News

Electric Wrought Iron Gates & Components Expanding in England

EXPANSION has always been part of the North Valley Forge mindset, having gone from regional supplier to a major UK manufacturer and supply centre for wrought iron gates, wrought iron components and gate automation.

The company is now extending its operations to Birmingham, with a new secondary base in West Bromwich.

‘We had been looking at various locations,’ said Darren Weatherill, Sales Director, ‘but this one really ticked all the boxes, providing both stock and showroom facilities in a location that could not be better placed to increase our service radius nationwide.’

This operation is expected to open in February 2013.

‘We will work in exactly the same way as at our Nelson showroom and manufacturing base, show-casing full-size wrought iron gates, with working examples of the gate automation and access control products on offer, as well as being open to the trade for wrought-iron components’. He continued, ‘training on gate automation equipment & all of the safety aspects involved will also be an important service offered from here.’

Since it was established 25 years ago, the company, based at Nelson in Lancashire, has become one of the foremost operations of its kind in the UK.

With over £2 million of stock, North Valley Forge provides a 24-hour turnaround on almost over 4000 catalogue items.

Family owned, North Valley Forge developed the five-acre North Valley Business Park in Nelson eight years ago and has a 25,000 sq ft manufacturing , distribution and training facility that enables it to service both retail and trade customers.

This includes one of Europe’s largest electric gate showrooms. The largest UK distributor of the Liftmaster brand, they also offer major European gate automation brands such as BFT, Hy-Dom, Beninca and FAAC, as well as access control systems from Farfisa, Videx, Comelit and Daitem.

‘We have expanded beyond expectation and this has obviously provided the springboard to go to another level,’ said Darren Weatherill. ‘There is no intention of slowing down, far from it.’

Having produced a gate automation trade catalogue earlier this year, North Valley Forge has now produced a new wrought iron gates design catalogue, as it looks to move further into the property development and architectural sectors.

‘We will be increasing our gates manufacturing capacity to ensure we can continue to produce everything required within acceptable timescales,’ said Richard Ratcliffe, technical director, ‘it may be an uncertain economic climate, but we really are a company that is going from strength to strength and continually looking to expand.’

Source: SB Wire

Wrought iron fence stolen in Lincoln County

Wrought iron fence stolen

Over 30 eight-foot sections of antique (100-year-old) wrought iron fence were stolen in Lincoln County on Nov. 30 and again on Dec. 11.

Two individuals driving a small SUV, possibly a Jimmy/Blazer type, with a small single axle utility trailer allegedly stole the fence sections. A large cash reward of at least $3,000 will be given to the person who provides information leading to their arrest.

from elkvalleytimes.com

Wrought iron lawn decoration stolen

Massive wrought iron lawn ornament stolen from rural yard

By Celeste Tholen Rosen

A beloved lawn ornament in the silhouette of an elk was stolen Wednesday and the owner is offering a reward for its return.

The 8-foot, light-up wrought-iron lawn decoration was stolen from Pam Bigelow’s front yard in the early morning hours of Dec. 5. A favorite Christmas decoration of hers, Bigelow is offering a $100 reward for its safe return. The family believes it was stolen to be sold for scrap.

According to her daughter, Alisha Bigelow, of Monroe, the elk — made by a local artist and won by her mother in a drawing — is a local landmark in the rural town. Her mother’s house is diagonally across the street from the only convenience store in town, making it a prominent display. The area newspaper, the Richfield Reaper, even featured the decoration a few years ago in a roundup of Christmas displays to see.

She’s a little bit depressed right now. She doesn’t even want to turn on the rest of her Christmas lights.

“There’s not a lot to do around here, so you go around looking at Christmas lights, obviously,” Alisha Bigelow said. “…People would drive from all over to come and see it.”

Alisha Bigelow said after she posted a photo of the town-famous decoration on Facebook, the picture quickly circulated, with 50 shares on it in two days.

The Bigelows filed a police report, but say no leads have come of it yet.

“She’s a little bit depressed right now. She doesn’t even want to turn on the rest of her Christmas lights,” Alisha Bigelow said.

Pam Bigelow retired from Sevier County Jail earlier this year in her position as a jail commander, but has recently returned as a cook — the position at which she started her 23-year tenure at the jail.

from ksl.com

Wrought iron hoop and damage to Burntisland Burgh Chambers clock tower

Iron hoop is cause of damage
The rusted metal hoop thought to have been the cause of the damage to the Burgh Chambers clock tower.

WORKERS have found the cause of structural damage to Burntisland Burgh Chambers clock tower.

Recently it was discovered there was extensive damage to the tower and work to remove the affected stone had to be carried out.

This week, a further two of the clock tower’s bells were removed and stone masons working on the project also discovered the cause of the problems – a rusted iron hoop set in the middle of the stonework, at the level of the cracked arches.

Alan Paul, senior manager, said: “A wrought iron hoop had been built into the middle of the wall, just behind the apex of the lancet arches.

“This was probably used to reinforce the tower, in order to prevent the walls spreading due to the weight of the spire.

“It is very badly corroded and when iron and steel corrode they expand. This expansion results in significant force on the stone, pushing it out, causing it to crack and also forcing the joints open.

“The hoop is located immediately behind the worst areas of damage to the stone and has expanded significantly, so we are certain that this is the cause. The rest of the affected sections of stone will now be removed.

“The remaining two bells will also be taken out using a block and tackle so there should be no further need to use the crane and traffic control, unless we come across some particularly large blocks of stone.

“Once the tower is dismantled to just below the clock faces, a temporary roof will be put in place to weatherproof the tower.”

He added: “It will then be reconstructed using as much of the original stone as possible.”

The clock mechanism has also been removed to keep it safe during the works.

While works on the tower are being carried out, the Burgh Chambers and Local Office will be closed.

from fifetoday.co.uk

Cooper : dog stuck in wrought iron gate

Dog’s Head, Shoulders Stuck in Gate
Fire Department called in to cut gate’s bars to free ‘Cooper’

By Lauren Steussy

A chocolate lab with a bad case of separation anxiety became stuck in a gate in pursuit of his owner Monday.

Firefighters had to cut “Cooper,” the five-year-old lab, from the wrought iron security bars he lodged himself between, according to the San Diego County News Center.

Cooper became stuck after breaking a window and tearing out a screen. His owners say he has separation anxiety and doesn’t like to be far from his owner.

“How in the world the dog got his head and shoulders through a 4-inch gap we’ll never know,” said Department of Animal Services’ Dan DeSousa.

Cooper is said to be okay.

from nbcsandiego.com