters by x-height rather than cap height. Traffic Signs Manual Chapter 8 (Table A1.2) runs from 62.5 mm at 30 mph to 200 mm on dual carriageways at the national speed limit, and TSRGD 2016 sets the legal x-height limits at 35 mm to 400 mm, so a cap-height figure has to be converted before it can be placed in that table.
§ EN 12966:2014+A1:2018
EN 12966:2014+A1:2018 classifies a variable message sign on luminance, beam width, colour and luminance ratio, with a temperature class. The class required follows the road type, the viewing geometry and the climate at the site, and it is stated per configuration rather than as a single figure.
3 lines of 8 characters or variable format at 198 mm (7.80 in) suits street works and access restrictions, where the whole panel is read at low speed from a short distance, and the 1564 × 992 mm cabinet is what decides whether the position at the kerb is available at all.
A compact 48 × 28 panel at 198 mm (7.80 in) for school zones and pedestrian routes, where the message is short and it is read from close range — and five colours are what separate a school-zone advisory from the general road message.
One 1564 × 992 mm cabinet and one controller across the fleet means one spare-part set and one training path, and the 48 × 28 matrix is the figure to quote when a client asks what the unit can display — with amber and five-colour published on the same platform.
The message changes by the hour, from direction to parking to egress, and a pre-set list keeps a 48 × 28 display showing the right line at the right time — with the 1564 × 992 mm cabinet towed between gates, crossings and car park entries.
Standard highway VMS trailers occupy excessive lane width, causing secondary traffic bottlenecks in dense city centres. The compact five-colour VMS trailer runs an ultra-compact towable chassis — a 1564 × 992 mm cabinet — so it sits on a narrow sidewalk, a kerb or inside a closed work-zone shoulder without encroaching on active traffic.
Monochrome 3-line text boards are easy to overlook in a high-distraction urban environment. The 5-colour matrix lets a crew render recognised safety symbols — red stop/warning icons, green directional arrows, amber hazard triangles — alongside high-contrast text, so the symbol carries its meaning before the words are read.
Moving heavy equipment needs specialised trucks and extra fuel. This lightweight road-tow trailer can be towed by light commercial vehicles or a passenger utility car, which lowers fleet fuel consumption and allows single-operator setup on site.
Urban utility trenching, resurfacing and sidewalk closures. The compact portable message board gives real-time lane-shift advisories without blocking transit lanes.
Stadium events, concert traffic and community festivals. Operators can position the mobile variable message sign at parking garage entries or pedestrian crossings for dynamic direction.
A low-profile variable message sign in tunnel warning board position: set before the portal, it delivers advance height warnings, lane availability and hazard alerts.
Connected with Doppler radar, the unit works as an automated variable speed limit sign, showing colour-coded speed feedback in residential zones and school streets.
“Switching to HANKUN’s Compact Five-Colour Trailer VMS has solved our inner-city traffic control headaches. The compact footprint fits into narrow street parking spots, and the 5-colour graphic display means drivers spot the detour arrow instantly. Towing and single-person setup are practically effortless.”
“As a highway equipment rental supplier, we needed a variable message sign that combined high visual performance with low maintenance. HANKUN delivered top-tier quality at a competitive variable message signs price. The solar performance is rock-solid, and the 4G remote management saves our field technicians hours of drive time.”
One matrix · fixed line grid
48 × 28 matrix→3 lines × 8→198 mm
198 mm→fixed 5 × 7→no taller matrix
Character height and line count are the same decision, and this platform answers it with its matrix rather than with a menu: a 48 × 28 grid laid out for 3 lines of 8 characters or variable format, giving 198.0 mm (7.80 in) with the 5 × 7 character matrix. No taller character matrix is offered on this platform, so the character height stays where it is instead of being traded against line count. That is the deliberate answer for a board whose job is one fixed line grid — 3 lines of 8 characters — with the variable format there for when a symbol message needs the whole panel.
