Business profile
Cleaner, greener shunters In addition to the CALIPRI, Mechan is also the approved UK and Irish supplier of the award-winning Zwiehoff electrically powered road/rail shunters.
The Rotrac E2 has a 250 tonne capacity and achieved third place in the concept vehicle category at the 2012 OkoGlobe awards, thanks to its energy efficiency and zero emissions. Following the success of this pioneering system, a larger 500 tonne shunter – the Rotrac E4 – was premiered at InnoTrans and was met with enthusiasm from across the transport industry. This high degree of energy efficiency is
produced by Zwiehoff’s 48V Technology, which uses only a few battery cells and a small quantity of liquid to provide the necessary drive. Zero emissions are achieved through the recovery of energy during operation and because the shunters are powered electrically, noise pollution is kept to a minimum. Perhaps most importantly, the Rotrac
Raising the bar At Railtex last year, Mechan showcased the latest developments to its flagship lifting jacks. The firm’s patented Microlink system has earned the jacks global popularity, allowing multiple units to be raised simultaneously from anywhere in a chain by just one operator. In 2011, a major redevelopment of the
control system increased its capacity to cater for longer, high speed trains and an almost unlimited number of jacks can now be operated together. The largest system produced to date is a 44-jack chain, which is being used to service the 11-car Pendolino trains on the West Coast Mainline. By updating the Microlink controller
with inverter technology, Mechan has introduced power consumption savings of up to 50 per cent, while the addition of a touch screen HMI panel provides the user with constant feedback during the maintenance process. These changes have improved technical and commercial viability, without losing any of the flexibility for which the system is renowned. The jacks themselves have also been
refined to enable co-ordinated multiple use to a 3mm tolerance. A mobile version with either a fixed or moving anvil is available and they are quick to set up, interlink and substitute. Rail-mounted jacks with moving anvils can be provided if necessary. Lifting capacity ranges from five tonnes
to 45 tonnes and the jacks have been devised to cater for all uses including trams, metros, light rail systems, main lines and heavy on- track plant.
The wheel deal Also on display at Railtex was the CALIPRI from NextSense. Mechan is the official UK supplier of this handheld, non-contact measuring device, which records geometrical data for any complex-shaped object.
shunters have a boost function that gives first class pull-away performance and sensitive steering for on the spot turning, ensuring passenger and freight trains can be moved effortlessly. Explosion proof versions are also available for use in hazardous environments. A compact, simplistic design and low centre of gravity makes the Rotrac shunters small, yet extremely strong and robust. They are supplied with radio remote control as standard and are fitted with adaptive vehicle controls to synchronise individual wheel drive, manage speed and adjust the compensating rail guidance system.
The optoelectronic gauge can be tailored
to the needs of the operator and used to record wear on railway wheelsets and brake discs, plus wheel clearance (back-to-back) and rail profiles. Providing precise measurements of all
safety parameters, including flange height, thickness, slope (QR), dishing, wheel width and rim thickness (seam), the CALIPRI is proven to be far better than conventional scanning methods, even in restricted spaces. Complete measurement of a wheel takes just five seconds and requires only one operative, increasing productivity significantly. Once the entire profile has been recorded, the data is evaluated and the measurement values shown on the display. If any of the specified tolerances are exceeded, this is indicated immediately.
Slick sandbox filling Mechan’s in-depth knowledge of railway depots and workshops has made it the ideal partner for the Klein sandbox filling systems. Traditional methods of replenishing on- board stocks of sand are time-consuming and labour intensive, but Klein’s automated procedure allows just one operator to fill sandboxes through an ergonomically designed nozzle, similar to those used to refuel a car. The sand is stored in an on-site silo and
dispensed directly, via a fixed installation or mobile filling cart. A dense phase pneumatic pipe transfers the sand under pressure at low velocity, minimising pipe wear, whilst dust is eliminated through a simple exhaust system. These sandbox filling systems are flexible and can be expanded with little additional infrastructure. They are also easy to maintain, environmentally sound and efficient, enabling rolling stock to return to service as quickly as possible.
•
For further information about the wide range of standard and bespoke depot maintenance equipment offered by Mechan, telephone (0114) 257 0563, email
info@mechan.co.uk or visit
www.mechan.co.uk
February 2014 Page 129
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 |
Page 101 |
Page 102 |
Page 103 |
Page 104 |
Page 105 |
Page 106 |
Page 107 |
Page 108 |
Page 109 |
Page 110 |
Page 111 |
Page 112 |
Page 113 |
Page 114 |
Page 115 |
Page 116 |
Page 117 |
Page 118 |
Page 119 |
Page 120 |
Page 121 |
Page 122 |
Page 123 |
Page 124 |
Page 125 |
Page 126 |
Page 127 |
Page 128 |
Page 129 |
Page 130 |
Page 131 |
Page 132 |
Page 133 |
Page 134 |
Page 135 |
Page 136 |
Page 137 |
Page 138 |
Page 139 |
Page 140 |
Page 141 |
Page 142 |
Page 143 |
Page 144 |
Page 145 |
Page 146 |
Page 147 |
Page 148 |
Page 149 |
Page 150 |
Page 151 |
Page 152 |
Page 153 |
Page 154 |
Page 155 |
Page 156 |
Page 157 |
Page 158 |
Page 159 |
Page 160 |
Page 161 |
Page 162 |
Page 163 |
Page 164