Why Us?
Compare the product capabilities and features across top drive-thru and digital signage providers to find the right fit for your business objectives
| Products | The Howard Company | Everbrite | LSI Digital Signage | Novisign | Origin Menu Boards | Palmer Digital | Stratacache | Stream Signage | Unistructures | Visual Graphic Systems | Xenial |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Drive-Thru Menu Boards | |||||||||||
| Canopies | |||||||||||
| Clearance Bars | |||||||||||
| Speaker Posts | |||||||||||
| Directional Signs | |||||||||||
| Brand Boosters | |||||||||||
| Tip Jars | |||||||||||
| Headset Systems | |||||||||||
| Indoor Menu Boards | |||||||||||
| AI Voice Integration | |||||||||||
| Kiosks | |||||||||||
| Register Shrouds | |||||||||||
| Window Graphics | |||||||||||
| Interior Design | |||||||||||
| Video Walls | |||||||||||
| Exterior Signs | |||||||||||
| Digital Content Management | |||||||||||
| Design Services | |||||||||||
| Active Monitoring | |||||||||||
| Graphic Fulfillment | |||||||||||
| Installation Services | |||||||||||
| POS Systems | |||||||||||
| Kitchen Management |
We pride ourselves at the Howard Company for being a "one-stop shop" for all of your signage needs. From customization to installation, we consult and assist your business.
Comparing Drive-Thru Menu Board Solutions: Palmer Digital Group vs. The Howard Company
When evaluating digital drive-thru menu board solutions, both Palmer Digital Group (PDG) and The Howard Company (THC) offer innovative products tailored to the needs of quick-service restaurants (QSRs). Each company brings unique strengths to the table, and the best choice depends on your specific operational goals and site requirements.
Howard Company Competitor Comparison
Installation & Setup
- Palmer Digital Group provides a modular approach, shipping components in separate boxes for on-site assembly. This can offer flexibility in shipping logistics.
- The Howard Company delivers fully assembled units, streamlining the installation process. Their radial slot base design allows for easy angle adjustments on-site, helping reduce labor time and complexity.
- PDG offers a clean, open-screen design with options for laser-cut branding. This minimalist look may appeal to brands seeking a sleek, modern appearance.
- THC provides a variety of fully enclosed designs, including the DT FLEX line, which supports full-color branding across all surfaces. The monument-style base adds a strong visual presence while maintaining a contemporary look.
Customization & Product Variety
- PDG offers a single line of drive-thru menu boards with digital, static, or hybrid options, including an All-in-One model with integrated canopy and communication wing.
- THC offers three distinct product lines, DT CHOICE (static), DT ECO (frameless digital), and DT FLEX (hybrid), each with multiple configuration options, color choices, and add-ons like canopies, clearance bars, and speaker posts.
Experience & Support
- PDG brings over 5 years of experience and offers support throughout the installation process.
- THC, with over 75 years in the industry, provides comprehensive support before, during, and after installation, backed by decades of expertise in drive-thru solutions.
Power Management
- PDG includes surge protection per ETL code to ensure system reliability.
- THC systems are designed with dual power lines and circuit breakers per UL48 code, allowing for independent control of digital and static components, enhancing energy efficiency and operational flexibility.
Security & Durability
- PDG secures screens with multiple fasteners and offers a streamlined design. Their open-frame approach may be ideal for locations with lower exposure to environmental or physical risks.
- THC offers both open and fully enclosed options, with field-tested designs that enhance protection against theft and vehicle damage. Their DT FLEX line is rated for up to 180 MPH wind loads, making it suitable for all U.S. regions.
Summary
Both Palmer Digital Group and The Howard Company deliver high-quality drive-thru menu board solutions. PDG’s modular, tech-forward approach may suit businesses prioritizing shipping flexibility and a minimalist aesthetic. THC stands out for its broad product range, robust structural design, and decades of industry experience, ideal for operators seeking long-term reliability and customization.
Steel & Finish Standard Manufacturing Quality
We control the entire process from engineering and fabrication to finishing and assembly.
Two things determine how long your equipment lasts: the steel that holds it up and the finish that protects it. Here's how we engineer both to outlast the competition. Every menu board we manufacture is built using heavy-gauge structural steel and industrial powder coat finishes.
Heavy-gauge steel keeps your menu boardstanding. Powder coating keeps it looking professional. Together, they deliver equipment that performs for decades.
