ULMA Architectural Solutions

The makeover of London's Ebury Bridge Estate is a shining example of urban renewal done right—blending sustainability, community well-being, and cutting-edge infrastructure. Led by Westminster City Council, this ambitious project has transformed a 1930s neighbourhood into a modern, energy-efficient community. ULMAplayed a key role by providing drainage systems to ensure effective water management throughout the development.​The Ebury Bridge Estate now boasts 100 new council homes, lush green spaces, play areas, and pedestrian-friendly zones. In such a people-centric environment, efficient drainage is crucial to prevent water buildup, maintain infrastructure integrity, and support the community's long-term sustainability goals.​Drainage Solutions for Diverse NeedsUnderstanding the unique requirements of each area within the estate, ULMA implemented drainage solutions to enhance both functionality and aesthetics:Perimeter of the Facades:Solution: 102 meters of MultiV+ channels with stainless steel grates, load class C250.​Why: Perfect for pedestrian zones with occasional light vehicle access, these channels provide efficient water management while the stainless steel grates offer corrosion resistance and blend seamlessly with the building design.​Building Entrances:Solution: 18 meters of Civil SM200 channels equipped with ductile iron grates, load class D400.​Why: Entrances see more traffic, including service and emergency vehicles. These robust channels ensure durability and safety under heavy loads.​Access Roads:Solution: 26 meters of MultiV+ channels with ductile iron grates, load class D400.​Why: Designed to handle regular vehicular movement, these drainage systems can withstand heavy loads while maintaining top performance.​Playground Area:Solution: 166 meters of MultiV+ channels featuring ductile iron grates, also rated for load class D400. To fit the playground's curved design and connect with rooftop drainage where sump installation was limited by height, standard channels were cut in half.Why: The flexibility of the MultiV+ system allowed for precise alignment with the playground's contours, ensuring effective drainage without compromising the area's design.​Need support for your drainage project? Contact our Engineering Office — we’re here to help.

A brand-new public space has opened in Reading as part of the £850 million Station Hill redevelopment — and behind its clean, modern look is a smart and efficient drainage system. Designed for high foot traffic and visual harmony, this public realm now features our slot grating system combined with the MultiV+ 200 drainage channel.Installed across key pedestrian zones, this solution supports both surface water management and architectural integrity — making it a perfect match for one of the UK’s most ambitious urban regeneration projects.Why Slot Grating? Seamless Design, Strong PerformanceSlot grating is increasingly the drainage choice for public spaces, plazas, and pedestrian routes, and for good reason. At Station Hill, it provides the ideal balance between functionality and aesthetics.Here’s what makes slot grating stand out:Discreet Appearance With only a slim surface opening visible, slot drainage integrates beautifully into paved surfaces. It maintains the visual flow of the landscape — no bulky metal grates, no visual clutter.Safe for All Users Designed with narrow openings, the system reduces trip hazards and accommodates all pedestrians, including those using mobility aids or pushchairs.High Drainage CapacityUnder the surface, the MultiV200 channel works hard to capture and direct runoff efficiently. It’s engineered for urban areas that experience large volumes of rainfall and foot traffic.Compliant and DurableFully compliant with BS EN 1433, the system is suitable for load classes up to D400 — making it tough enough for occasional vehicle access without compromising design.MultiV+ 200: Built for Urban EnvironmentsAt the heart of the system is the MultiV+ 200 channel, known for its design, high hydraulic capacity, and ease of installation. Its wide internal dimensions help handle greater water volumes, while the V-shape profile increases flow velocity — reducing sediment build-up and improving self-cleaning.For a landscape like Station Hill — with mixed gradients, planted areas, and a 4-metre level change — this kind of adaptability is essential.Station Hill has transformed an underused part of central Reading into a welcoming, walkable space with green areas, seating, public art, and improved connections to the town centre. The drainage system may be invisible — but it plays a key role in keeping this space functional, safe, and looking its best in all weather conditions.

