Bolton Gate Company

The SiteExCel London opened in November 2000 and was the integral component of a huge regeneration project in the area of the Royal Victoria Docks next to the River Thames. The Phase 2 project had the primary objective of increasing the existing flat floor space by 32,500m² resulting in an incredible one million square feet of flexible floor space. This projected the already highly regarded Excel  London into the position of a world class exhibition and conference venue.  Close to London City Airport and with it’s own dedicated station on the Dockland Light Railway the centre manages to attract millions of visitors per year and is a major employer within the local community.The ProjectHaving worked with Sir Robert McAlpine on numerous projects, Bolton Gate Company were extremely pleased to be chosen to again work alongside this Main Contractor particularly on such a prestigious project.   The contract initially involved the supply and installation of a range of 30 and 60 minute fire rated shutters to satisfy the requirement for fire compartmentation between different exhibition spaces and to communal walkways throughout the Exhibition Centre. As the fire strategy developed it became evident that, for particular areas including some of the largest openings (7m x 10m), the fire shutters were required to provide fire integrity but this also had to be combined with an acoustic rating of up to 17dB RW. At the time, acoustic rated fire shutters did not exist on the market as a single product solution and consequently it was typical to supply two separate shutters with one to satisfy each requirement but, given space limitations, this was not a viable option. The SolutionDrawing on years of experience, Bolton Gate Company were committed to developing a workable solution in order to fully satisfy the project requirements.  Moving away from the standard ‘single skin’ type fire rated rolling shutter, efforts were concentrated upon manufacturing a new insulated type shutter that would be capable of providing the acoustic rating. The new shutter design was subjected to a series of rigorous testing, include both fire and acoustic tests all of which were in keeping with the very latest standards. The testing proved to be highly successful and we were pleased to complete our contractual obligations using the very first Fireroll Acoustic shutters which had achieved an E120 fire rating and 22dB RW acoustic rating. The Fire Shutter - Fireroll Acoustic provided a compact, hard wearing, yet aesthetically pleasing single shutter solution which was entirely suitable for incorporation into such a highly regarded exhibition and conference centre.   

A refurbishment recently carried out at this holiday park in Great Yarmouth included the division of the large entertainment area to achieve a flexible, multi-use space. This features a sports bar one side with the other side hosting various activities such as exercise classes, kids’ activities, shows etc. Bolton Gate’s Sonaroll acoustic steel roller shutters were specified to divide the two spaces whilst providing reduced sound transmission when closed and when open, allowing the whole space to be used as a show-bar. The 100mm flat-faced laths allowed graphics to be applied depicting a boatyard scene

Chelsea Waterfront is a high-specification new development centred around the iconic Lots Road Power Station where car parking is facilitated by a basement accessed by automatic bi-fold gates. Having been specified by Terry Farrell, Bolton Gate Company were chosen to design, manufacture and install a set of gates which included two automatic bi-fold gates with an adjacent personnel gate. The main gates provided secure vehicular access being activated by card reader and the adjacent hinged gate allowed selective personnel access by key fob. A polyester powder coated finish in Basalt Grey was applied to blend in with the surrounding structure.

Leidsche Rijn Center is a mixed development in Utrecht, Holland and is being constructed on top of and around the Leidsche Rijn tunnel. Monolab Architects were seeking a modern folding door design for one of the buildings whose elevation featured a repeating vehicle motif formed from powder coated sheets with a pattern of 3mm diameter holes to achieve the desired effect. The design also featured matching transom and side panels and complemented the surrounding structure. Bolton Gate were specified to produce this door and assisted their local agents with the installation.

As part of a £14 million redevelopment of Bolton’s Market Place Shopping Centre, the extensive historic vaults that lay beneath were uncovered and developed into bar and restaurant units. Bolton Gate were engaged to design, manufacture and install nine collapsible steel gates which spanned the openings some of which were arched and in keeping with the surrounding metalwork, a clear powder coating was applied over the galvanised substrate to match. In addition to the vault gates, Bolton Gate also supplied a series of roller shutters, smoke and fire curtains in the upper development of the project.

When the Hong Kong Disneyland Resort was planned, the project included a 7-bay fire / ambulance station which featured a garden style theme to enable the buildings to harmonise with the green surrounding and the nearby Theme Park. Bolton Gate were specified to provide fourteen electric folding doors which included a special green powder coating, Lexan vision panels and faux louvres to each door. In addition, the doors had to be designed to resist typhoon loadings of up to 3Kpa, were manufactured in Bolton and shipped to Hong Kong where they were installed by the local agent Deacon.

