Locks: Key structures for water transport

Locks: Key structures for water transport – and what really makes them watertight?

For centuries, locks have secured water transport on rivers and canals. They overcome height differences, connect waterways, and turn inland shipping into a cornerstone of sustainable logistics. What often remains hidden from view: to ensure that lock gates close securely and remain watertight even after decades, highly specialised components are required – such as the rubber profiles from Gummi Hansen.

Function & importance of locks
Through the controlled filling and emptying of the lock chambers, locks enable vessels to "rise" or "fall" between different water levels. They are indispensable for a continuous transport chain – both economically and ecologically.Technology that seals reliably

Gummi Hansen, a specialist in large-volume rubber profiles for hydraulic steel structures, supplies precisely the components that keep locks permanently functional.

Technical specifications of the rubber profiles:

• Maximum profile dimensions:
  • 360 x 360 mm (circular extrusion head)
  • 450 x 60 mm (wide slot extrusion head)
• Length: Up to 40 metres
• Weight: Up to 1,000 kg per profile
• ✅ Certified rubber compounds according to:
  • DIN EN ISO 19704-2 (standard for hydraulic steel structures)
  • DIN EN 681
  • DIN 7865

Through this specialisation, Gummi Hansen makes a decisive contribution to ensuring that locks – whether inland or on international waterways – remain operationally safe, low-maintenance, and watertight in the long term.

Conclusion:
Locks are far more than technical transitions – they are highly complex infrastructure elements. And it is companies like Gummi Hansen that, with innovative strength and precision, ensure these structures continue to function safely in the future.

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