This is the story of how RAYS TRAFFIC developed the RP-R18 Portable Horizontal Retroreflectometer — A customized solution that proves RAYS TRAFFIC is a road marking retroreflectometer manufacturer with full design, R&D, and production capabilities.
Introduction – Meeting a Unique Korean Market Requirement
Recently, our Korean customer contacted us with specific requirements as below:
-We need a portable pavement marking retroreflectometer to measure road marking retroreflectivity in dry, wet and even in rainy conditions.
-Your retroreflectometer list using a 2856 ± 50 K (CIE A light source). Could you please confirm whether these devices are equipped with a Xenon flash lamp or an LED lamp?
-Everything has to meet the EN 1436 standard.
-We’d like a built-in printer and GPS. We want to print reports on working site and records shall show the position information.
-For the screen language, we need Korean and English only. Please no Chinese characters at all.
-And the instrument color should be red — that’s our brand color and it’s easier to spot in the field.
At Zhenjiang Rays Traffic Tech Co., Ltd., we don’t just manufacture retroreflectometers — we meet real-world road safety demands.
Our Solution: Custom Korean RP-R18 Horizontal Retroreflectometer
After carefully reviewing the customer’s requirements, we recommended our RP-R18 Portable Horizontal Retroreflectometer. The RP-R18 is not just another pavement marking retroreflectometer — RP-R18 is a precision instrument engineered for international standards EN 1436, ASTM E1710, ASTM E2177 and ASTM E2832.
But more importantly, in order to fully meet customer’s requirements, it has to be customized. Here is how we addressed each of their needs:
Q1. "We need to measure RL in dry, wet, and rainy conditions."
Model RP-R18 Portable Horizontal Retroreflectometer comes with RL dry+RL wet+RL rainy(optional) function. To measure RL rainy value, customers shall choose the rainfall lab box. This attachment simulates rainfall on the road marking, allowing the retroreflectometer to measure visibility under real rain conditions.
Q2. "Does your device use a Xenon flash lamp or an LED lamp?”
Moel RP-R18 Portable Horizontal Retroreflectometer uses a stable LED lamp meeting the CIE A light source specification (2856 ± 50 K), not a Xenon flash lamp. We confirmed this to the customer, and they were satisfied. LED technology offers longer life, lower power consumption, and consistent spectral output – perfect for field work.
Q3. "Everything must meet EN 1436 standard.”
Absolutely. The Eurepean standard BS EN 1436 is approved by CEN, it defines the white and yellow road markings performance for test methods and conditions. Including the road markings reflection in daylight or under road lighting, retroreflection in vehicle headlamp illumination.
The RP-R18 is a portable instrument to measure road marking coefficient of retroreflected luminance RL. In the EN 1436 standard, the standard measuring condition is intended to simulate a visual distance of 30m for the driver of a passenger car with an eye height of 1.2m and a headlamp height of 0.65m above the road. The observation angle α shall be 2.29°±0.05°, the Illumination angle β shall be 1.24°±0.05°. RP-R18 Portable Horizontal Retroreflectometer is fully designed based on EN 1436 standard requirements.
Q4. "We'd like a built-in printer and GPS.”
The RP-R18 Portable Horizontal Retroreflectometer standard configuration is equipped with portable bluetooth printer. GPS function is an optional module. With high-precision GPS, you can watch the test site position information for every measurement. Workers can print results immediately after testing, with position information automatically included.
Q5. "Korean and English only – no Chinese characters.”
All of RAYS TRAFFIC road marking retroreflectometers‘ standard language are Chinese and English. Korean language is a unique language requirement. Our R&D team created a one-to-one translation map between Chinese, English, and Korean. Then we redesigned the UI to display Korean and English exclusively. The customer reviewed screenshots and video demos before we finalized the software. This is true customization – not just a language pack.
Q6. "The instrument color should be red.”
We normally offer standard colors like orange and black, but customization is our strength. After confirming the red color swatch with the customer, we painted the body of the RP-R18 road marking retroreflectometer with red. The color is consistent, scratch-resistant, and highly visible on the road surface.
