In the run up to Railtex, Rail.co and the rail engineer will be looking at the must-see innovations on display at this year’s event.
Ellis Patents
Stand D72
Ellis Patents, the world’s leading cable cleat manufacturer, will be launching a tamper proof cleat at Railtex 2013, which it says will go a long way to eradicating copper cable theft on Britain’s railway network.
This well documented problem is estimated to cost the UK economy £770 million pounds per annum, and according to Richard Shaw, managing director of Ellis: “Thieves are currently able to disconnect and remove long lengths of copper cable quickly and far too easily.”
“By installing our tamper proof cleats at regular intervals along the cable their task will be made significantly harder, meaning they will no longer have sufficient time to remove the cables before they are apprehended.”
Ellis will also introduce Pegasus, a range of lightweight composite cable hangers which have been designed specifically for use in rail tunnels at Railtex. The company will also showcase a wide selection of existing solutions, many of which are LUL approved.
Based in Yorkshire, all Ellis products are designed and manufactured in the UK.
Erlau
Stand B112
Erlau outdoor furniture offers customers a great degree of functionality and design combined with versatility and durability. Its furniture range consists of a variety of innovative benches, seating systems, litter bins, bicycle parking systems to planters and bollards to name a few.
All Erlau furniture is manufactured to IS0 9001 in Germany. It can be expanded, extended or completely refurbished even many years after being purchased and comes with a 10 year anti rust protection guarantee.
The user-friendly railway platform bench range was developed in accordance with the specifications of Deutsche Bahn and tailored to meet the requirements of railway stations. Resistance to vandalism and durability, paired with appealing design, were the key specifications that Erlau managed to fulfil, according to a statement from the product development department of DB AG.
Erlau’s long-term contract confirms its quality. A ten-year anti-rust guarantee, a brake dust-resistant and solvent-resistant surface with a 350µ Rilsan coating and concealed wire ends are just a few of Erlau’s quality criteria.
Federal-Mogul Friction Products
Stand F41
Federal-Mogul Corporation will display its range of Ferodo® organic brake pads and blocks on stand F41. The friction materials have been designed for a comprehensive range of applications, including freight, high speed, locomotive, light rail and passenger coach.
The company will display its extremely high-grade organic LCC and high-temperature brake pads and blocks. The products provide good frictional stability and friction material flexibility, which reduces the formation of hotspots on the brake discs. These characteristics improve the durability of the brake pads and brake discs, ultimately saving the operator money in maintenance costs and downtime.
“Ferodo has been producing friction materials for more than 100 years. This experience enables us to produce the broad range of organic brake pads and blocks that our customers need,” said Dr. Tim Hodges, Federal-Mogul’s Chief Engineer (Railways).
Fiberweb Geosynthetics
Stand H62
Fiberweb Geosynthetics Limited will be showcasing its TERRAM permanent way Geosynthetics at Railtex 2013. Alongside these it will also launch its new product HYDROTEX, a permanent way solution for trackbed stability that substantially reduces laying costs by eliminating the need for a sand layer and performing as an effective filter/separator for the prevention of clay pumping.
HYDROTEX is a strong blanket consisting of two opposing robust non-woven layers sandwiching a thermally bonded central filter layer. This effective three layer geocomposite allows upwards and downwards water transmission through the permeable layer, but prevents the upwards passage of particles even as fine as 0.002mm. The greatest advantage of TERRAM HYDROTEX is in obviating the need for a sand layer and the consequent saving in labour not only for pouring the sand but also for the prior excavation required.
Approved by Network Rail, HYDROTEX has already established a reputation in the industry for its winning combination of cost efficiency plus speed and simplicity of laying.
Flexicon
Stand D74
Flexicon will be showing its latest LUL ‘approved for use’ liquid tight flexible conduit LTPLFH for the first time on its stand D74. As a low fire hazard product, LTPLFH is highly flame retardant, has low smoke emissions, low toxicity, is halogen, sulphur and phosphorous free and is self extinguishing.
It has a galvanized steel core, which provides a high mechanical strength and a low fire hazard (LFH) polyolefin outer sheath that is oil resistant. The conduit has also been vibration and shock tested to EN61373 and can withstand temperatures from -25°C to 90°C.
Says Tim Creedon, sales and marketing director for Flexicon: “Flexicon has more LUL approved flexible conduit systems than any other manufacturer. Also, because we manufacture in the UK, we can respond more quickly with product and technical help and can accommodate specials more quickly, whether this is to supply cut lengths or perhaps even ready made assemblies.”