Lining Systems - The importance of Fabrication. ​By R D Mantle FIoR Creator of Ampteam Limited

Sometimes a spark of clarity leads to a “eureka” or “light bulb” moment—an idea that evolves into something truly unique. I’m not sure how often these moments strike others, but they’re certainly not rare. In fact, our capacity for inventiveness is one of the defining traits of being human.

That’s exactly what happened many years ago when the idea for the Unifold® hinge was born. I often refer to it as my “beer mat moment” because, as you might guess, I was bending a beer mat at the time—right there in the pub, unknowingly shaping what would become a core innovation of the system.

Since those early days of trials, tests, frustrations, and breakthroughs, Unifold® has grown into a complete system. Its evolution has been driven more by necessity than initial design—typically identifying challenges on site, then returning to the workshop to develop, fabricate, and test practical solutions.

Many of the now-vital fabricated components of the Unifold® system were developed in those formative years, often inspired by a string of “light bulb” moments. One example is the patented Clip Joint, specifically designed for narrow or difficult applications—just one of many ideas born from real-world need.

We discovered early on how versatile the hinge principle could be—not only in how Unifold® installs, but also in enabling fabrications that would be nearly impossible by conventional means. From the outset, this allowed us to create components that were purpose-built, precision-made, and of exemplary quality.

It quickly became clear that working inside a gutter cavity on site could be incredibly challenging. Expecting operatives to "cut and carve" and still achieve a perfect seal wasn’t realistic. So we committed from the beginning to doing all fabrication in our factory—delivering fully manufactured components with simple, consistent jointing for fast, easy, and repeatable installation on site.

Over time, we evolved into a manufacturing company driven by a continuous commitment to delivering exceptional products and service. The Unifold® system has proven to be entirely versatile, capable of lining virtually any existing gutter—whether level or laid to falls.

Our range of fabricated components includes corners, tees, side boxes, sumps, expansion joints, and many others. In fact, we have developed solutions for virtually every challenge, no matter how complex or unique.

To maintain system integrity, we’ve long required that anyone installing Unifold® must be properly trained. This ensures consistency and quality on site, supporting our industry-first 30-year comprehensive guarantee—which covers not just materials and manufacture, but installation too.

Make no mistake—Unifold® is a technical product. The following photographs demonstrate the detail, precision, and innovation that define it.

This first photograph captures part of a fabrication that was arguably one of our most complex—and certainly one of the largest—standing at over 2 metres tall.

And here we see the complete fabrication in situ—18 individual pieces, with five gutters converging into a single location. It’s a complex and uncommon scenario, but one that highlights the importance of being fully equipped for the job. If you're going to set your stall out to line gutters, then the ability to handle such challenges is not just beneficial—it’s essential.

This photograph depicts a fabricated gutter overhang section designed to facilitate seamless integration with the Unifold®. The overhang allows water to discharge effectively over the Unifold® ‘wings’ and through the weir overflow, thereby preventing water ingress into the premises.

This photograph features a sump unit with dual coned outlets, clearly demonstrating that each end incorporates a gutter section for straightforward installation. Imagine the complexity and inefficiency of attempting to fabricate such a unit on-site—this prefabricated solution ensures precision, consistency, and significant time savings.

he message is clear, any lining system must be able to cope with whatever the site conditions dictate and if a 30 year guarantee is offered then this must warranty that the system is going to work, without leaking, for that period of time and beyond.

Our quality and fabrication expertise means we are content with our promise

https://www.ampteam.co.uk/