Allington Sluice MEICA Upgrade
We have been awarded a contract by Mackley to deliver a comprehensive MEICA upgrade for the Allington Sluice on the River Medway in Kent, for the Environment Agency. Our team will be working in a live operational environment, upgrading the three sluice gates phased one at a time. Maintaining asset operation throughout requires meticulous planning, tight coordination and accurate execution.
Our scope of work includes:
- Mechanical and Controls Design: Fabrication, assembly and refurbishment.
- Upgraded Drive Systems: Supply of new gearboxes/motors and refurbishment of existing components.
- Tech Integration: Modern PLC-based controls, enhanced monitoring, CCTV and new operator interfaces.
- Full Delivery: Managed installation, Site Acceptance Testing and commissioning by our dedicated Site Services team.
This project is a prime example of integrated MEICA delivery in practice, taking complex designs and making them work flawlessly within a constrained, operational environment. A huge thank you to Mackley and the Environment Agency for the early engagement, collaboration and open communication so far.
Allington Sluice comprises three vertical steel gates. Originally constructed in 1934, it remains a key Environment Agency asset for regulating river flows and maintaining water levels for navigation upstream. Beyond the sluice, the river becomes tidal.
A power failure in 2021/22 caused the backup drives on all three gates to fail. Subsequent inspections showed that both the backup drive and retarder systems were damaged and disengaged, leaving the gates to operate without a backup system ever since.
Working under the Asset Operation, Maintenance and Response (AOMR) Framework, Mackley has been appointed as Principal Contractor for this project.