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Continued...
The project pulled together ideas and expertise from a wide range
of backgrounds to create a quite unique structure which is part building, part
machine and part sculpture." Explains MG Bennett & Associates managing director
Nick Cooper, adding; " behind the apparent simplicity of the Falkirk Wheel lie a
number of critical components where state of the art analysis and an in depth
understanding of engineering was required from our team.
The source of many of the innovative ideas was actually work we
had already carried out in other fields of mechanical engineering. The lock gate
seals for example used a proven solution from the sub sea oil industry, the
wheel and rail mounting of the gondolas was developed from work on dockside
cranes and the bearing support and mounting system used for the giant axle of
the Falkirk Wheel came from an in depth knowledge and experience of tunnelling
machinery and wind turbine design.
We are rightly proud of our achievements on this project and
decided that the best way to demonstrate our involvement was by producing the
scale model. 1-Off Engineering used our original engineering drawings of the
Falkirk Wheel, produced for Butterley Engineering, and scaled everything down to
a one fiftieth size. Thankfully the budget was scaled down by an even greater
degree but we think that the end result is just as impressive as the original.
It has already created a great deal of interest and is a great aid in showing
people just what we are capable of."
For more information, contact us on
01709-373782
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