The Silvertown Tunnel was designed to relieve congestion at the Blackwall Tunnel and provide a seamless connection between the north and south banks of the River Thames. More than a traffic solution, it’s a testament to modern engineering and a commitment to a greener, smarter future.In critical projects like the Silvertown Tunnel, where heavy traffic and unpredictable weather converge, water drainage is essential. Poor drainage can lead to flooding, disrupt operations, and even weaken infrastructure. To prevent this, the project incorporates cutting-edge drainage systems. High-resistance monolithic channels ensure the tunnel remains safe, operational, and resilient The ULMA Kompaqdrain®-CIVIL: Built for PerformanceAt the heart of this drainage solution is the ULMA Kompaqdrain®-CIVIL 150 channel. With its integrated grate and robust single-body design, it handles the toughest loads (up to F900). Its optimized V-shaped section and MAX-FLOW® system accelerate water flow, boosting efficiency and creating a self-cleaning effect. This makes it ideal for flat terrains or areas prone to dirt buildup. Additionally, its design minimizes maintenance requirements, saving time and resources for operators.The system’s versatile design includes inspection elements & sump units, to simplify maintenance and ensure long-term performance. These units provide easy access for cleaning and servicing, reducing potential downtimes. The channel also features lateral knockouts for horizontal outlets and connections in T, L, or cross configurations, ensuring it meets the unique demands of the Silvertown Tunnel.

We have improved the drainage system at this lorry park and service station in this town to the north of London.  The problem was that the drainage system installed in the area did not have sufficient capacity to drain the rainwater, leading to dangerous accumulations of water on the road surface.Service stations and lorry parks have a constant flow of vehicles. There are also some areas where HGVs turn, making it necessary to guarantee the safety of the installation of the channels in order to prevent breakages and accidents.Good advice on your drainage system avoids problems and gives you peace of mind.In these cases, it is essential to have a consultancy service that, taking into account all the necessary parameters (location, rainfall, surface slope, weight to be borne by the grating (load type) and length of the drainage line), defines the model best suited to the site.In this project, 250 ml of Civil-F polymer concrete channels, model F150K, were installed for load type F900. And it has a grating secured at 8 points. It is important for you to know this.

The Silverburn shopping centre is one of the largest in the UK, with over 100 stores and a 100,000m2 car park. With more than 2000 parking spaces spread over many levels, can you imagine how many people pass through every day? Effective drainageThe previously installed drainage system had begun to fail, causing the car park to flood in some areas. The old system needed replacing with something innovative and new Kompaqdrain CityThe Max-Flow® effect of our Kompaqdrain channel ensured effective drainage. Comprising an original design with curved grating inlets and an anti-slip and water-directing surface, optimising water collection and utilising the water's energy to increase speed and drainage capacity. User safetyThe channel and grating of the Kompaqdrain City model form a single monolithic system ensuring strength throughout the whole channel. As the grating forms part of this system and is not separate there are no risks of lifting of shifting coupled with smaller collection holes thus preventing trips and falls!

The main function of drainage systems is to remove rainwater. We all agree up to this point. However, other needs must be taken into account, depending on where they are installed ie. motorway services, airports or shopping centres. One of the features of larger car parks is that their drainage systems can cope with constant traffic be it cars driving or people walking over the channels. Imagine arriving at a shopping centre, you open the car door and immediately step into a large puddle. Not the best start to the day! Undeterred you continue with your shopping trip, returning to the car hours later weighed down with all those wonderful purchases. Then you feel the jolt and stop in your tracks, your heel is now stuck in the grating – feeling flustered and wanting to get home your memory of the trip is tainted, not the experience either you or the shopping centre wanted.Shopping centres sell products sure, but they also sell experiences and create memories, which is why the user experience is becoming increasingly important in these large spaces. For this drainage project, two key factors will determine its success – the efficiency in preventing waterlogging and the safety of its users.Silverburn Shopping Centre acknowledged both these factors, which is why 1100 linear metres of Kompaqdrain City drainage channels were installed in its car park. Located in Glasgow, this shopping centre is one of the largest in the UK, with over 100 stores and a 100,000m2 car park. With more than 2000 parking spaces spread over many levels, can you imagine how many people pass through every day? 

Let’s go to the house of the Rangers, in Glasgow, the Ibrox Football Stadium, so I can show it to you.Here, CIVIL F system channels have been installed, but not to drain water, but to conduct the wiring of the facilities from the outside to the inside of the stadium.So instead of installing a slotted or mesh design for the grating, these are solid, with no inlets. The fact that the gratings are solid avoids water from getting inside the channel. This protects the wires and keeps them dry.These channels with solid cover can have a Rapidlock quick lock, a system that allows you to open and close the cover in one click, without the need of tools.Simple, easy and quick, like dissolving cocoa in milk.