Structural Engineering
Budget menu boards use thinnersteel to cut costs. The difference isn't visible until a storm hits or a permitgets rejected. We start with heavier gauge steel because the structure has tosurvive decades of wind, weather, and daily use—not just pass inspection ondelivery day.
What Steel Thickness Does The Howard Company Use for Menu Board Poles?
We engineer all menu board structures using 3/16" structural steel for standard applications and 5/16" for high wind load zones. Pole thickness directly determines wind load capacity. The thicker steel handles higher wind speeds before bending or failing.
Why Does Menu Board Pole Thickness Matter?
Wind load requirements range from 90 MPH inland to 180 MPH in hurricane zones. Pole thickness determines whether your structure meets code and what happens when severe weather hits.
Under-engineered poles fail permitting, fail in storms, and fail your business. Properly specified steel thickness protects your investment in four ways:
- Permits approved faster: Maximum-spec structures pass wind load review in all 50 states.
- Equipment lasts longer: Heavy-gauge steel resists bending, vibration, and fatigue over years of outdoor exposure
- Liability reduced: Properly engineered poles prevent structural failures that cause injury, property damage, and lawsuits
- Digital displays supported: Multi-panel digital menu boards create higher wind loads—thicker steel handles them safely
What Structural Standards Do Howard Company Menu Boards Meet?
- AASHTO – American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials
- ASTM International – Material standards for structural steel
- ASCE 7 – Wind load design criteria
Surface Protection
Powder coating is the bestfinish for outdoor menu boards. It lasts 15-20+ years compared to 5-10 years for wet paint, resists chips, scratches, UV fading, and corrosion, and is low maintenance. We powder coat every indoor and outdoor menu board we manufacture.
What's the Difference Between Powder Coating and Wet Paint?
Powder coating is a dry finishing process where electrostatically charged powder bonds to metal and cures in an oven at 400°F. The result is a thick, uniform protective shell that out performs wet paint in every outdoor metric.
| Factors | Wet Paint | (Most Popular) Powder Coating | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Typical Lifespan | 5-10 years | 15-20+ years | |
| Chip & Scratch Resistance |
Scratches and peels with minor contact; exposes bare metal |
Absorbs impacts without chipping; 2-3x harder than paint | |
| UV & Fade Resistance | Fades in 2-3 years; chalky residue develops on surface | Color stays true 10+ years; Polyester powders resist UV degradation | |
| Rust Protection | Moisture seeps under edges | Electrostatic bond seals entire surface; no entry points for moisture | Unlimited |
| Finish Quality | Potential for drips, runs, & thin spots | Uniform thickness on all surfaces; electrostatic charge ensures even coverage | Unlimited |
| VOCs | Yes; hazardous handling | Zero; overspray recyclable | |
| Maintenance Required | Annual touch-ups; full repaint every 5-10 years; rust repair as needed | Wash with soap and water as needed; no repainting or rust repair |
Why is Powder Coating Better?
The math changes for outdoor equipment. A painted menu board needs touch-ups every year and full repainting every 5-10 years. Plus rust repair when moisture gets under chipped edges. A powder coated menu board needs soap and water for 15-20 years.
The higher upfront cost disappears when you factor in decades of avoided maintenance. Your equipment still looks professional when competitors are scheduling their third repaint.
That's why we powder coat every menu board we manufacture—indoor and outdoor. The finish has to match the structural quality underneath. Heavy steel and a 5-year finish doesn't make sense. Neither does thin steel with a 20-year coating. We build both to last.
Drive-thru menu boards face environmental stress that destroys painted finishes:
- Sun, rain, and humidity: Powder coating forms a sealed barrier that resists moisture and UV (wet paint peels and allows corrosion).
- Temperature swings: Cured finish expands and contracts without cracking.
- Vehicle impacts: Dense coating absorbs minor impacts without chipping.
- Brand consistency: Colors stay true for years—even in direct sunlight.
What This Means for Your Equipment
Anyone can sell you a menuboard. The question is whether it's still standing and still lookingprofessional in 10, 15, or 20 years.
We use 3/16" to 5/16"structural steel rated up to 180 MPH because permits get rejected and equipmentfails when you cut corners on structure. We powder coat every surface becausepainted finishes fade, chip, and rust while you're still paying off theequipment.
Heavy-gauge steel keeps yourmenu board standing. Powder coating keeps it looking professional. Together,they deliver equipment that performs for decades—not years. That's what 65+years of manufacturing experience looks like.