Discrete colour → 17 LEDs → priority layer
4R + 4A + 3G + 3B + 3W→17 LEDs / pixel
→no blending→priority line + amber text
The 48 × 28 grid carries a discrete per-colour pixel — up to 17 individual LEDs per pixel, with no colour blending. That is a design decision rather than a bigger display: a priority line takes its own colour while the advisory text stays amber, on the same 1364 × 792 mm of active display area, which is why five-colour is published as its own configuration instead of being folded into one blended panel.
Power on board · site off the brief
Solar + battery→no generator
no cabling→towable 1564 × 992 mm
The platform carries its own power, which takes the site out of the design brief: no generator, no cabling and no mains connection has to be arranged before the sign can work. What is left to design is a 1564 × 992 mm cabinet that tows between long-duration sites behind vehicles the customer already runs
North AmericaAustralia / New ZealandUK / EuropeOther
Long-duration highway work zoneShort-term / incident responseSpecial eventsFixed facility (port, airport, utility)
Arrows (left / right)Arrows plus other symbols (work-zone triangle, speed roundel, etc.)
We need five-colourAmber is sufficient
Answered the four? Send them with your enquiry.
We reply with the configuration that matches your market, duty and message set — the five-colour model on this page, or the amber configuration of the same display if a colour hierarchy is not needed.
Colour branch
Identical display geometry, only the colour configuration changes.
Choose amber if a colour hierarchy is not needed — it does not reduce any display figure.
Mounting branch
The same display class in the other mounting configuration.
Trailer-mounted suits long-duration deployment and towing; truck-mounted suits vehicle-integrated operation.
If the viewing distance or the message volume is beyond what a 1364 × 792 mm active display area can serve, the HK-PTMS-MS-0607-49-5C is the next step up in the five-colour trailer-mounted range, with a 54 × 28 matrix and a 2025 × 1050 mm active display area.
This is the smallest published five-colour trailer-mounted model. If the site is tighter than this model suits, a different display platform is needed — send us the site plan and we will confirm.
The HK-TMVMS-1821-24-A is the truck-mounted alternative in the same size class: vehicle mounting with power taken from the vehicle.
Between two sizes? Send the viewing distance and the message set.
We confirm the model against your site geometry — or point you to the next size up before you commit.
The HK-PTMS-CS-1207-44-5C is one of 19 catalogued models — 15 of them published and available for specification — and it is the 2nd by active display area among the published models. Within the compact five-colour trailer group it is the 1st of 4. It carries a 48 × 28 pixel matrix — 48 pixels across and 28 down — over 1364 × 792 mm (53.70 × 31.18 in) of active display area, with a character height of 198 mm (7.80 in).
Those five figures are the whole basis on which this model is chosen: the rest of the range differs in matrix, colour and display area, not in what a full-matrix display can do.
catalogued models
in the HANKUN PCMS range
published & available
for specification
by active display area
among published models
within the compact five-colour trailer group
Published range · by active display area2 / 15
Second in the published range by active display area; larger units above it start at the 54 × 28 matrix.
Compact five-colour trailer group1 / 4
The smallest published model in its own group — three larger five-colour trailer configurations sit above it.
Need a different position in the range? Tell us the viewing distance.
We place your requirement on the same scale and name the model — this one, a step up, or a step down.