48‑Hour Continuous Test
After all modifications for RP-R18 portable horizontal retroreflectometer were completed – Korean & English UI, GPS, Blue-tooth printer, red color, and rainfall lab box – we powered on the RP-R18 and ran it continuously for 48 hours. Every function was tested: RL dry, RL wet, RL rain, GPS accuracy, printing, and battery endurance. Only after everything passed, then we pack and ship the retroreflectometer to Korea.
Who Should Choose the RP‑18 Portable Horizontal Retroreflectometer?
The custom Korean RP-R18 Horizontal Retroreflectometer is not just a success story for one Korean customer. It is a customizable solution that serves multiple stakeholders in the road safety industry. Here is why different professionals should choose RAYS TRAFFIC road marking retroreflectometer:
-Retroreflectometer Brands
If you sell portable horizontal retroreflectometer under your own brand, we can offer full OEM/ODM services. We can customize everything: instrument color, laser-engrave your logo, showcase your unique welcome screen, show your local language, user manual, packaging, and even hardware features. You focus on your market, we focus on engineering and production.
The most important thing is, RAYS TRAFFIC will never disrupt your market. Once we build cooperation relationship, we will custom-manufacture unique horizontal retroreflectometers that align with your brand image, based on your specific requirements. No matter how well this instrument sells in the future, we will protect your markets and will not sell your models to others. We can sign a confidentiality agreement if you require it.
-International Horizontal Retroreflectometer Distributors
If you resell branded retroreflection meters, such as famous Delta, Zehntner/Proceq, Roadvista, RetroTek, Easylux brand, you can consider RAYS TRAFFIC as an alternative retroreflectometer supplier. The RP-R18 horizontal retroreflectometer’s measurement accuracy can compare to internationally renowned brands, with excellent cost-performance. Our horizontal retroreflectometer enables you to meet the needs of many budget-conscious customers.
-Road Marking Paint Manufacturers
The coefficient of retroreflected luminance (RL) provides a very direct indication of the nighttime reflectivity of road marking paint. By equipping your road marking coating R&D center with a RP-R18 handheld portable horizontal retroreflectometer, you gain the ability to track retroreflective performance of your road marking paint in real time. This means faster, more accurate formulation adjustments.
When your paint distributors, dealers, and sales carry a portable road marking retroreflectometer, they don’t just talk about quality — they prove it. Potential buyers can see real‑time retroreflectivity readings of your road markings, making the benefits of your coatings impossible to ignore.
Our portable road marking retroreflectometer can be your promotional strategy. Imagine offering a free road marking retroreflectometer with every one‑time purchase of 200 tons of thermoplastic paint. This kind of high‑value incentive not only closes larger deals but also positions your brand as a partner invested in customer success.
Rays Traffic portable horizontal retroreflectometer can make your after‑sales service unforgettable. Give your after‑sales team a portable retroreflectometer. When they visit a customer’s construction site, they can help measure the retroreflectivity of fresh applied road markings — boosting the customer’s acceptance rate and reducing rework. Meanwhile, you collect hard data on how your coatings perform in the working site under dry,wet, rainy, which helping you develop road marking reflectivity that lasts.
-Glass Bead Manufacturers
Glass beads are the heart of road marking retroreflectivity. Without high-quality beads, even the best road marking paint will fail to deliver adequate night visibility. But how can glass bead manufacturers truly verify that their products perform as promised — especially under challenging weather conditions? The answer is simple: a portable horizontal retroreflectometer like the RP-R18.
In order to reduce traffic accidents, governments worldwide are now pushing for higher retroreflectivity standards, especially for wet and rainy conditions. Road markings must maintain adequate brightness not only in dry weather but also during light rain, heavy rain, and even under a continuous water film. The RP-R18 portable horizontal retroreflectometer, equipped with optional rainy night spraying device, makes this possible. It measures RL dry, RL wet, and RL rain according to EN 1436, giving glass beads manufacturers reliable, repeatable data.
-Road Marking Contractors
To ensure that newly applied road markings meet dry, wet and rainy night visibility standards —contractors must verify road marking retroreflective performance on site. A portable horizontal retroreflectometer will be the essential tool for quality control during application. Avoid costly rework and build a reputation for reliable work.
No matter which role you play in the road marking industry, the RP‑18 is a pavement marking retroreflectometer that adapts to you. RAYS TRAFFIC – Your best Custom Retroreflectometer Partner. Let us help you develop road marking reflectivity and reduce traffic accidents worldwide.