DECORATIVE ARCH PROVIDES FOCAL POINT FOR NEW COMMUNITY GARDEN

Press Release: October 2009
A decorative arch has been given pride of place at the entrance to a regenerated community garden in Stoke-on-Trent, with the arch produced by specialist metalwork manufacturer Alpha Rail.

The new community garden came about as a result of a partnership between Stoke-on-Trent City Council, Staffordshire Housing Association and the local residents association, Stokevill Residents, in a project that aimed to regenerate a green space in the area.

The decorative arch replaced a high stone boundary wall, which was taken down and lowered in places to enable residents living on both sides to access the community garden. The area now provides a focal point and a gateway to Stoke town, creating a positive first impression for people coming into the area.

Alpha Rail supplied landscape contractors Jack Moody with the decorative arch and vertical bar railings that ran at either side of it. The bespoke metalwork specialist supplied the design to meet the architect’s exact specification, which was for an Art Nouveau style arch, featuring a motif that reflected the style produced at the local Minton Hollins tile factory. The world-renowned manufacturer, which was founded in 1895, was based on the same road in Stoke.

Alpha Rail reproduced the stunning motif as the centrepiece of the archway, which was produced from mild galvanized steel, to help instill a sense of pride into the area, as well as reflect its cultural heritage. Angela Gaffney, from landscape architecture firm Hulme Upright, said: “We felt that an ornate archway produced from metalwork would open up the garden and create an attractive focal point. As the archway lies alongside a road that is a main thoroughfare into Stoke, the archway will be seen by many thousands of passers-by every day. We are really pleased with the end result.”

Phil Ball, Sales Director at Alpha Rail, explains: “The decorative arch is an important feature of the area and has opened up the whole garden to both sides of the community. It required a quite intricate design, which took advantage of our design-assist services to produce a truly stunning result. Metal Railings and gates play an important part in enhancing an area and we were delighted to be involved in a project of this type that means so much to the local community.”

Alpha Rail has over 20 years experience in manufacturing railings and gates and counts many housing associations, private developers and local authorities amongst its customers. The company has gained a reputation in the industry for the quality of its products, which are backed up by exceptional customer service.

For more information on bespoke architectural railings, contact Alpha Rail on 01623 750214 or visit the website www.alpharail.co.uk.

Fantastic Four - New Styles Added to Juliette Range

PRESS RELEASE: September 2009

Alpha Rail has introduced four exciting new designs to its range of Juliette balconies.

Taking their inspiration from four great US presidents are the Washington, Lincoln, Jefferson and Cleveland designs. All four are distinctly different, with the Washington having an attractive criss-cross pattern to the top and bottom, the Lincoln features two attractive panels, which continues the contemporary trend for panelled doors, the Jefferson has circular detailing to the top and bottom and finally, the Cleveland, features regular intervals of wavy lines to add an innovative twist to this attractive style.

These latest additions to the range means Alpha Rail now offers 8 stunning designs of Juliettes for homeowners and developers to choose from. With many developers fitting patio doors or full height windows at all levels, Juliette balconies enable residents to make the most of natural light in their properties.

The designs available in the new Juliette range from Alpha Rail complement both contemporary and more classic house and apartment styles. With more people living in three storey townhouses and apartments than ever before, Juliette balconies are also becoming highly desirable as they enhance the living space and increase the perceived value of a development.

Phil Ball, Sales Director for Alpha Rail, explains: “There is lots of demand in the market for attractive and stylish Juliette balconies and based on the success of our original designs we responded by adding a number of exciting, contemporary new styles. We are expecting a great response from homeowners and developers who are looking to enhance their properties and make the most of their French doors.”

UK manufactured and produced from robust galvanised steel, the Juliette balconies are supplied powder coated in a full range of colours. The powder coating contains no solvent and so is therefore more environmentally friendly. All Juliette balconies from Alpha Rail come with a 10 year manufacturer’s guarantee.

The Alpha Rail Juliette range is produced to the highest quality standards and is available in five standard widths (approx 1250mm, 1550mm, 1850mm, 2150mm and 2450mm) and are 1100mm high, which complies with Building Regulations Part K2.

