'Amazons' Turn To Acrow Galvanizing For Protection

Acrow Galvanizing galvanize a new piece of garden sculpture called 'Amazons of the Lake' by its creator, Ian Gill, for the manager of The Prodigy electronic punk band.

The artistic appeal of galvanized steel was amply demonstrated when Wedge Group company, Acrow Galvanizing Ltd, of Saffron Waldon, Essex, was contracted to galvanize a new piece of garden sculpture called 'Amazons of the Lake' by its creator, Ian Gill, for the manager of The Prodigy electronic punk band.

While Acrow Galvanizing are more used to working on a day-to-day basis with structural steelwork for new buildings, as well as railings, steel stairways and balconies, the corrosion protection capabilities of galvanizing - for 50 years or more - were deemed perfect for the four metre-high sculpture, which incorporates a water fountain at the top of its globe.

Acrow Galvanizing's commercial representative, John Nicholson, said the intricate shapes of the figures in the sculpture presented special challenges but the high-quality finish demonstrated Acrow staff's ability to diversify from their normal procedures and to achieve equally impressive results: "The sculpture is very ornate with many irregular shapes, but the excellent outcome clearly shows, in a very high-profile way, the type of work Acrow can do." 'Amazons of the Lake' is the latest work produced by Ian Gill, of Creations, based at Bishop's Stortford, Hertfordshire, who are specialists in bespoke ironwork items, including beds, dining suites and other interior pieces as well as garden statuary.

Ian has built a reputation as one of the most original and innovative blacksmiths in the country.

The sculpture weighs approximately one tonne and the two Amazon figures are made entirely from mild steel, with a galvanized finish.

The globe at the top is made from 316 grade stainless steel, selected because of the low bimetallic corrosion rate when used alongside galvanized steel.

The whole work took approximately 750 hours to complete.

'Amazons of the Lake' was commissioned by Mike Champion, the manager of The Prodigy, for his home in Hertfordshire.

It has been sited, with the help of two divers and a mobile crane, in the centre of a small lake in the grounds and is positioned on a steel platform, which was also galvanized by Acrow Galvanizing Ltd.

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