You learn a lot from the first enquiry. Do they ask about your model list or your brand first. Do they check lead times or try to squeeze you into a mystery slot. In London, the difference between a calm project and a headache comes down to planning and where the work actually happens.
We carry out every install at our own facility on Croydon Rd, Caterham CR3 6PF. No mobile crews. No pop up gazebos. A controlled workshop, consistent conditions, and a process that does not depend on the weather or a busy yard. That single decision removes a pile of variables and gives you predictable results.
Why we install only at our Caterham workshop
London roads are busy. Depots are tight. Weather does what it wants. In a workshop we control temperature, lighting, cleanliness, power, and safety from the first wipe down to the final heat set. Corners and door shuts get the time they need. Panels cure without dust and without a driver needing the van back before it is ready. The result is simple. Fewer comebacks. Longer lasting graphics. Less stress for your team.
Our location sits just south of Croydon with straightforward access from the city and the A22. If your drivers prefer rail, we are a short walk from Caterham station with regular services into central London. Handy for drop off and collection without a long connection.
How a project runs when everything happens in one place
It starts with a tidy brief. Vehicle list by model and count. Photos of each body type including racks, ladders, beacons, sensors and cameras. Brand assets in usable formats. If you do not have panel maps, we make them. These become your standards for future vehicles so every new addition looks like it belongs.
Proofing is fast once templates exist. We send visuals for sign off, lock the artwork, and book an install window that matches your duty cycles. Production runs in our print room while your dates are held. Vinyls are cut, hardware packs are organised, and every item is checked before a single van arrives.
On the day your drivers drop vehicles to our secure yard, hand over keys, and either wait in reception for a short set of graphics or head off and return later for heavier coverage. We maintain a calm floor. Proper degrease, panel prep, measured heat, edge management, and final inspection. No rushing at the corners. That is where cheap work shows.
Timelines you can plan around
For standard livery sets on common panel vans, expect a rhythm like this. One week to confirm artwork and proofs. One week for print and staging. Then installs on the booked days. A simple graphics set can be turned around the same day. Full or high coverage wraps usually need a full day per van and sometimes a little longer for complex bodies or deep recesses. Because everything is done at our unit, we do not lose time to traffic, power issues, or site constraints. The schedule you receive is the schedule we keep.
Pricing that makes sense
Quotes are broken down so you can see what drives the number. Film tier and finish. Coverage and panel complexity. Labour hours. Any extras such as de badging, edge protection or panel removal and refit. Volume helps. When we can batch print and schedule multiple similar vehicles, we pass on the efficiency in the price. If you want a rough figure first, send a count and models and we will reply with a range and likely lead time.
Materials we trust for hard working fleets
We fit premium cast films from the major manufacturers because they conform around curves, hold colour well, and come away cleanly at end of lease when installed and removed correctly. You will recognise names like 3M Wrap Film Series 2080 and Avery Dennison Supreme Wrapping Film. They publish performance notes and application guidance that are worth a look if you want the deeper technical detail.
Finishes are a practical choice as much as a style choice. Gloss with a ceramic top up is easy to clean between washes. Satin looks lovely but shows marks sooner on hard use vans. Textures are eye catching but think about cleaning in recesses and around load points. If vehicles live outdoors year round, durability first is usually the best path.
Compliance that saves questions later
Two items to keep tidy.
DVLA and recorded colour.
If a wrap changes the main recorded colour on the V5C, the registered keeper should update the record. Partial branding usually does not trigger this. Full colour changes do. The government guidance covers what you must tell DVLA and how to do it.
Conspicuity and safety markings.
Many works vehicles run high visibility markings for good reason. If your contracts mention Chapter eight, that refers to the national Traffic Signs Manual guidance used by public bodies and contractors. We can advise on practical layouts, but the official documents sit here if your compliance team needs the primary reference.
Getting vehicles to us without losing a day
Because installs happen at our unit, the trick is good booking. We hold morning and afternoon arrivals so drivers can time drop off around routes. If you have a convoy of similar vans we stage them back to back so nobody waits. For rail travel, Caterham station connects through Croydon into London Victoria and London Bridge, which makes returns simple for city based staff.
Design that works in London traffic
One message. One strong call to action. One way to contact you that is not fighting with background colour or a noisy photo. Large side panels carry reach. Rears carry the queue. Choose contrast that still reads on a wet evening. We add protection strips at high wear zones and give handles and load edges special attention so the livery keeps its shape. When you want a QR code, we place it on a light quiet area with enough size to scan at two or three car lengths. Small choices like that add up.
Warranty and aftercare
Manufacturer material warranties are paired with our workmanship cover. We brief drivers on simple care. Wash routine, safe shampoos, what to do with bird lime, and what not to use. Follow the routine and you buy yourself months of better looking panels. At end of lease, we can schedule removal with minimal adhesive left behind. Clean removals are a big reason we choose the films we choose. Again, the product pages from the manufacturers explain the testing behind those claims.
A quick story from the floor
Last quarter we branded a dozen compact vans for a retailer that runs London routes from depots north and south of the river. Everything happened at our unit. The team staggered drop offs across four days, two vehicles at a time, with drivers hopping on the train back into town. No site access worries. No weather delays. The slowest part of the week was a cake run to keep the crew honest. Finished on schedule. Clean lines on every door shut. Simple and calm because the workshop does the heavy lifting.
What to expect when you book
- Brief and standards. You send a count, models, and assets. We map panels and agree standards.
- Proofs. Visuals go back and forth quickly. One approver on your side keeps everything moving.
- Schedule. We lock install dates that suit your routes. Morning and afternoon slots are available.
- Install. Vehicles arrive, are prepped, wrapped, and inspected. We message when ready to collect.
- Aftercare. You get a short care note for drivers and a contact point for repairs or add ons.
Frequently asked
Do you offer mobile wrapping.
No. All installs are completed at our Caterham facility at Croydon Rd, Caterham CR3 6PF. The controlled environment is how we deliver consistent quality.
Are you inside the Congestion Charge zone.
No. Visiting us avoids central charging hours and city centre access issues. Our location in Caterham sits outside central London with straightforward access from the A22.
How long will my vans be off the road.
For standard livery sets, many vehicles can be turned around the same day. Full or high coverage wraps usually need a full day per van. We will confirm realistic timings when we see your models and coverage.
Do I need to tell DVLA if I change the colour.
If the main recorded colour changes, update the V5C record. The government guidance explains how.