When the Duty-Free Retail Area of the airport was recently refurbished, the design incorporated large sweeping curves on plan which also incorporated the shopfronts. The demise line of the shopfronts also entailed that they needed the facility to be closed off outside trading hours from a security point of view in addition to each unit being an individual fire compartment. Bolton Gate’s Contour shutters were specified which operate laterally and coil into a box at one end - this innovative product can describe an infinite number of bends and curves whilst closing off openings up to 100 metres wide.

Mustard Tree, one of Greater Manchester’s most loved and respected charities for the homeless and disadvantaged operates from a large warehouse in the city which was in a dilapidated state. £1.6 million was raised to refurbish it and OMI Architects were appointed to design the upgrade which included replacing the external folding doors which were manufactured by Bolton Gate Company and despite being over sixty years old, were still operable and providing security. OMI specified new doors of the same type and Bolton Gate were chosen to install three new doors to the main entrance which were powder coated yellow.

Deptford Fire Station is a Grade II listed building in Lewisham having been originally constructed in 1903. Bolton Gate supplied the folding appliance bay doors in the 1960’s and although still functional after fifty years, they were in need of replacement due to frequent usage. Since the building is listed, every effort was required to replace the doors on a like for like basis and Bolton Gate were engaged to supply new folding shutters to the same design which were installed and handed over recently. This is the latest in a list of several fire station contracts undertaken in London.

This Grade II listed building was first opened in 1858 by Mayor Mackie of Manchester as part of the Smithfield fresh produce market but it remained empty and neglected for years until recently restored to its’ former glory. In addition to the large seating area in the main restaurant hall, a rear external annex was created with a glass roof in keeping with the building’s semi-industrial heritage. Bolton Gate Company were commissioned to design, manufacture and install collapsible gates with special removable bottom tracks to accommodate the sloping floor level to seal off this area when outside trading hours.

Elephant Park is part of a £2.3 billion regeneration project in Elephant & Castle. It comprises a mixed-use development of 3000 new homes and up to 50 shops /retail units all centred around a new 2-acre park. Bolton Gate assisted the Architect with the design of a large electric Multi-Fold Gate to the Service Bay which consists of twelve equal leaves each constructed from an SHS frame with 50 x 10mm vertical steel fins and internal mesh to prevent the ingress of birds. Matching cladding and balustrades completed the elevation all of which were powder coated black.

As part of the refurbishment of this 1970’s building, Bolton Gate were specified to provide a hybrid grille / shutter to the loading bay. In addition to providing vehicular entry / egress with the requisite ventilation for such an application, matching side panels were required with integral hinged doors to allow personnel access and provide emergency exits. The grille / shutter was provided with a special bottom rail and operates via a keypad outside, loop detectors inside and photocells / safety edge to meet H&S requirements. The whole assembly was powder coated brown in keeping with the surrounding structure.

Bolton Gate were specified to provide the security grilles for the recently completed extension and refurbishment of the BMW Motorcycle showroom in Manchester. In keeping with the prestigious appearance of the building and high-end motorcycles on show, parallel mesh electric grilles in polished stainless steel were chosen to protect the showroom and external windows. In order to remain unobtrusive during trading hours, the bottom rails and side guides were powder coated white to match the surrounding walls and ceiling. For ease of operation, all grilles were electrically linked to allow simultaneous operation.

Bolton Gate’s Superior folding shutters have been specified and used on over 100 Fire Stations in Hong Kong & Macau, the latest being the station built to service the infrastructure associated with the new Hong Kong–Zhuhai-Macau bridge, the longest sea-bridge in the world. The doors are designed to meet an onerous specification including typhoon loads up to 3kPa and fast operating speeds (approximately 700mm per second). They are designed and manufactured in the UK and shipped to Hong Kong.

Witley Court is a ruined Italianate mansion built in the seventeenth century and expanded in the early nineteenth century by the Architect John Nash. In 1937 a major accidental fire broke out and whilst the building is in ruins, it is Grade I listed and in the care of English Heritage who restored the formal gardens and fountains. Bolton Gate were engaged to design and manufacture gates replacement gates to provide night-time security with special folding bottom tracks to leave the floor surface intact and installed with great care to maintain the building’s status.