Business news Refit
Birley Manufacturing skirts ahead with major First Great Western refit
B
irley Manufacturing has recently completed work on a contract to provide under frame skirts for First Great Western in a deal worth just under £300,000. Birley is hopeful more orders will follow in 2013. Birley first supplied under-carriage skirts to First Great
Western’s high speed intercity fleet in the 1990’s when it provided approximately 400 units. Some of these skirts are now in need of replacement and earlier this year First Great Western issued a tender, which Birley won.
The under frame skirts are fabricated aluminium structures that are secured to the underside of high speed trains and Mark3 vehicles. Their primary purpose is to protect sensitive equipment located underneath the vehicles, such as the battery box, from flying debris. This debris could cause considerable damage and has significant costs implications, not only when it comes to replacing the equipment, but also in the loss of revenue if the vehicle has to be withdrawn from service. In addition, First Group would have to pay compensation to Network Rail for not fulfilling its timetable commitment.
Birley has a wealth of experience in manufacturing safety critical products for the rail industry and is the UK’s largest supplier of under frame skirts. Manufacture of these replacement skirts must be undertaken by companies approved to provide safety critical products to the rail industry. Birley has supplied solutions to this sector for well over a decade with robust, externally audited quality systems. Tony Beckett, commercial manager for Birley Manufacturing,
said: ‘We were pleased to be involved with the FGW fleet right from the beginning. To be awarded the contract to replace these skirts signifies that Birley continues to have the expertise and capability to meet the exacting industry standards and that we can provide a service that is competitive and second to none. We look forward to continuing our service to First Great Western in the future.’ For further information and case studies, please visit
www.birleyml.com or contact
info@so-pr.co.uk
Vortok Measure & Detect MultiSensor™
The new Vortok Measure & Detect MultiSensor™ packs three essential sensing elements into a single rugged stainless steel housing specifically designed for the harsh railway environment. MultiSensor™ fits into a 10mm hole in the rail web and working from the core of the rail, provides high-level outputs for strain, temperature and two axes of acceleration. Using a standard rail drill, MultiSensor™ can be installed and connected in minutes. A thread is provided for inserting the sensors and providing extra security in the rail. Easily connected to a range of data
capture devices the MultiSensor™ can be used for:
• Rail Stress management, • Axle counting and train detection • Train weighing • Wheelflat detection and bogie performance
MultiSensor™ integrates strain and acceleration measurement so that wheel damage can be detected quickly and tracked. MultiSensor’s accelerometers can ‘hear’ wheel defects from passing trains and the strain sensor can accurately manage condition. With modern wireless communications, rail managers can be in touch with the condition of their assets direct from trackside. Vortok’s Rail Stress Monitor provides regular updates on track condition and environment, working alongside Vortok’s acclaimed VERSE™. Axle counting benefits from MultiSensors lightweight rugged construction that maintains
a low profile in the rail web. MultiSensor™ employs multiple sensor technology to provide high integrity
and reliability.
Innovation House 3 , Western Wood Way, Langage Science Park, Plymouth, Devon PL7 5BG Phone: +44 (0)1752 349200 Fax: +44 (0)1752 338855 E-mail:
sales@vortok.co.uk
FEBRUARY 2013 PAGE 55
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88 |
Page 89 |
Page 90 |
Page 91 |
Page 92 |
Page 93 |
Page 94 |
Page 95 |
Page 96 |
Page 97 |
Page 98 |
Page 99 |
Page 100