The stadium is actually tilted on one side a little bit which makes a lot of significance. The slope is from the north end of the ground to the south end of the ground. And the difference in depth is 2.5 metres.This is where I wanted to arrive:With or without a slope? That's the question. Sometimes, having or not having a slope in a site, can make all the difference for the drainage solution needed. As you know, as slope limitations can be found in some places, but in ULMA we have a solution:The first Polymer Concrete channel with built-in 2.5% slope.

KOMPAQDRAIN Traffic compact channels have been installed in three different heights.Our KompaqDrain Traffic channels have replaced the previous channels manufactured on site, reducing their hydraulic section and lowering their water resistance. In addition to greater hydraulic efficiency, the material, its quick installation and the exclusive Max Flow system were some of the key factors in choosing our compact channel solution.

Multi V+ drainage channels have been installed in the outside area of the Jaguar car dealership.These channels with V-shape section, provide a higher speed with lower flows, and have been developed to drain water faster, improving the self-cleaning effect of the channel. Its optimized cross section, larger than the traditional V-sections currently available on the market, provides bigger hydraulic capacity for extreme flow situations. 

In the industrial area of Cambridgeshire, specifically in Alconbury, the toy company John Adams has a warehouse where, in the outside area and car park, they have installed 200 ML of Multi V+ channel with load class D400, which, as I mentioned at the beginning, drains rainwater more quickly.Why do they achieve this?Because its design has been optimized so that a smaller channel can be chosen, i.e. one that is cheaper, but drains the same amount of water as a larger channel. In this way, the cost of the work or project is optimized.But it doesn't end there. The V-shape of this model, by draining the water at a higher speed, has a greater capacity to drag the sediments that accumulate inside the channel. In this way, a self-cleaning effect is achieved. And how does this benefit the drainage system? Less maintenance and savings in cleaning costs. Because the V-shape provides:More velocity at low flow ratesMore capacity at extreme flow ratesThis is because ULMA has redesigned the V-section of the Multi V+, and it is larger than the traditional V-sections on the market. 

A total of 100 linear metres of KompaqDrain® compact channel have been installed at the toll station on the Motorway, level with the town in Gipuzkoa (Spain).

We have overcome the challenge of installing low channels in an existing reinforced slab at the southern entrance to the French station.We have supplied mini range polymer concrete shallow drainage channels. This range is specially designed for areas with height limitation and load classes up to C250. Since this specific case involved a pedestrian tunnel, channels with heel-proof grates that comply with PMR regulations for people with reduced mobility were installed.

Making use of ULMA’s MULTIV+100 polymer concrete channel drainage, topped with a MULTIV+ Heelguard Grating, the site has the capacity to retain access and passenger safety year round, simplifying the drainage system, and making commuter life easier. 

500 linear metres of ULMA drainage solution have been installed in P5 long-stay car park at Lyon-Saint Exupéry airport.

KOMPAQDRAIN Traffic and MultiV200 compact channels have been installed at different heights.

Service stations are notorious areas for high intensity traffic, where vehicles brake and accelerate, and where there is also a high concentration of hydrocarbons on the ground: petrol, diesel, lubricating oils.This is the main reason why CNG Fuels Ltd. has specified ULMA Civil F400K and F300K models in Fuel Stations across the country.CNG Fuels already supply 2,000 vehicles a day from its five public access refuelling stations, and a sixth station at Knowsley, near Liverpool, where ULMA drainage channels have being installed. This station, close to the M6 at Erdington, east of Birmingham, can refuel up to 500 HGVs a day.We have also supplied our F300 and F400 channels to Bellshill, Knowsley, Newark and Avonmouth stations.Civil F heavy duty drainage channels

160 linear metres of drainage solution have been installed in the area surrounding the Town Hall and its car park.As regards the grating, the slot drainage was selected, suitable for load class D400. The choice of this type of grating has provided an ideal solution for this cobbled area, as a discreet and aesthetically pleasing option, without relinquishing drainage capacity. In total, 160 linear metres of drainage have been installed.

We have installed MultiV+ channels with our single-slot grating on the new semi-pedestrianized Gran Vía in the Spanish capital.