'PIX BELTS HELP DPM ENGINEERS TO BRING TIDE MILL BACK TO LIFE'
01/08/2012 PIX Europe Ltd
PIX V-belts have been installed in the last commercially working tide mill in the UK, as part of a £1.25m restoration project. Woodbridge Tide Mill, an iconic Suffolk landmark located on the River Deben, has been recently reopened as a working mill and museum after the restoration that took 18 months to complete.Woodbridge Tide Mill may be one of the earliest tide mills in the UK, first recorded in 1170 and once owned by Henry VIII. The mill was certainly the last commercially working tide mill in the UK, only ceasing operation in 1957 when the 22 inch square oak main shaft broke. The renovations to the present building, that dates from 1793, includes a new wheelhouse, protection for the building's foundations and interactive exhibits.
As part of the restoration to bring the now fully functioning tide mill into the modern era, many of the drive mechanisms have had to be redesigned, whilst still maintaining the layout and integrity of the original structure. The upgrade was designed, and the work carried out by Ipswich engineering specialists DPM Mechanical and Electrical. As close neighbours to PIX Europe, in Ipswich, DPM worked closely with PIX to redesign and modernise all the drives in the mill, including the bed stones and sack hoist. Some of the drives were able to benefit from PIX's new world-beating Muscle Belt range, which not only transmit more power, but are also maintenance free.
The new 4 tonne water wheel, which measures 20 feet in diameter, was built at the International Boatbuilding Training College in Lowestoft and is probably the first wooden water wheel of such a size to have been made in a generation.
Stewart Booth, Operations Director for PIX Europe, commented: "We were delighted to play a small part in restoring such an iconic building - the engineering challenges were fascinating, to say the least".
David Manning, Managing Director of DPM added: "We felt privileged to be working on such a unique part of British Heritage. Whilst, undoubtedly, one of the most difficult projects we have undertaken, it has probably been the most rewarding".
For further information, please contact: Matt Deal,
PIX Europe Ltd, Unit 24 Farthing Rd Industrial Estate, Sproughton, Ipswich, Suffolk. IP1 5AP - Tel: 01473 744612 Email: mdeal@pixeuro.com http://www.pixeuro.com
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