Recently, Technical Director at Spencer Bridge Engineering (SBE), Alex Salter, took the stage at the prestigious NCE Bridges Conference to present the company’s innovative access system, AeroTruss™.
The session explored “Lightweight Thinking: Transforming Bridge Refurbishment with AeroTruss™,” which explored the thinking behind the system’s development, the engineering challenges it was created to solve and how its successful deployment on the Menai Suspension Bridge is offering a new approach to access engineering.
SBE, alongside sub-contractors Infinite Access successfully installed AeroTruss™ on the historic Menai Suspension Bridge in April 2026 for the first time. The system is now enabling safer and more efficient under deck access for all painting and structural repair tasks, helping to support the preservation of the 200-year-old structure.
Alex opened the session by introducing AeroTruss™, outlining its journey from concept to installation and giving the audience a brief overview of how the company transformed an idea into a pioneering access solution now suspended beneath one of the UK’s most infamous bridges.
The twenty-minute session highlighted how AeroTruss™ is helping asset owners balance the unique challenges of maintaining historic and complex bridge structures while improving safety, reducing programme durations and delivering long-term value.
Alex presented to industry leaders how AeroTruss™ offers a smarter, lighter and more adaptable approach to complex bridge refurbishment projects and can help transform the ways in which ageing infrastructure is maintained.
The session was well received and offered Spencer Bridge Engineering the opportunity to showcase AeroTruss™ at one of the industry’s most coveted events of the year, which the company were proud to sponsor.
In addition to Alex’s presentation, Spencer Bridge Engineering’s Menai Suspension Bridge project team was named ‘Project Team of the Year’ at the NCE Bridges Awards. The well-deserved accolade recognises the hard work, expertise and commitment of everyone involved in the refurbishment of this iconic bridge.
Alex Salter, Technical Director at Spencer Bridge Engineering, said:
“It was a privilege to present AeroTruss™ at the NCE Bridges Conference. It was a valuable opportunity to showcase the system to industry leaders who recognise the growing need for innovative access engineering solutions that can transform how asset owners preserve ageing infrastructure going forward.”