Specialist Production Of Forged Anchor Collars For Allington Lock Gate Refurbishment Project
Brooks Forgings Ltd is proud to announce our involvement in the refurbishment and operation of the historic Allington Lock, located in Kent. As part of the project aimed at improving the lock infrastructure and reliability, we were commissioned by the lead contractor to manufacture four specialised anchor collars. These collars are designed to secure the lock gates in place and serve as the primary upper pivot point.
This project showcases our comprehensive in-house manufacturing capabilities, ranging from initial machining to complex hot forming processes. To achieve the specific geometry required for the anchor collars, our production team utilised a multi-stage approach:
Machining: We began by producing high precision preforms from S355 material, incorporating an M39 x 365mm thread length on both ends to match the original specifications.
Hot Bending: Using controlled heating processes, the collars were hot-bent into the required U-shape. This process had to achieve a precise bend radius of 172.5mm and an overall centre-to-centre leg distance of 345mm (± 2mm).
The success of this project relied on the expertise of our specialist engineers and the use of bespoke tooling to maintain exact tolerances during the bending process, ensuring that each collar provides the necessary structural integrity for the lock gate assembly.
By leveraging our advanced hot bending and machining expertise, Brooks Forgings continues to play a vital role in critical waterway and infrastructure projects across the UK.
We are pleased to contribute to the longevity and safe operation of Allington Lock and welcome future enquiries in support of similar projects.
