Stay on track: minimise downtime and maximise efficiency with organised parts storage
Tools and spare parts are the lifeblood of operational reliability. No rail maintenance facility can operate at a high level of output without a reliable supply of functional spare parts and tools. Marco van der Linden, general manager of Lista UK, talks about how storage is an overlooked contributor to reliability and outcomes.
T
ools and spare parts form the foundation on which operational reliability is built and this requires appropriate storage and timely access to required parts. While rail technicians strive to reduce downtime, if they spend precious minutes searching for the right replacement parts in inefficient parts storage then, despite their best efforts, many thousands of pounds in production and labour will be lost.
Too often parts storage and maintenance capacity does not evolve, even as new part sizes, shapes, weights,
quantities, and configurations are
introduced. When parts storage capacity lags behind the need, clutter results with parts too often stored on the floor, on top of cabinets, and stacked in boxes. This can lower productivity if parts are not easy to store and retrieve.
Health and safety is also a major consideration
and a risk assessment will identify any hazards caused by the storage of goods. Companies can
then implement precautions to ensure all risks are minimised. Any assessments must be reviewed regularly as storage needs change and evolve.
For many companies storage systems are not high on the priority list – but they are a major factor when it comes to site safety and saving money.
When someone is spending time unnecessarily searching for parts and tools then there is both a productivity and financial impact. Making the commitment to review a company’s storage systems may seem like an unnecessary chore, however, investing in a reliable system from the outset will mean that faster jobs translate into less downtime.
FOR MORE INFORMATION
T: 01908 222333 W:
www.lista.co.uk
Cables offer untapped opportunity for weight loss
TE Connectivity’s Paul Croft, global product manager, explains how switching to thin wall cable can save hundreds of kilograms per car, delivering real financial, environmental and operational benefits.
T
he average commuter train has eight cars, each of which carries around 30km of cable for signals, power and instrumentation. A significant proportion of the 500kg (or more) weight of cables is in their protective insulation. This means there’s huge potential to save weight by using an alternative insulation product.
Rail wire and cable meet stringent standards for Low Fire Hazard (LFH) and there are two types of cable product, defined by the thickness of their protective insulation: thick wall and thin wall.
Traditional thick wall cable has a low unit cost and is manufactured using polyethylene resin mixed with mineral fillers, which provide the LFH properties. Thin wall cable uses naturally flame retardant polymers, which have no need for fillers to meet LFH standards. By eliminating mineral fillers, polymer scientists have cut out their weight and bulk.
96 | rail technology magazine Apr/May 14
behaves like a true polymer and delivers good mechanical and chemical protection, as well as other benefits like low surface friction, which is a huge advantage when bending bundles of cable during installation.
But to reap the benefits of true thin wall cable, engineers should take care when specifying to ensure that they are buying cable insulated with genuine LFH polymers.
This represents a saving of 30-50% weight and 50-100% less bulk, which adds up to a saving of several hundred kilograms per car. Over its
life,
each 100 kg of weight reduction saves approximately 36 MWh energy and five tons of CO2 for commuter or metro services, meaning an investment in thin wall cable will pay for itself quickly.
And because there is no mineral filler, the material
By ensuring cable meets the EN50306 standard, engineers can achieve the major operational and installation advantages of thin wall cable.
FOR MORE INFORMATION
www.te.com
Unwary buyers may inadvertently order thick-wall type product that has been scaled down.
ON STAND SEE US -B66-
ON STAND SEE US -B12-
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