The revolutionary Bailey Bridge has played an important role over the years – initially providing critical connections in the Second World War, but more recently in getting vital supplies to people across the globe, both in civilian and military applications. 

Ease of transporting hefty military hardware using the Modular Steel Bridge essentially won the war. For example, the Battle of Remagen, where Allied forces captured the Ludendorff Bridge over the Rhine and pretty much shortened the war in Europe, is where the Bailey Bridge fully flexed its muscles.

Pontoon Bridges were set up across the Rhine in Germany to aid the advance. The longest was called ‘Blackfriars Bridge’. It was 558m long and was built close to the Dutch border by the Royal Canadian Engineers of the 2nd Canadian Corps. After two days of construction – delays were due to heavy fog and hampered delivery of components – the floating section of the bridge was rated as Military Load Class 40; enough for 40-ton tanks to cross over safely. 

“The simple deployment of the Steel Foot Bridge has not really changed since its first use in 1942,” says Skeat. “Original Bailey Bridges were built by hand and cantilevered [cantilevers, which are projecting beams or members supported at only one end, can hold a bridge up to 550m] over a gap using a light nose section dismantled on the far bank, and pushed out by rollers.” 

Nowadays, steel panels are used instead of wooden timber, making the Suspension Bridge more durable. Panels are galvanised, meaning they can last for over 50 years.

Only one site supervisor is needed to oversee installation, and a locally sourced and trained workforce can build the Steel Truss Bridge. Pretty simple. 

Most Mabey Steel Box Beams are now used as civilian aids, helping children get to school, and assisting communities after natural disasters such as floods and earthquakes – when an earthquake occurred in Kashmir in Pakistan, as part of aid efforts the British government supplied around 30 C200s for emergency bridging. 

The high cost of Container Moving Equipment means they are typically only found in locations with high container throughput. These often act as "freight hubs". However, handling containers outside of these hubs can be a challenge, and is usually solved by contracting a mobile container handling service, such as a truck crane, side loader or tilt-bed truck. Fortunately, new container lifting solutions are emerging that make owning your own container handling equipment much more affordable.