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Model | HK-PTMS-CS-1207-44-5C |
| Mounting | Trailer-mounted (road tow) |
| Display colour | Five-colour |
| Active display area | 1364 × 792 mm (53.70 × 31.18 in) |
| Cabinet dimensions | 1564 × 992 mm (100 mm border basis; depth 200–250 mm) |
| Display matrix | 48 × 28 pixels | full-matrix, discrete per-colour LEDs — up to 17 individual LEDs per pixel (4 red, 4 amber, 3 green, 3 blue, 3 white); no colour blending |
| LEDs per pixel | 17 per pixel — 4 red + 4 amber + 3 green + 3 blue + 3 white = 17 LEDs per pixel (3 mm through-hole LED) |
| Message format | 3 lines × 8 characters per line (variable format) |
| Character height — standard matrix | 198.0 mm (7.80 in) with the 5 × 7 character matrix |
| Character height — extended matrix | Character size is set by the message format selected |
| Compliance path | MUTCD configuration options · North AmericaEN 12966 compatible configuration · Europe & UKAS 4852.2 configuration options · Australia & New Zealand |
— System & Operation
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Power | |
| Solar array | 2 × 360 W (720 W total) |
| Battery | 2 × 250 Ah AGM deep-cycle battery |
| Charge controller | MPPT charge controller, 30–40 A charge current |
| Panel mounting | Fixed as standard; tilt-and-rotate mounting (optional) |
| Trailer chassis | |
| Coating | Powder-coated and oven-baked |
| Axle assembly | 2,000 lb (907 kg) capacity; 5-on-4.5 in. bolt-circle idler hub |
| Suspension | Double-eye leaf spring group, 1.5 t (3,300 lb) gross capacity |
| Wheel track | 1,800–2,200 mm (model dependent) |
| Tires | ST205/75 D15 |
| Lifting | Electro-hydraulic; manual winch (optional) |
| Automatic dimming | |
| Ambient light control | Automatic dimming — display brightness and grey level are adjusted to ambient light conditions; a manual brightness setting is also available. |
| Remote operation and integration | |
| Connectivity | 4G; GPS position reporting |
| Operating terminal | Message management from phone, tablet or PC |
| Fleet integration | Open API and SDK protocol provided, for integration into an existing fleet management platform. |
| Confirmed for this platform | |
| Display | 48 × 28 full-matrix; 1364 × 792 mm active display area; 198.0 mm (7.80 in) character height with the 5 × 7 matrix; 3 lines of 8 characters or variable format. |
| Dimming and remote | Automatic dimming to ambient light conditions, with manual brightness setting; 4G connectivity, GPS position reporting, open API and SDK protocol. |
| Power and chassis | 2 × 360 W (720 W total) solar array and 2 × 250 Ah AGM battery; MPPT controller 30–40 A; powder-coated, oven-baked chassis; 2,000 lb axle with 5-on-4.5 in. idler hub; double-eye leaf spring group 1.5 t gross; wheel track 1,800–2,200 mm; ST205/75 D15 tires; electro-hydraulic lifting, manual winch optional. |
| Options | |
| Vehicle speed radar | Doppler speed radar, for speed feedback and dynamic speed limit display — configuration item, agreed at ordering. |
| Solar panel mounting | Tilt-and-rotate mounting (optional); fixed as standard. |
| Lifting | Electro-hydraulic as standard; manual winch lifting (optional). |
| Power capacity | Additional solar panel or battery capacity, sized against the insolation profile of the destination market. |
| Position reporting | GPS position reporting. |
| Remote monitoring | 4G remote monitoring and control. |
| Documents available on request | |
| Technical data sheet | Issued against the configuration quoted. |
| Configuration options list | Item-by-item, so two quotes can be compared line for line. |
| Factory inspection record | Module burn-in, full-screen illumination test, structural and sealing inspection, pre-shipment re-check — one record per unit. |
| CE documentation support | CE marking and Declaration of Conformity for Europe and the UK; testing documentation available on request. |
| Still to be confirmed for your configuration | |
| Not yet fixed | Mast type, lift height and deployment method; controller model and NTCIP 1203 support; wind rating, ingress protection rating, operating temperature range and warranty terms; complete trailer weight and overall transport dimensions. |
| Not published | Visual range, luminance value, contrast ratio, dimming levels, autonomy days, wind rating, IP rating, operating temperature range, warranty, complete trailer weight and overall transport dimensions, controller model — none of these are estimated on this page. Automatic dimming is published as a display capability; its threshold values and step count are not. |
— Compliance & Regional Configuration
MUTCD configuration options; NEMA TS-4 testing available on request.
✓MUTCD
✓NEMA TS-4
EN 12966 compatible configuration (class confirmed per project); CE marking and Declaration of Conformity available.
✓EN 12966
✓CE + DoC
AS 4852.2 configuration options; trailer build to applicable ADR requirements.
✓AS 4852.2
✓ADR
— Procurement Case
01
A 48 × 28 display over 1364 × 792 mm of active display area deploys on a road-tow trailer with its own power, so the site needs no generator and no cabling for the duration of the works.
