Business profile
Authority and the Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART). It participated in the Minnesota Central Corridor Project and Chicago Transit Authority’s Van Buren Loop project, as well as continuing work on the Miami Dade Transit and the Edmonton Transit Project.
Last year, the company won the largest award of business in its history for rail and related accessories for Honolulu Area Rapid Transit. As part of that contract, L.B. Foster is set to begin shipping around 170,000 Direct Fixation Fasteners before 2014. The company developed a custom-
designed restraining rail fastener to meet specific transit stiffness and anchoring requirements. Similarly, it developed a version of a DFF utilizing a popular European bolted spring clip design. The North American market for this type clip is very limited but the company recognised a specific customer’s need and fulfilled its requirement. There are other variations in process with the hope to bring them to market possibly in the first quarter of 2014.. Recent product innovation and development centred on desires by transits worldwide to increase vibration attenuation and enhance electrical isolation.
Stray current solution
Stray currents in tracks have traditionally caused problems for transit operators, including interference and premature degradation to the track and surrounding infrastructure due to corrosion. L.B. Foster’s R&D teams are currently developing new solutions to mitigate stray currents. To that end, the company plans to introduce to the market later in 2013 a new DFF with improved stray current characteristics. The Transit Products R&D team works
in hand with the firm’s other product teams to bring new designs forward. It supplied resilient ties to BART with the support of its CXT Concrete Ties team.
The systems are designed to minimise cost and improve performance by reducing, increasing or controlling friction at the wheel/rail interface.
L.B. Foster Rail Technologies Based in Sheffield, the UK business represents L.B. Foster in the core territories of Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA) and is focused entirely on the rail industry. Network Rail and TfL remain L.B.
Foster’s key UK clients, while across Europe it works with a range of OEMs, operators and supply chain partners. Kasel said: ‘We are actively working to develop our network of agents and distributors across the EMEA region.’
Friction management L.B. Foster Rail Technologies is a specialist manufacturer, designer and supplier of rail lubrication dispensing equipment and friction management control products
for transit, tramway and freight rail applications.
Track components According to Kasel L.B. Foster’s RT team ‘boasts extensive knowledge of specialist track work design and manufacture gained from its vast experience of international railroads from heavy haul to commuter and transit. At the heart of our business we combine extensive rail track experience with practical component manufacturing skill.’
Heavy rail transits For heavy rail transits, L.B. Foster offers a direct fixation fastener and contact rail systems. The bonded or non-bonded direct fixation fasteners offer the best balance for noise and vibration dampening, electrical isolation and ease of installation, said Kasel. ‘These systems can be utilised in
turnouts, crossings, expansion joints, restraining rails and many other applications. The contact rail systems consist of steel, aluminium or steel/ aluminium clad rails and are offered as a complete package with insulators, coverboard systems, end approaches, anchors and other accessories.
Light rail transits For light rail transit markets, the firm provides embedded track systems in addition to direct fixation fastenings. ‘Whether embedded in concrete, asphalt or grass, our rail boot systems can provide resilient solutions to protect the track structure,’ said Kasel The systems provide electrical isolation, as well as noise and vibration dampening, to protect the environment. The company also offers a protective boot to fit any rail section and the accessories to support the custom solution employed.
Oiling the wheels John Kasel said: ‘With more than 40 years in the industry, we fully understand the effect that repairs and maintenance downtime can have on client’s KPIs. Consequently, we provide a comprehensive service and maintenance offering to supplement our product offering. ‘From axle by axle installation of the mobile systems or trackside product installation services that work within site specific constraints, our team of PTS trained engineers and SSoW planners ensure that L.B. Foster is able to provide an all-round service,’ he added. L.B. Foster’s portfolio includes:
• installation and commissioning • preventative and reactive service and maintenance regimes
• analysis of Remote Performance Monitoring data
• decommissioning and re-commissioning packages for traction enhancement systems
• overhaul and refurbishment packages • surveying • standard and bespoke Friction Management training programmes • tailored solution consultancy services
Product development programmes In addition to its existing range, L.B. Foster Rail Technologies has a robust product design & development capability. The programmes include: • in-house 3D modelling and finite element analysis capability
• ongoing applied research on track components, track forces and innovative materials
• the ability to custom design products to meet specific customer needs. •
Tel 0114 256 2225
uksales@lbfoster.com www.lbfoster.co.uk
September 2013 Page 175
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