CASE STUDY: Weir Uplift System – Bridges

Transforming Weir Maintenance: Cottam’s Innovative Uplift System Elevates Bridge’s Operations 

Bridges Ltd is a dynamic engineering technology company that serves a wide range of commercial and industrial sectors. From water treatment and quarrying to nuclear and waste recycling, they offer a comprehensive suite of services, including mechanical and electrical engineering and the design and manufacture of control panels. 

Understanding their needs and challenges 

Cottam has been a reliable supplier of weir systems to Bridges for several years. However, for this particular project, Bridges required a system with a unique twist. The operators needed a system that could be easily lifted out of the weir, allowing them to clean the brush heads and perform maintenance without having to physically enter the weir—a task that had previously required much more effort and time. This uplift system was a new challenge for Cottam, as our standard systems are typically designed to remain stationary within the weir. 

Key Focus

To meet Bridges’ requirements, our objectives were clear: 

Innovative Design: Our in-house design team needed to create a completely new system that would allow for easy lifting and maintenance. 

Detailed Proposal: We had to provide Bridges with a comprehensive proposal, including concept drawings, to ensure our solution met their needs. 

Our Process  

Upon receiving the initial inquiry, our in-house design team, along with one of our experienced consultants, got to work on developing a solution tailored to Bridges’ specific criteria. Our in-house design team drafted a design concept that demonstrated how the uplift system would function, and sent a detailed quotation along with images to Bridges for their review. 

Once Bridges awarded us the project, our consultant visited the site to take final measurements, ensuring the system would be a perfect fit. With these precise measurements in hand, we moved into the manufacturing phase, creating both the custom system and the brushes required for the project. 

Finally, the completed system was delivered to the site, where Bridges’ operators successfully installed it. The new uplift system now allows for easier maintenance, improving efficiency and safety for the operators. 

“The challenge was down! We knew we had a great weir cleaning system, and we knew we could make it even better. Developing an uplift variation to satisfy our customer’s request was a natural development of the product to which we could see great potential. To convey the ideas and principle operating technique of this system we used a range of sketches and CAD models complied into a presentation deck to demonstrate how the system would work. This was key to getting the vision and value of this system to the customer and stakeholders within the business.”  

NICK PALFREYMAN, HEAD OF PRODUCT AT COTTAM BRUSH

Conclusion

At Cottam, we thrive on turning challenges into solutions. Our work with Bridges Electrical Engineers Ltd on the weir uplift system is a testament to our commitment to Partnership, Innovation and Quality. Whether it’s designing something entirely new or refining an existing product, we’re here to help you achieve your goals through custom brush solutions. 

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