A Merseyside "menagerie" in metal

Anti-Corrosion Methods and Materials

ISSN: 0003-5599

Article publication date: 1 April 2001

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Citation

(2001), "A Merseyside "menagerie" in metal", Anti-Corrosion Methods and Materials, Vol. 48 No. 2. https://doi.org/10.1108/acmm.2001.12848bab.003

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Emerald Group Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2001, MCB UP Limited


A Merseyside "menagerie" in metal

A Merseyside "menagerie" in metal

Keywords: Merseyside Galvanizing, Galvanizing

Merseyside Galvanizing is establishing a name for the preservation of birds and beasts. Not live ones – but sculptures which are becoming increasingly popular in parks and people's gardens. Manager Mike Davies and colleagues at the plant have been handling dogs, seagulls, and various other animals and birds – and even fish! – which have been made at Merebrow Smithy, housed in a nineteenth century blacksmith's shop, at Merebrow village, near Preston.

The sculptures are painstakingly welded from a variety of mild steel plate, mesh, angle and flats – and the hot dip galvanizing process ensures that they will have a long outdoor corrosion-free life.

Tom Murphy, who with John Ballinger is co-partner at Merebrow Smithy, said: "Galvanizing means I can offer customers the best type of protection. They can choose the finish. Some choose to have the sculpture painted over the galvanized coating, others like it left as it is".

All work at the smithy is bespoke, and done to customer order. It includes gates and railings and a wide range of wrought ironwork, and there are plans to extend production of life-size human figures, with the possibility of a "rent-a-sculpture" service for breweries and other organisations, Tom added.

This is not the first time Merseyside Galvanizing has turned its skills to statuary.

The firm made headline news when it processed four big sculptures made by students at a Liverpool college – including a 5ft tall model of a legendary Liver Bird, put on public display in a main square in the city centre.

"A lot of time goes into making all these sculptures, and we're happy to help see that it's going to last for years and years", commented Mike Davies. "This type of galvanizing work is definitely a change from the norm".

Merseyside Galvanizing is situated at Garston, on the banks of the River Mersey. The company is part of nation-wide Wedge Group Galvanizing, with plants in 16 different locations, and the ability to handle pieces as diverse as washers 1.6 millimetres thick right up to workpieces 29 metres long, with quality assurance to British Standard ISO 1461. Customers of Merseyside Galvanizing have access to the back-up resources of one of the leading galvanizing organisations in Europe.

Details available from: Wedge Group Galvanizing Ltd. Tel: +44 (0)1902 630311; Fax: +44 (0)1902 366353; E-mail: info@wedge-galv.co.uk Web site: www.wedge-galv.co.uk

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