WJ Unveils RapidLine Instant-Curing Road Markings
WJ Group, the UK’s leading road safety and marking specialist, has taken the spotlight at the recent LCRIG Innovation Festival with the launch of a pioneering product that could change the pace of highways maintenance forever. Introducing RapidLine: a cold-applied, UV-cured road marking solution designed to cure on the spot, cut downtime, and drive efficiency across the country’s busiest road networks.
This new innovation isn’t just about speed. It’s about solving real-world challenges faced by local authorities and contractors juggling safety obligations, environmental targets, and budget constraints. And judging by the buzz it created at LCRIG, RapidLine may well be the missing piece in the road infrastructure puzzle.
Built for modern road demands
Highway authorities and maintenance teams have long struggled with the downtime that traditional cold-applied markings require. Waiting around for lines to cure while roads remain blocked off costs money, frustrates drivers, and adds unnecessary time to projects.
RapidLine changes that dynamic entirely. Using ultraviolet light to cure instantly upon application, the material doesn’t just save time—it redefines efficiency.
“Minimising the impact of our work on road users and local communities is a key challenge facing the highways sector,” said Wayne Johnston, CEO and Founder of WJ Group. “With RapidLine, we’re offering a smarter solution that speeds up delivery and reduces disruption.”
He added: “But it has also been developed to address other competing demands that many local authorities face today – namely safety, sustainability and return on investment.”
Outstanding visibility, even in the worst weather
RapidLine isn’t just fast. It’s highly visible, even when the conditions are anything but. Independent evaluations, including testing on Spain’s AETEC turntable, put its durability and reflectivity to the test—and it passed with flying colours.
Achieving P7 classification for durability (equivalent to 4 million wheel-overs), it retained exceptional retro-reflectivity values: R3, RW6 and RR5. In real-world trials, readings soared past 600 mcd, significantly enhancing line visibility in wet and low-light conditions.
That level of performance isn’t just impressive on paper. It translates into reduced accident risk, clearer driver guidance, and fewer re-marking cycles—all crucial factors in building smarter, safer roads.
Sustainability baked in
With environmental pressure mounting on the highways sector, WJ has paid special attention to RapidLine’s green credentials. Unlike traditional materials that may release volatile organic compounds (VOCs), RapidLine is cured using UV light, meaning there are no harmful emissions involved in the process.
Moreover, the product is applied as a thin spray layer, making it suitable for centre and edge lines as well as symbols and directional markers. The lower material volume means fewer resources are used per application, supporting sustainability goals without compromising performance.
“The highways industry faces growing pressures to improve road safety and reduce its environmental impact – all while managing tighter budgets,” Johnston noted. “At WJ, we’re constantly innovating to support our partners in navigating these challenges. RapidLine is a step-change solution in this respect.”
From trial to triumph
This wasn’t a rushed release. Over the past year, WJ has meticulously tested, tweaked and perfected RapidLine to ensure it holds up under the toughest conditions.
From internal lab assessments to third-party certifications, the development process focused not only on speed and curing properties but also on ensuring long-term reliability across different climates and traffic volumes. The result? A ready-to-roll technology that delivers on all fronts.
Wayne Johnston proudly shared: “RapidLine is the result of extensive research, testing, and collaboration. We’ve invested significant time and expertise in bringing RapidLine to market. It’s a smarter and more efficient way to improve the country’s road infrastructure. I’m incredibly proud of our team and excited to see the benefits this innovation will bring to authorities and road users alike.”
Reducing disruption, boosting ROI
The ability to carry out marking work without prolonged lane closures isn’t just a logistical bonus—it has major financial implications. Reduced need for traffic management means fewer labour hours, lower equipment costs, and less public disruption.
For local authorities and private contractors alike, RapidLine offers a robust return on investment by slashing downtime and reducing the frequency of maintenance cycles. The UV-cured system is not only faster but also longer-lasting, pushing the value-for-money proposition even further.
Setting a new standard
With the unveiling of RapidLine, WJ Group has once again demonstrated why it remains at the forefront of innovation in UK highways infrastructure. By blending sustainability, safety, speed, and smart engineering into one solution, the company is leading the charge toward a more efficient, less disruptive future for road maintenance.
It’s a bold step, but a timely one. As infrastructure across the country ages and traffic volumes climb, the demand for reliable, quick-fix solutions that don’t skimp on safety or environmental compliance is only going to grow. RapidLine, it seems, is arriving just in time.
A bright future for smarter roadworks
As local authorities, contractors and stakeholders grapple with ever-evolving demands, innovations like RapidLine are offering a way forward. Less downtime. Better visibility. Safer roads. And a lighter footprint on the planet.
It’s more than a product—it’s a promise of what’s possible when intelligent design meets infrastructure challenges head-on.
