News: Signs of the future at fuel filling station

Signs Express (Sheffield) has provided hoarding and screen signage for the first public hydrogen filling station in the UK.

Used to recharge hydrogen fuel cell cars, the station is operated by industrial gases company BOC, a member of The Linde Group, at the Honda manufacturing facility in Swindon. The venture is the result of a partnership between Honda, BOC and economic development company Forward Swindon.

Signs Express were tasked with the design and specification of a complex screen to hide the mechanics of the station which included a compressor, a heat exchanger and associated pipework fitted behind the customer dispenser. The housing also needed to accommodate a large opening gate in order to gain access to supply the low pressure hydrogen bottles. Steel and aluminium were used throughout to minimise fire risk.

Steve Morris, centre owner at Signs Express (Sheffield), said: "We were delighted to be part of such a groundbreaking new development. Hydrogen fuel cell cars are the future with no emissions and excellent car performance and are proving to be a big attraction to manufacturers with wide scope and popularity certain for the future.

"We provided a complete service from surveying the site, design and specification of materials and manufacturing and a full installation service within a tight timeframe for the national launch of the site. The completed work has a dual purpose – safety and security with the addition of promotional graphics to advertise the businesses behind the initiative.

"Because of constraints surrounding the fuelling machinery and a canopy above the station, the fixing of panels and supporting structure had to be absolutely in line with our drawings and specifications for a flush finish in all directions. A great deal of thanks go to my skilled sign makers who seized the opportunity to demonstrate their expertise in this demanding but very rewarding project."

With their production base in Templeborough and previously covering just the north of Sheffield and surrounding areas, the husband and wife team decided to expand their operation last year following consistent growth and the award of a number of high profile contracts.

Steve and Carol Morris, owners of Signs Express (Sheffield) were named as a finalist for the Best Multiple Sign Award at the recent Signs Express Convention.

Signs Express Sheffield website


Images: Signs Express