State of the Art – Since 1980
Visit Us – Innotrans – Stand 265b – Hall 25
Overview
SEKISUI Rail Technology, part of Sekiui Chemical is a leading manufacturer of synthetic rail products.
In 1980 Fiber-Reinforced Foamed Urethane (FFU) Synthetic Sleepers was invented in partnership with the Railway Technical Research Institute (Tokyo, Japan). FFU Synthetic Sleepers have been produced with the aim of timber sleeper replacement, with characteristics similar to those of timber sleepers; lightweight, strong, durable, and easy to work with. At the same time, since it is a synthetic material, it has the advantages of a plastic such as no water absorption, free from rot, and chemical resistance. With growing regulations on preservative chemicals to treat timber sleepers and increasing concern for the environment and its protection, our product is the solution for railway operators for their track maintenance materials.
Sekisui supplies FFU Synthetic Sleepers to over 30 countries around the world and we are continually aiming to expand our networks through our technology and 44 years of experience in this field.
Simply working & sustainable
· Since 1985 we have installed more than 2,100 km of track
· 1.7 billion load tonnes | equivalent of 50 years use
· Application: Ballast, Slab Track, Steel Construction and Direct Fastening
· Can carry Axle loads of up to 65 tons
· Use on High-Speed Rail up to 300 km/h
· Maintains long-term track geometry
· Contact with ballast similar to timber sleepers
· Workable properties like timber sleepers
The main areas of use are the highly stressed track sections such as switches and bridges.
The high technical parameters and the machinability like wood enable flexible use on the track. With a weight of 740 kg/m3 it’s below that of hardwood and a durability of over 50 years according to the RTR Institute in Tokyo, FFU® synthetic sleepers are the permanent solution to the challenges in railway superstructures.
New Factory – Roermond, Netherlands
A spokesperson for Sekisui stated, “Our cutting-edge Sekisui Eslon factory, which opened in October 2023, is committed to producing increasingly local and sustainable products, supporting rail companies throughout the UK and Europe. Previously, our sleepers were manufactured in Japan. However, with the establishment of this factory in Roermond, Netherlands, we now have greater production capacity and have significantly reduced delivery times from five months to just a few weeks.”
Areas of application
You can find detailed information about applications here.
Contact Us
Patrick Childs
Read some of the related Rail Engineer Magazine articles below:
