History
Over 35 years providing award-winning road marking and highway safety schemes to the highways and off-highway industries.
About us >Founding
WJ Group was formed by the current CEO, Wayne Johnston, in 1987.
Initially, we were a small road marking company employing just two crews. The procedures in the business were not dissimilar to other road marking companies as the machinery and methods of working were a standard operation.
Early expansion into Road Marking
With two years of success under our belts, WJ Group welcomed Martin Webb, our current Chief Operations Officer.
Introducing Temporary Road Markings
We saw an opportunity to become more specialised and grow into the area of road markings at temporary traffic management sites.
The early ’90s was a crucial time in this sector, with the ‘lane rental bonus/penalty system’ being operated on most of the major sites.
Consequently, our road markings grew to meet demand and by investing in research, we developed new and innovative ways of laying and removing markings in very tight working windows. We also found new, more efficient and safer ways of laying temporary markings.
Period of organic growth
We strategically relocated to deliver road marking services throughout the UK’s road network.
During this period, there were many process innovations within the temporary road marking sector that enabled us to establish and consolidate our position as the market leader.
First Acquisition
in West Yorkshire
We acquired the assets of Moxon Road Markings, a road marking and equipment manufacturing business based in Huddersfield.
Hydroblast is launched
in the UK
We introduced the Hydroblast system into the UK’s highways industry, providing the most environmentally friendly option for road markings removal.
Acquiring LinkLine
We acquired the Linkline Group, based in Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire.
The Linkline Group was comprised of Linkline Maintenance Services – a traditional permanent road marking company and Ambridge Thermoplastics – a thermoplastic manufacturer.
This strategic acquisition allowed the formation of the WJ Linkline Group, and it became a dominant player in the UK market. It also allowed a strengthening of our management team and board.
Weatherline Product Launch
We launched our Weatherline range of thermoplastics to meet the growing demand for high-performance road markings.
Our Expansion Continues
We moved to a new site in Knutton, Staffordshire; a purpose-built complex for road marking operations.
Expansion into the South West
Our South West branch was formed with our proven WJ formula and culture. We attracted some of the best talent and began our period of growth in the area.
West Yorkshire Expansion
With our expansion into West Yorkshire, our team moved to new offices in Elland. In addition, we opened a bespoke fabrication facility next door that enabled us to design, build and develop new machinery, equipment, and road marking vehicles. This strategic move was to facilitate the continued growth of our group and meet the demands for new, innovative equipment.
ACB WJ Joint Venture
We entered a formal joint venture with the Belgian paint company ACB. Together, we built a preformed manufacturing facility, which currently has road trial approvals for the majority of Western Europe.
Acquisition Olympik
We launched our specialist markings division following the acquisition of Olympik markings, a business that specialised in paint and two-component markings.
Olympic Games
We were incredibly proud to be awarded the Olympic route network for the duration of the 2012 London Olympic games, this was the largest road marking contract ever awarded in the UK.
Applied Media
Introduced the UK’s first heavy-duty floor graphic media designed for outdoor applications and heavy use.
Training Academy
Our training academy was formed and was the first dedicated training school in the UK specifically for the highways industry.
Link Line Rebrand
The rebranding journey begins as each of our acquired businesses moves under our one WJ Group umbrella, forming a single identity for the industry.
Croydon Expansion
A new depot was established in Croydon to serve our London customers.
Weatherline Plus
The launch of Weatherline Plus – our superior wet-night visibility road marking system. Weatherline Plus is specially designed to deliver road user safety.
WJ Engineering
We created a specialist engineering business to support the increased production of road marking vehicles.
Rebrand
By 2015, all the businesses were fully operating under our WJ Group banner.
Average Speed Camera
We entered the average speed camera market delivering TASCAR within the temporary traffic management sector.
Acquisition of Euromark GB Ltd
We acquired Euromark GB Ltd, which was one of our largest competitors. The company had an annual turnover of approx. £10m and 110 staff. This business is now fully integrated into the WJ group.
WJ South West Expansion
The opening of our state-of-the-art road marking facility, located in Wellington, Somerset. Built on a two-acre site with secure parking for the growing fleet of specialist road marking vehicles and a 9,700 sq. ft. purpose-built building for operations, vehicle maintenance, training and administration.
Acquisition of Principle Safety
We acquired Principle Safety, which specialises in Health & Safety consultancy within the construction industry.
Thinking Community
An employee led charitable initiative is set up to give greater and more co-ordinated support to employees completing their own charitable activities.
Roadmark
A Gloucester based road marking company is purchased to provide additional resources to WJ’s growing South West business.
Textureblast
WJ grows its offering in the surface retexturing sector with the acquisition of Textureblast, a dedicated retexturing business operating several machines across the UK.
ITS Expansion
WJ begins growth in the Intelligent Transport Systems sector with expansion of product offering to include Stopped Vehicle Detection, CCTV systems, Solar Units, Rapid ANPR trailers and Pollution Monitors.
THI Investments Selected as Strategic Partner
WJ Group selected THI Investments as a strategic partner to provide financial and operational resources for the accelerated development of their business.
Bellstan
WJ announces acquisition of Bellstan Ltd, a long-standing road marking company based in Berkshire to support our strategic growth in the South.
JMS Lincoln
JMS Lincoln Limited, a leading Surface Preparation, Retexturing & Specialist Surface Coatings Company in Lincolnshire, joins the WJ Group to expands the company’s offering.
Jeff Williams Mobile Pressure Washing
WJ acquire Jeff Williams Mobile Pressure Washing who provide pressure washing, hydro cleaning and road sweeping services across the Southwest which complements many of our existing services to both new and existing clients.
New Site in the South
To support a superior delivery in the South, recently acquired Bellstan team move into a new dedicated site.
JMS Highways Ireland
A small retexturing division is opened in the Republic of Ireland to deliver this innovative surface treatment to the country.
Nolan Roadmarking
WJ Group expands into Wales with acquisition of Nolan Roadmarking. Serving South Wales, Nolan provide a range of services including anti-skid surfacing, road crack and joint repairs, road studs, car park marking and solutions for sports courts and playgrounds.
WJ ThermoPrint Launched
WJ launches ThermoPrint a UK-first innovation that prints road markings onto highways. Which has a successful trial on both the local and strategic road network.
Launched WJ Autonomous PreMarker
The Autonomous PreMarker is introduced utilising state-of-the-art technology to record the position of road marking to deliver pre-marking after surface dressing or resurfacing .
New contracting depot at Elland
As our business expanded, both in client base and service range, our Elland depot moved into a new, purpose-built strategic depot. This move significantly increased capacity and enhanced our coverage across the North of England.
Expansion to the USA
The WJ Group expands to the United States with the introduction of WJ Surface Treatments LLC. The new venture, based in Atlanta, Georgia, provides retexturing and high friction surface treatments for US state Departments of Transportation, while also serving private sectors and contractors with bridge deck waterproofing and surface preparation.
£500,000 Invested to install the Accelerated Product Tester
Europe’s most advanced road surface product testing machine, capable of rapidly evaluating product performance and reducing the timelines to introduce new road marking products.
Roadmarking Asset Management Planning Introduced
As a response to increasing budget pressures and strain on local authority highways teams WJ introduces RAMP a survey of the highway network which provides clear and easy-to-understand conditioning data and analysis of road markings. Which is followed by collaboratively working with authorities to deliver the best evidence-based solutions for the local road network.
Two new products introduced at 2023s Highways UK
WJ continues to lead innovation with the introduction of 2 brand new products at Highways UK.
- Weatherline Ultra is introduced. Our highest performance marking so far with retroreflectivity registering at 500 mcd/m²/lx (> R5)
- Rapidgrip is launched an innovative spray-applied coloured surfacing solution that is highly skid resistant and ideal for PRS bays as well as car parks and pedestrian areas.
WJ Surface Treatments announces strategic expansion in the USA
WJ Surface Treatments expands into the Mid-Atlantic and Midwest regions of the United States. This strategic growth includes the establishment of a new depot in Hazelton, Pennsylvania, broadening WJ Surface Treatments’ reach to an additional 10 states and the federal district of Washington D.C.
WJ achieves PAS 2080
WJ Group has shown its continued commitment to reducing carbon in infrastructure by gaining PAS 2080 certification with the British Standards Institute (BSI). The PAS 2080 certification recognises businesses that have come together to deliver low-carbon infrastructure projects to manage and reduce their environmental impacts.
WJ Control Centre Introduced
WJ Group installed a dedicated central control room to monitor their CCTV solutions through roadworks. Able to observe every CCTV camera system operated by WJ Group across the country, the Control Centre allows highways authorities and principal contractors to outsource this vital service ensuring that any incidents at their locations are quickly spotted and reported to the correct authorities.
Strategic Acquisition of Sunstone IP Systems and creation of WJ Sunstone
The WJ group acquires Sunstone IP Systems bolstering it’s technology services which is then rebranded to WJ Sunstone, the new business will focus on Security, Rail, Construction, Oil & Gas, and Defence Sectors.
Receives Official Science Based Target’s Initiative (SBTi) Validation of Net Zero Targets
We started 2025 by validating our net zero targets with the Science Based Target’s Initiative (SBTi). The SBTi exists to help businesses create clearly defined carbon reduction objectives and strategies in line with the Paris Agreement to limit global warming by 1.5°C, while using the latest guidance provided by climate scientists to reduce carbon emissions.
Automatically Notifying Drivers of Roadworks in UK First
In a UK first, drivers using various popular navigation apps, such as Waze and other global apps, and compatible cars, will be alerted to roadworks en route to their destinations thanks to a new system installed in vehicles operated by road marking and highway safety specialist, WJ Group.
The world’s first fully electric thermoplastic road marking truck
At the LGRIG Innovation Festival, we announced a circa £500,000 investment in what we believe to be the world’s first fully electric thermoplastic road marking truck—another major step in our journey to decarbonise the highways industry. Designed by our in-house vehicle and plant team and built at our Elland and Newcastle-under-Lyme depots in partnership with Electra Commercial Vehicles.
We launched RapidLine an Instant-Curing, Cold Applied Road Marking
Launched at the LCRIG Innovation Festival, RapidLine is a cold-applied, UV-cured material that delivers instant curing, high levels of visibility and long-term durability. These qualities mark it out as a powerful tool for local authorities looking to enhance the delivery of maintenance on busy roads, reducing the need for traffic management to maintain roadworks whilst waiting for cold-applied materials to cure.
