Here, Peter talks about the team’s work in progress in ML UK’s fabrication and welding workshop.
Current in-house projects include:
JCB replacement bottom plate together with new tool blades for a local demolition contractor in the building and construction sector
refurbishment of steelwork support brackets for a UK leading defence contractor operating in the maritime sector, whom ML UK has worked with for many years; from new ship support and historic vessel restoration
refurbishment of a sub-sea drag-head for the aggregates industry, coincidentally whom ML UK has rebuilt the grading machinery for on numerous occasions
As part of Portsmouth Council’s ongoing ferry port improvement scheme, this particular project is the repair and replacement of anodes which affix to the harbour walls and jetties, to detract the impact of electrolysis on steel pontoons, piling and jetties. ML UK is a preferred supplier to Portsmouth Council
The ML UK team is also operating offsite currently at customer sites nationwide on numerous projects for the leisure, construction and hospitality sectors. More to follow…
For further information regarding how ML UK can help keep your business fully operating, please contact Graham Ferguson on 02392 819114 or at graham@mluk.co.uk.
Why ML UK is the Go-To Bespoke Fabrication Provider
ML UK’s fabricated aluminium fittings for a filtration system together with the original plastic product
Since the 1980s, ML UK has been the go-to provider of custom made steel and aluminium items and equipment, for its customers who span many sectors.
One of ML UK’s regular customers, a large-scale tug operator and marine services provider, often requests bespoke tooled products urgently in order to fulfil a just-in-time task or project.
With around 70 contracts with the MOD and other large organisations, and which operates over 100 vessels in the UK, the customer has come to ML UK with myriad and varied requests for many years.
One such recent request was to produce a hosepipe adapter for a filtration system that the customer was developing, which was destined for use in Portsmouth Docks.
The customer provided the plastic original product, together with the original drawings supplied digitally. Having assessed the sample for any potential issues, ML UK’s team fabricated a number of these fittings in C6 aluminium in its comprehensively equipped workshop.
The customer was delighted with the speed of production combined with the quality of output and is likely to return again soon with another unusual requirement.
ML UK’s Operations Manager, Peter Halkyard comments, “It is always a great complement to have returning business from a major player in its sector, no matter the size or scale of the requirement. Our customers return to us time and time again because they know that we can deliver on time and well within budget, a precisely tooled product that will do the job for many years to come.”
For further information on how ML UK can assist your business’ precision, structural and marine engineering requirements, please contact us on 02392 819114 or engineering@mluk.co.uk.
ML UK’s three-year vessel restoration of the last remaining D-Day veteran WWI landing craft has now reached its conclusion.
LCT7074 was a sinking hulk when
she was discovered in Birkenhead, UK. Her twin steel hulls were delaminated,
and over 99% of the vessel was submerged in salt water, resulting in the ship
rapidly being destroyed. Built and launched in 1944 on the River Tyne, the 57-metre
LCT7074 is the last remaining LCT located in the UK and the sole survivor of
the Normandy Landings.
Following a stringent tender
process, ML UK was selected to conduct all aspects of the restoration, having
worked with the National Museum of the Royal Navy (NMRN) on other complex projects
including the extensive restoration of the 1859 Royal Navy’s 40-gun steam-powered armoured frigate floating
museum, the HMS Warrior.
The works encompassed all aspects
of the project, from airbag lift to surface, to the careful move to a semi-submersible
ship for her transportation, through to cleaning out tonnes of filthy sea water, to removing and replacing 200
tonnes of steel, building and fitting a new hydraulic 4-metre bow door, to the
meticulous hand-painting of every square inch of the landing craft. An
enormous, dead eel was an unwelcome surprise discovered hidden between the
double hulls whilst the team was removing 80 tonnes of silt and debris. Whilst
much of the work was heavy slog, at all times the teams needed to operate
delicately in order to preserve as much of the existing vessel as possible and
it was also key that the LCT was to be restored to closely resemble its D-Day
configuration.
Part
of a £4.9m project encompassing several Portsmouth museums, the LCT 7074
restoration was achieved through a partnership between The D-Day Story and the
National Museum of the Royal Navy (NMRN), funded by The National Lottery.
Moving the completed 300-tonne
LCT7074 was a complex three-day operation. She was first moved onto a barge and
towed across Portsmouth Harbour to Southsea beach, where she was carefully
beached then transported along the waterfront road to her final position. A
purpose-built exhibition hangar has been constructed to protect her and her
visitors from the elements, where LCT7074 is display with two refurbished WWII
tanks which were also installed on her decks.
The restored LCT7074 is due to be
officially unveiled to the public in 2021 once lockdown is lifted.
Mick Liney, MD of ML UK comments,
“As always, it is a privilege to work with the National Museum for the Royal
Navy and The D-Day Story, and particularly on such an interesting project. The
unique nature of this rare vessel made it extremely challenging, however we
ensured that it was delivered exactly on time and to budget.”
Watch the videos of the restoration here. To discuss your restoration or ship refit requirements, please contact the team at ML on phone 02392 819114 or click here to send a mail.