02
The five published figures for this compact trailer model — 1364 × 792 mm active display area, 198.0 mm (7.80 in) character height, 48 × 28 matrix, five-colour display colour and a 1564 × 992 mm cabinet — can be quoted straight into a project specification, because each one is traceable to the engineering record.
03
The five-colour output adds a priority layer on the same 48 × 28 matrix, and the amber configuration of the same display is also published, so the colour choice stays reversible — and the same-platform options mean one spare-part set and one training path across a mixed fleet.
04
At 1364 × 792 mm this model is the 2nd largest active display area among the 15 published models, and the 1st of 4 in the compact five-colour trailer group — so it can be placed against the other models on published figures rather than on a sales description.
— Before You Specify
Message Format & Visibility
A compact five-colour trailer VMS combines a small display footprint with a colour hierarchy: a 1364 × 792 mm active display area on a 1564 × 992 mm cabinet, carrying 3 lines of 8 characters or variable format at 198 mm (7.80 in). It puts a text and symbol message on a narrow city street, a bike-lane edge or a congested junction where a full-size trailer will not fit, and the five-colour matrix lets one line carry its own colour above the advisory text.
It is offered as a MUTCD configuration option: the specification is set against MUTCD Part 6 (Chapter 6F) and Table 2E-4 for the destination market, and conformance is confirmed against the project specification before shipment. NEMA TS-4 testing is available on request. At 198 mm the character height sits below the 18 in (457 mm) figure MUTCD names for portable changeable message signs on higher-speed approaches, so this model is aimed at lower-speed municipal work.
Because the colour carries part of the meaning. A five-colour panel renders red, amber, green, blue and white as discrete per-colour LEDs — 17 LEDs per pixel (4 red + 4 amber + 3 green + 3 blue + 3 white), no colour blending — so a priority line holds its own colour while the advisory text stays amber, on the same matrix. The amber configuration of the same platform is published too, so the colour decision stays reversible.
Field Operation & Integration
With 2 × 360 W (720 W total) of solar array, 2 × 250 Ah AGM deep-cycle storage, an MPPT controller at 30–40 A and automatic dimming, the display draws less in low light. Array and battery capacity are selected against the insolation profile of the destination market; where a corridor is heavily shaded, additional capacity is a published option, and the autonomy figure for your site is confirmed per project.
The sign is built on a road-tow trailer with a 2,000 lb (907 kg) axle, 5-on-4.5 in. bolt-circle hub, double-eye leaf spring group at 1.5 t (3,300 lb) gross and ST205/75 D15 tires. Towing vehicle and licence requirements are set by the destination market, so the trailer specification is confirmed against your vehicle and local rules before order.
Yes — vehicle speed radar is a published option. With radar fitted the unit works as a speed feedback display, showing the approaching speed with a colour-coded warning. The threshold is set to the posted limit for each site at commissioning.
Through 4G connectivity with GPS position reporting: messages are managed from a phone, tablet or PC, and an open API and SDK protocol is provided for integration into an existing fleet management platform. The controller model is confirmed per project.
Applications, Cost & Procurement
Yes. A 1564 × 992 mm cabinet with a 1364 × 792 mm display face suits a low-profile position at a tunnel approach or a parking portal, where horizontal space and vertical clearance are the binding constraint rather than display area. Mounting height is set on site.
Send the market, the duty, the message set and the number of units. The quotation comes back as a configuration list — display, colour, power, mounting, options — so two quotes can be compared line for line. Fleet orders quote against the same platform, which keeps one spare-part set and one training path.
Because the figures are published and re-checkable: a 48 × 28 matrix, a 1364 × 792 mm active display area and a 198.0 mm (7.80 in) character height, each traceable to the released engineering drawings. Add a powder-coated, oven-baked chassis and a factory inspection record per unit, and the specification can be quoted rather than described.
A question not listed here? Send it with your project location — the answer comes back with the configuration sheet.
Fill in your information to reserve a free exclusive video consultation. Our team will contact you within 24 hours to arrange a dedicated online meeting.
