The UK’s Canal & River Trust is investing in new technology to keep up with the demand for replacement gates across its 2,000-mile canal network.
The canal charity is installing a new custom-built CNC machine at its lock gate workshop in the West Midlands that will enable increased production of lock gates.
The new machine will be the largest of its type in the UK – and the third largest in Europe – to allow for the size and scale of the canal network’s bespoke oak lock gates.
The ‘computer numerically controlled’ machine is expected to be delivered to the Trust’s Bradley-based workshop early next year.
Incrementally increase production
It will replace largely obsolete machinery that dates back 60-70 years and will enable the Trust’s two workshops to incrementally increase production to around 190 lock gate leaves every year, up from around 150 lock gate leaves at present.
“The arrival of new computer-based technology to help our craftspeople produce lock gates is the biggest update in our workshops since electric machinery superseded steam-powered machinery which, in turn, superseded the hand tools used by the original canal builders,” explained Simon Turner, Trust workshops manager.
“The canal network has a bow wave of new lock gates needed in the years ahead including, for example, replacing the many gates installed as part of the canal restorations around the Millenium that are now nearing the end of their working life.
Investment for future efficiency
“This investment in production will allow us to keep up with that demand, with the new machine able to precision cut the oak components needed to make the gates quickly and efficiently.”
The investment by the Trust of around £750,000 was brought forward by the workshop team under the Trust’s ‘Spend to Save’ scheme, where investment is made today to deliver future efficiency.
The Trust has two lock gate workshops, at Bradley in the West Midlands and Stanley Ferry in Yorkshire.
The smaller lock gates leaves found across much of the network are mostly built at Bradley, whilst Stanley Ferry has the lifting capacity to also make the network’s largest gates found on larger river navigations.
The new CNC machine will be based at Bradley but will cut component parts for both sites. The lock gate leaves are hand assembled and finished.
