When bespoke fabrications are needed for unique projects Steelway’s expertise allows them to produce intricate products which meet the direct needs of the project. This was the case when Thames Water completed its first eel screens installation at Walton-on-Thames, as part of an extensive project to help stocks of the endangered species recover.

The screens which were created to prevent eels and elvers being drawn from the Thames into Walton-on-Thames’s reservoirs. This allows the fish to continue their migration along the river thus helping to maintain species numbers.

Bridges Electrical Engineers Ltd., produced the original design for the structure and Steelway completed the detailed design including structural calculations and full manufacture of the eel screen access platforms and handrails.

There were also eleven screen support frames manufactured as part of the project Initially, the screen supports were to be secured to the river bed but this was revised with the screen frames supported entirely by the platform structure itself. This revision posed a number of design challenges, all of which were resolved by Steelway.

All platforms were required to be designed allowing off-site modular assembly, minimising the installation time required on-site. The project was delivered on time and within budget, the eel screen platforms were assembled off-site and installed successfully by our client Bridges Electrical Engineering Ltd., as shown in the below video.

For more information on bespoke steel fabrication please visit the Steelway website.