Revolutionary Material For Lock Gates Comes To The UK

By Jamie Wesley, Commercial Manager - Water Control Division, ECS Engineering Services Ltd

Across the country lock gates perform a vital role in allowing boats to travel along the river and canal network but maintaining the aging infrastructure is an extensive and costly operation. Traditionally made from wood and steel, lock gates require regular inspections and replacement costs can be very high. ECS Engineering Services is launching an innovative technology which delivers a low maintenance, lightweight and very durable alternative.

For hundreds of years lock gates have been used to bypass obstacles along navigable stretches of river and canal such as weirs, dams, or rapids and as such they need to be properly maintained to ensure their continued use. Historic methods of construction have involved wood which may later be reinforced with steel. This type of design provides the necessary strength but it is prone to rotting, corrosion, and is very heavy.

Modern design techniques and materials technology have been developed in the Netherlands to construct strong, lightweight and durable structures using fiber-reinforced polymers (FRP). With more than 300 projects completed, this proven technology is now being introduced to the UK by ECS that has considerable experience in designing and installing water control structures.

The material technology, known as InfraCore Inside, has a design life of 100 years and comes with a 50-year warranty, providing peace of mind that any new lock gates will not rot or corrode and also provide excellent resistance to water, salt, and UV radiation. The lightweight construction also minimizes the wear and tear on hinges, reducing maintenance intervals and costs.

Lock gates manufactured using InfraCore Inside can be made to measure with a reduced lead time and the possibility to specify any color. In addition, each set of gates can be pre-fabricated with a frame, ready to be cast into a reinforced concrete lock chamber or with a non-slip wear surface and an FRP hand-railing system.

Lock gates manufactured using InfraCore Inside can be made to measure with a reduced lead time and the possibility to specify any color.

ECS Engineering is now offering its expertise in design, fabrication, and installation to deliver bespoke lock gates constructed from FRP as an alternative for the many installations that it completes for clients including water utilities, local councils, the Canal & River Trust and the Environment Agency.

About ECS Engineering Services
ECS Engineering Services has over 20 years experience in delivering high quality, reliable, and cost-effective engineering solutions, specializing in bespoke design and construction of water, energy, and environmental processing and management projects.

In partnership with Landustrie Archimedes screw pumps and Waterfront Fluid Controls, ECS has the expertise and capacity to design and install a wide range of water control engineering projects. With in-house fabrication services, which have CE Marking approval to EXC3, well equipped and highly skilled engineers can also complete structural steelwork, bespoke fabrication work, and access metalwork to the highest standard.

With a complete range of site services available, ECS offers a full turnkey project managed service for mechanical and electrical installations including managing civils contractors and supplying pipework, control, and automation work to ensure that every installation is installed and commissioned to the highest standard. Existing clients include the majority of the UK Water Utility companies, Government Agencies and Internal Drainage Boards.