We were privileged to be given the opportunity to view the AJ Wells factory.
A.J Wells & Sons manufactures and installs signage, cladding, and Vitreous Enamel products including wood-burning stoves and kitchen surfaces.
Vitreous Enamel is incredibly durable and able to withstand almost anything the weather could throw at it.
The business started producing wood-burning stoves under the brand Charnwood, as they still do, selling thousands each year around the globe.
They also found a market for their Architectural Enamel product in the production of signage for Transport for London, which they have done since the 1980’s.
It is incredibly resilient to vandalism and wear, so is the obvious choice for signage anywhere that has a high volume of people moving about in small spaces such as London
Underground and London Overground stations, or any other transport hub for that matter.
Have you noticed that most modern signs last about 3-5 years before they start looking tired – well that’s because they are not Vitreous Enamel – enough said.
They are not cheap, but they are the best option if you want a sign to last and look great 50 years from now without having to replace it regularly
We were shown the whole process of production from sheets being cut, to welding, through to finishing, enameling, kiln firing and finally screen printing.
It is fascinating to see the whole process happening in one place – most people would buy in the sign ready to print, but AJ Wells offers a full bespoke service from fabrication to installation.
As a graphic design agency, we really get excited when it comes to print production. I have seen only a few printers that offer proper screen printing – the work involved in creating the screens is an art in itself before you get to the printing.
And the scale on which they are producing the signs in this factory is mind-boggling.
The most interesting thing, for me, is their approach. They are effectively selling one amazing product; VitreousEnamel, but they have found a number of completely different markets to sell that product: Signage/Kitchens/Cladding/Woodburning Stoves.
The work these guys have put into the overground signage is just incredible, I won’t go into it here, if you want me to tell you about it, buy me a drink and I’ll tell you but suffice to say, they go above and beyond for their customers.
If you have a use for an incredibly weather-resistant surface, with a need to make it look beautiful, I strongly suggest we put you in touch. I’m on the lookout for an excuse to design some beautiful enamel signage.
A massive thank you to David Gatrell for giving us his time, we are hoping to collaborate in the future.
