Lock & Flood Gates

MCL design, manufacture and install lock gates, flood gates, sluices, including temporary works such as stop logs.

The principle of lock gates has not changed much since AD983 when Chhaio Wel-jo built the first chamber lock in China. In 1483 Bertola da Novato developed this principal and the mitre gates he designed for use on the Bereguardo canal in Italy are of the style we still use today.

Gates can be controlled manually with the use of balance beams or mechanically using winches and winding gears. Gates can also be controlled automatically with electric motors and hydraulics, although with tidal gates the tide does all the hard work!

MCL use tried and tested traditional methods, designed in accordance with today’s engineering standards to produce exceptional quality, hand crafted structures that will provide a low maintenance, effective, and extremely durable water management system.

All manufacture takes place in our own factory by highly skilled craftsmen. These teams also install most of the gates they build.

The most common species used are Oak, Greenheart and Ekki. Oak is more readily available with FSC certification although its life expectancy is not as great as the tropical species. We are also able to offer some projects with reclaimed timbers.