The project was commissioned as part of a private finance initiative to provide a more efficient London-wide fire and rescue service.
Architectural firm HTA Architects approached Signbox after the printer was recommended by construction firm Kier Construction, which worked alongside Signbox to deliver the project.
Work began in June 2015 and was completed last month.
Signbox managing director Mark Bartlett said: “Kier has delivered a very good programme of works. I believe it has been very successful with the project, delivered on time and on budget.
“Our cause was to provide a set of signs that had longevity, hence the specification for external signs to be vitreous-enamel coated, so they are resistant to graffiti and have a guaranteed life of 25 years.”
Signbox outsourced the printing of the external signs as it doesn’t have the kit to print on vitreous-enamel coating, although some of the external signs were stove-enamelled.
The internal signs were printed on Signbox’s Durst Rho P10 160, purchased last November for £155,000. It prints at speeds of up to 100sqm/hr.
There were approximately 40 internal signs and eight or nine external signs for each station.
The stations were worked on one at a time, in line with the plans of Kier Construction, and the project was led by Signbox project manager Gary Highland.
Bartlett said the Egham, Surrey-based company faced certain challenges along the way. He said: “The client was very specific about their colours so there were a number of different processes involving the same colour, red, and they all had to match. So from matching a Pantone colour reference to a stove-enamelled finish across different mediums, we’ve had to do lots of testing, but they were honed down to the right colours in the end.”
With fire stations re-signed including Old Kent Road, Dagenham and Leyton, Bartlett also said Signbox had had great feedback from contractor and client.
Signbox produces bespoke architectural signs and is currently engaged in a job for the British Academy in Pall Mall, printing signs onto optical film using its Durst.
The £4.25m-turnover company also runs two HP Latex wide-format printers and has finishing equipment including two Summa cutters.
Bartlett added: “This year was a consolidation year, we invested heavily in equipment last year and expanded the company, but we do have a number of options for diversification next year, including a new e-shop.”