All these standard ranges are available within a 15 working day lead time, from receipt of order, with delivery direct to site. Bespoke designs are available on longer lead times.

Alpha Rail has over 20 years’ experience in manufacturing railings and gates and counts many housing associations, private developers and local authorities amongst its customers. The company has gained a reputation in the industry for the quality of its products, which are backed up by exceptional customer service.

For more information on bespoke architectural railings, contact Alpha Rail on 01623 750214 or visit the website www.alpharail.co.uk.

Press enquiries: Marina Wood, Dragonfly PR, Tel: 01709 300130 / Mobile 07720 509 374 or email: marina@dragonflypr.co.uk.

Alpha Rail Caught on Camera!

PRESS RELEASE: August 2009

Public space close to the Gate Studios development in Borehamwood, Hertfordshire, will long serve as a reminder to its film-making past, thanks to an architectural sculpture manufactured by bespoke metalwork company Alpha Rail.

The development was the original location for Gate Studios, one of the earliest British film studios founded in the 1920s. The location produced a number of famous feature films, the best known being Odette with Anna Neagle and Trevor Howard.

This area is still renowned as the ‘Hollywood of England’, with nearby Elstree Studios producing Eastenders and Holby City as well as feature films such as Star Wars and Raiders of the Lost Ark.

On the site of the old Gate Studios, Taylor Wimpey has built a mixed use development of 133 houses and apartments, with a nearby area of public open space that they wanted to reflect the development’s film past.

Landscape architectural and sculptural design company Land & Sculpture Design Partnership had the vision to create huge 18ft metal cameras that would tower over users of the park, on a landscaped area that reflected an old film strip negative.

The company chose Alpha Rail to realise its vision as it knew that no project was too large – literally. Vanessa Hill, a skilled sculptor of metal, stone and wood, provided the specification and Alpha Rail manufactured the three huge film cameras at its factory in Nottinghamshire to meet the design brief.

Vanessa Hill of Land and Sculpture Design Partnership, explains: “The idea was to create a reminder to the area’s film past and keep it alive for generations to come. In this context, art has served to reinforce an appreciation of this area’s history and will come to mean a lot to residents living here in the future. As we have worked with Alpha Rail before, we know they had the capabilities to design assist on this project and produce the desired result. We wanted the cameras to be pointed in specific directions, with two cameras focused on the smaller camera, a bit like in a warm, friendly family group.”

Alpha Rail supplied the bespoke metalwork, which was galvanised and powder coated in black, to enhance longevity.

Phil Ball, Sales Director of Alpha Rail, explains: “This was a totally unique project but one that we were delighted to be involved with. It is always exciting to work with an architect – or a sculptor in this case – to create a work of art. The importance of sculptures like this cannot be underestimated in providing a focal point for a public space and raising awareness of the unique heritage of the area for years to come. It also shows just what can be achieved with partnership working, where our technical and manufacturing skills means we can help bring a project like this to life.”

Alpha Rail has over 25 years’ experience in urban regeneration, green space and park restoration. The company provides a bespoke service for architectural metalwork and has supplied many prestigious projects, including school grounds, parks and housing estates with new gates and railings.

For more information on bespoke architectural railings, contact Alpha Rail on 01623 750214 or visit the website www.alpharail.co.uk.


Press enquiries: Marina Wood/Tom Underwood, Dragonfly PR, Tel: 01709 300130 / Mobile 07720 509 374 or email: marina@dragonflypr.co.uk.

Landscape architect – Vanessa Hill – 01449 740272 lsdp@btinternet.com
Client Ian Conlan at Taylor Wimpey – 01277 236813 ian.conlan@taylorwimpey.com

A Friendly Welcome

Welcome to our new website which we have re-designed to make it more user friendly and faster for customers/clients to find the products they are looking for. We trust you will find it easy to navigate and look forward to receiving any feedback or suggestions to further improve our customer service levels.

Over the next few months we will be extending our product range to offer a new range of 'off the shelf ' railings and gates specially designed for the residential market which will be available for purchase directly from our website. Also look out for new additions to our highly popular range of Juliette Balconies which will be unveiled in the Autumn of 2009.

Stay tuned for more news and updates shortly on our product ranges and latest project undertakings.


The Alpha Rail team.