We have a proud history of delivering high-quality vitreous enamel signage, cladding, illuminated fascias and light-boxes for the London Underground, as well as train and bus stations across the country. We are approved by Transport for London, registered with the UK Rail Industry, and are PASMA and CSCS certified.

Transport signage

We have been the principal supplier of the London Underground’s, vitreous enamel signage and cladding since the 1990s. Vitreous Enamel was selected to replace combustible materials throughout the London Underground after the tragic King’s Cross fire in 1987. Vitreous enamel is fire-resistant and highly durable which makes it the perfect material for the Underground’s famous signs, maps and cladding.

• A.J Wells completely re-signed 40 stations as part of the latest re-brand for TFLs DLR stations including platform extensions that were put in place for the 2012 summer Olympics.
• A.J Wells designed, developed, manufactured and installed thousands of signs ranging from door plates to illuminated fascias and roundels for many of the new Crossrail, Elizabeth Line stations.
• A.J Wells & Sons were commissioned by Transport for London to create four giant illuminated Underground signs in the shape of the PlayStation buttons for the 2020 launch of the PlayStation 5. The signs were designed, manufactured and installed by A.J Wells & Sons. The award-winning project was carried out under strict secrecy and turned around in just over 2 weeks.
• As part of the new London Overground scheme, A.J Wells worked closely with Transport For London on the external Super Graphic illuminated signage for new and refurbished train stations. The letters and roundels were designed, fabricated and hand-assembled in-house at A.J Wells using low energy LED technology.
• Other notable station signage includes Bank, Camden Town, Covent Garden, Piccadilly Circus etc.
• Moving beyond London, A.J Wells have produced signage for stations across the country and internationally, including for RATP Paris Metro, Southern Rail, South Western Rail and more.

Architectural cladding

We offer a variety of wall surface finishes specialising in vitreous enamel cladding and also offer a range of Wellsclad framing and fix solutions.
Variable Frame Fix: Cladding panels are fixed to a fully adjustable aluminium frame using an adjustable bracket system.
Frame Fix: Cladding panels are fixed to a steel ‘U’ channel structure using our cleat system.
Direct Wall Fix: A cleat system that allows cladding panels to be fixed directly to the wall.
Curved Cladding: Curved cladding panels for column casings and wall and ceilings with radius bends.
– our cleat system fixes panels directly to the face of the wall.

• A.J Wells designed, manufactured and installed around 1500 square metres of vitreous enamel artwork cladding at the New Griffith House building and boundary wall at Chapel Street, London, as part of a London Underground Upgrade Package.
• A.J Wells fabricated and enameled all the steel cladding and column casings for the London Victoria Coach Station back in 1991 and they still look as good today as they did when they were first installed. The current condition of the cladding is testament to how hard-wearing vitreous enamel is.
• As part of the preparatory works for Crossrail, Canary Wharf, A.J Wells & Sons were commissioned to produce 500m2 of vibrant yellow vitreous enamel cladding across four levels of the sub terrain station – including the lift shaft section.
• A.J Wells produced 31 vitreous enamel panels decorated with engravings created by Hilary Paynter for the Newcastle Metro. The 2 x 1 metre cladding panels formed a 22 metre long panoramic mural.

Commissions and collaborations

As well as the more practical applications for vitreous enamel, it is also a wonderful material for creative projects. We have been commissioned by a range of artists and transport agencies to fabricate bespoke designs.

• A.J Wells were commissioned by Art on the Underground to manufacture and install the Frank Pick memorial. The concept was designed by artists Langlands & Bell and was unveiled at Piccadilly Circus station on the 8th November 2016. Marking the 75th anniversary of Pick’s death the artwork consists of cast bronze lettering in the New Johnston font and a backlit roundel bearing his name manufactured in the A.J Wells workshops.
• We collaborated with renowned textile artist Jacqui Poncelet whose design was screen-printed onto 1500 square metres of vitreous enamel panelling with each panel measuring 1.8 x 1.2 metres.
• For the 250th anniversary of the birth of the wood engraver Thomas Bewick, Nexus (the public transport authority for The Tyne and Wear Metro) launched ‘The Bewick Commission’ which facilitated the installation of contemporary artwork at its stations. Hilary’s intricate engravings were scanned and enlarged to ten times their original size before they were screen-printed onto the enamel panels. The cladding panels were officially unveiled in June 2004.
• A mural celebrating the partnership between Westminster station and the Royal Navy Frigate HMS Westminster was unveiled at Westminster station on April 27th 2006 by London Underground Chief Operating Officer, Mike Brown, and the ship’s captain, Commander Andrew Betton. The photographic design, measuring 3m by 1.5m, is situated in the central ticket hall of Westminster station, and features two of the station’s staff, Maria Sheikh and Danny Molloy, who have both visited the Type 23 frigate and her crew.

You can view more of our transport sector projects here.