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Cable theft prevention


Cable manufacturer and supplier Tratos outlined a range of options to make cable theft less profitable for the thief and traceability easier for the police, with the added bonus of deterring metal merchants from receiving stolen goods. Its first proposed option is


to limit the cost of the cable, making it a less attractive proposition for theft. This can be achieved using aluminium rather than copper as a conductor, as aluminium has less scrap value – stealing 1,000 metres of cable is about 75 per cent less profitable. Alternatively, aluminium clad steel conductors – very difficult to separate for scrap and hence very low value – can be used, sheathed or unsheathed for overhead use. The second option offered


by Tratos is a range of marking services to improve


traceability, such as printing or embossing the sheath. For even greater security, the company says it can incorporate an identity thread or strand registered to a specific manufacturer. With these methods, even if the cable was burned or stripped down to the metal, identification would still be possible. However, Tratos feels the ultimate in theft deterrent has to be alarmed cable. It can manufacture cable with a single fibre run amongst the copper conductor which would activate an alarm when cut and by use of an OTDR even identify the location of the cut. As well as helping to cut the police response time to the location, this could also speed repairs. A similar result could be obtained with a copper pair built into the cable.


Compact transmission system


Among recent products featured by Voith Turbo was the DIWARail transmission system, designed for outputs up to 382 kW, a highly compact unit claimed to be the smallest transmission for diesel railcars. Voith says it has also achieved weight savings for the cooling units in this product, and has increased reliability and extended service intervals. In addition,


Voith was promoting its ability to build the entire driveline from pantograph to wheel for trams, with a traction inverter supplying a motor gear unit on display. Also new from


Voith Turbo Scharfenberg was a lightweight adapter coupler used for rescuing failed trains or for shunting movements within depots. Made from carbon fibre composite, titanium and aluminium has achieved a weight saving of almost 50 per cent over existing adapter couplers made from steel.


Voith Turbo’s DIWARail transmission unit for diesel railcars


Voith Industrial Services targets rail


A new entrant to the UK rail


market at Railtex was Voith Industrial Services. Part of Voith GmbH, a name familiar as leading supplier of power transmission systems for rail vehicles, Voith Industrial Services undertakes facilities management, technical cleaning, wheel and tyre assembly and managed processes. So far serving mostly the automotive sector, it has a UK sales turnover of €33 million, with Jaguar Land Rover and General Motors among its clients. Following a recent


breakthrough into the bus and coach market, it is now targeting rail operators with two Make Ready Services packages. One package covers the daily cleaning of vehicle


exteriors plus periodic and in-transit cleaning of interiors according to customer needs. A second package deals with stations and depots, covering areas such as platforms and general amenities, depots and workshops maintenance, servicing offices and vegetation and pest control, plus maintenance of all buildings and grounds. Speaking at Railtex, Sales


and Business Development Director Phil Spencer said: “I can confirm that we are already in discussions with a number of national rail operators for Make Ready Services. We are talking to them about our comprehensive package which has been designed and developed specifically for the rail sector.”


WWW.INFRARAIL.COM now live SHOW REVIEW RAILTEX 2011 29


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