Leading industrial maintenance, service and repair group Deritend Industries has helped revitalise a true icon of British engineering – the Tees Transporter Bridge in Middlesbrough.
Deritend has spent the last three weeks carrying out a series of major refurbishment projects on the Bridge’s electric motors to ensure that the renowned landmark is in full working order for its centenary celebrations next year.
Although the project has seen the original electric motors on the Bridge replaced with new machinery, the team at Deritend has treated the project with the ‘recognition and respect’ needed when working on a heritage site, according to Operations Manager Mark Westwood.
“Our team has designed a bespoke solution for the Transporter Bridge that has retained the iconic engineering of the site whilst ensuring that the bridge will be working well for decades to come,” said Mark Westwood.
“Our multi-faceted electro-mechanical approach and flexibility in incorporating any specific needs within a contract is one of Deritend’s key differentiators as a company,” added Westwood, “and I am very proud that this has been recognised by the Middlesbrough Council in choosing us to implement this unique and special project.
“It is rare that we get to work as engineers on projects of true historical importance, so this is a historic contract for Deritend.”
The mechanical drive solution recommended by Deritend has enabled the existing listed drive to remain in its entirety with only the need to disconnect the coupling bolts on both motor couplings.
The majority of the work was completed off site at Deritend’s Middlesbrough facility, with the project set for completion this week.
Councillor Paul Thompson, Middlesbrough Council’s Executive Member for Streetscene Services and Transport, said: “The Transporter is an iconic landmark which is recognised around the world, and of which we are truly proud.
“It is a real feat of engineering that, nearly 100 years after it first carried people across the river, it is in full working order and looking as good as the day it was opened,” concluded Cllr Thompson. “The efforts and expertise of companies like Deritend will ensure that it is still up and running in another 100 years.”
The only working bridge of its kind in England, the Transporter connects Middlesbrough to Port Clarence on the bank of the Tees.
It was originally built in 1910 by Sir William Arrol and Co of Glasgow to replace an earlier steam ferry – the transporter bridge was chosen because the Parliament of the time ruled that the new method of crossing the river had to avoid affecting the waterway.
ENDS
Notes to editors
Photo/interview opportunity
When: Tuesday 8 June, 11.00am
Where: The Transporter Bridge, Middlesbrough
Who: Councillor Paul Thompson, Middlesbrough Council / Mark Westwood, Deritend
About Deritend (www.deritend.co.uk)
Deritend Industries is one of the UK’s fastest growing and most dynamic maintenance services organisations, encompassing several specialist engineering operations within the group. The largest component of the group, Deritend, operates onsite electromechanical engineering teams and a nationwide branch network including engineering workshops placed strategically across the UK. The Group also includes a large UK based pre-formed windings production site, and other specialist engineering operations covering induction services, condition monitoring and machine tools services.
For further information contact:Alex Winstanley, Marketing Manager, The Deritend Group Ltd, Cyprus Street Off Upper Villiers Street, Wolverhampton, West Midlands WV2 4PB Tel: 01902 – 392315 E-mail: awinstanley@deritend.co.uk WEB: www.deritendindustries.com
or Tom Short tom@montpelliergroup.com or Philip Hicks, Montpellier PR, phil@montpelliergroup.com
Tel 02142 262977