Yearly Archives: 2022

Twinfix have been utilising their skills and expertise to restore part of the historic Watford High Street Station, returning the station’s entrance to its former glory. By using their Multi-Link-Panel Non-Fragile glazed with 6mm solid Georgian wired effect polycarbonate, they have brought this landmark up to date with sustainable materials, while keeping the look and feel of the original.

Watford High Street Station was originally opened over 160 years ago by the Watford and Rickmansworth Railway (W&RR), offering services from Watford Junction to Rickmansworth. Over its 160 life the station has been owned by several rail companies in eluding the London and North-western Railway (LNWR) and London, Midland, and Scottish Railway (LMS).

In the early twentieth century additional rail services were added. These include a branch line to Croxley Green in 1912. The Underground Electric Railways Company of London in 1917, extended its Bakerloo line through this station to Watford Junction and in 1922 LNWR completed the Camden to Watford Junction Line linking Watford High Street to London Euston via the Watford DC Line (shared with the Bakerloo line). In 2007 the line was brought under the control of Transport for London (TfL), who today operate it as part of the London Overground network.

To the east of the railway is the site of the Benskins Brewery, the building which is now the location for the Watford Museum. The brewery was rail-served by sidings until 1956. The station is situated in a deep cutting covered by a single platform canopy. The roof of the canopy is connected to the concrete sided cutting by ornamental metal trusses. Outside the front of the station, is a distinctive glazed entrance canopy providing shelter from the weather and a historic landmark for the town.

After decades of use the old entrance canopy and glazing were showing signs of age. The wood framing around the glazing was rotten and decaying, the plaster work was broken and missing and the whole canopy needed a refresh. With the glazed canopy being such a long-standing landmark, it fell to Twinfix to replace the distinctive glazing panels with something hard wearing, sustainable and modern but without losing the period look. Twinfix supplied their Multi-Link-Panel Non-Fragile (NF) glazed with 6mm solid Georgian wired effect polycarbonate glazing system, the innovative system was installed by RailX UK Ltd. A slight redesign of the original allowed access hatches to be installed, making maintenance easier. Installed it’s almost impossible to detect the hard work and modern materials that have been used to bring this important structure back to life. The polycarbonate will resist ageing and UV degradation and along with the aluminium support frames, the system is completely recyclable.

Vicky Evans, Director at Twinfix, said; “We are proud of the finished product and that we were able to offer a long-term solution that delivers the aesthetic charm of the old roof, increases light levels for passengers, improves safety for all using the station and offers a sustainable, future proof outcome. We look forward to being part of delivering more excellent results for our clients in the future.”

Watford High Street Station

Georgian wired polycarbonate

Replacement roof glazing at Watford Station

Station roof glazing

Georgian wired glazingOLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

Sutton station, owned and operated by Network Rail needed refurbishment. The station was showing signs of its age, with the old timber work in need of replacing, the roof leaking and the glass roof sections in need of some TLC. Due to their age, the glass roof sections had become fragile and had subsequently broken, Also because of the difficulty in safely cleaning them, they were proving more of a light blocker, than a source of natural light.

It was decided that the glass roof sections would need replacing and in order to do this, Twinfix were consulted by Network Rail and asked to offer a solution. Twinfix were mindful of the aesthetics of the station but were also very aware that they could offer something which would provide a long-term solution for the station. Utilising their Multi-Link-Panel System, Twinfix put forward a solution which would do justice to the refurbishment work, the station was receiving whilst bringing the roof up to date and delivering an outcome which would last the test of time. By replacing the old steel and glass sections with their sustainable aluminium and polycarbonate Multi-Link-Panel System, Twinfix’s proposed solution would maintain the look and feel of the old roof, but deliver something which is virtually unbreakable, doesn’t need repairing or regular replacement and would allow routine cleaning to be carried out, keeping the station flooded with light. By replacing the old glass with a slightly obscured 6mm polycarbonate, the light inside the station would be diffused rather than harsh, and significantly brighter than the current situation.

The new system would not only last the rigours of time, but is made of sustainable materials. Polycarbonate has minimal impact on the environment and is fully recyclable at the end of its long life. Polycarbonate panels, used in place of glass can be manufactured to give the same look as more traditional glass with features such as Georgian wired but with a significant weight saving. This weight saving means that transportation, manual handling of lifting is easier and requires less energy, plus the structural elements can be reduced as the weight they are required to support is reduced. The result is a total saving on energy and materials needed for installation. Once installed polycarbonate is considerably stronger than glass and is unlikely to break. Depending upon the requirements and location of the installation, Twinfix manufacture a ‘non-fragile’ version which, in testing could withstand far greater impact than an equivalent glass panel. This is especially good for areas where people might accidentally step or fall onto the panels such as rail station roofs. This inherent toughness also reduces the need to replace the glazing panel as often as glass and with UV coatings the panel doesn’t yellow with age or become brittle.

Aluminium is known as the ‘Green metal’ due to its ability to be recycled again and again, without degradation of its inherent properties. Recycling aluminium also saves 95% of the energy required in the production of aluminium from raw materials. Compared to traditional steel, aluminium is approximately 2.5 times lighter, strength for strength, so again there is a weight saving comparable to that associated with polycarbonate over glass. Unlike steel, aluminium will not rust, and the application of powder coating will prevent corrosion. Powder coating is a pigment encapsulated in a powdered resin and then cured in an oven to harden the paint surface.

Working with the roofing contractor, G.S. Moore, and as part of the larger station refurbishment, delivered by BAM Nuttall, Twinfix were able to replace the existing damaged glass roof in the entrance, the footbridge and the platform adding up to an area over 340 metres square, bathing the covered areas in natural light.

Vicky Evans, Director at Twinfix, said; “It was a pleasure working with the team at Network Rail, G.S.Moore and BAM Nuttall. Sutton Station roof was in a dramatic need of replacement. We are proud of the finished product and that we were able to offer a long-term solution that delivers the aesthetic charm of the old roof, increases light levels for passengers, improves safety for all using the station and offers a sustainable, future proof outcome. We look forward to being part of delivering more excellent results for our clients in the future.”

brighter walkway at Sutton Station

obsure polycarbonate glazing

Polycarbonate Roof Glazing

Last year, fast food chain Burger King added forty-eight new restaurants to their rapidly growing portfolio. Twinfix were approached by Ideal Building Systems to design, manufacture & install canopies and Brise Soleils at three of the sites in Kent, Clacton-on-Sea and Swindon.

With over 30 years’ experience the Twinfix Technical Team had no problems designing structures to suit the requirements and budget of the client.

Twinfix’s expert team designed, manufactured, and installed a brise soleil which covered all four sides of the restaurant at the first site in Swindon and fabricated lean to mono-pitch canopies with squared posts and 3mm thick solid aluminium sheet for roof, complete with brise soleil for rear, sides and front at the restaurants in Kent and Clacton-on-Sea.

The structures served two purposes, while providing shelter, they also enhanced the aesthetics of the restaurants and complemented the building’s exterior.

Each canopy spans 35 square metres and the roof comprises of pressed aluminium roof at a reduced pitch to fit inside the 150 depths of our frame, concealed gutters and downpipes and prepared for soffits by another contractor. The roofs were powder coated in RAL 3020 Traffic Red and squared aluminium posts powder coated to RAL 9006 White Aluminium.

The Brise Soleils are constructed from our 150 x75 rectangular hollow section and had to accommodate some wiring for lights that were installed later by another contractor. These are a striking addition to the building fascia.

The design of the proposed future sites look set to follow the same format and we look forward to working with Ideal Building Systems on the upcoming projects.