Rail Engineer • October 2015
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are achieved. Customer approval of the test rig parameters and testing outputs brings considerable project advantages. In most cases, having empirical data from the bespoke product testing can bring about a reduced test programme on the infrastructure, significantly reduced risk, improved performance, less down time and a range of additional cost savings.
“Over the course of an upgrade the requirements can change again - but if we are working closely with our customer the design develops to meet the requirements of the customer’s needs - that’s just the railway, forever evolving!” Upgrade work is often complicated, especially where CE approval process is required. SPX Rail Systems ensures that all upgraded components, when introduced, are approved with CE Declaration of Incorporation, specifically approved against each previous product design iteration to ensure risk-free compatibility. Safeguarding product integration is a key element of every upgrade. The SPX engineering stage gate system allows for assured product changes to be integrated into the principle design with all engineering and historical use knowledge considered. The latest Mk3 specifications now bring a new level of CE and Product Approval which supersedes all upgrades.
Unique testing facilities To deliver the upgraded customer specifications, SPX Rail Systems has invested heavily in ensuring that the engineering design and testing can be completed in-house. All testing is completed on a loop system that cycles barrier machine, barrier machine power pack, Clamplock and Clamplock power pack on a round-the-clock basis. SPX Rail Systems is the only company in the UK with a fully hydraulically jacked adjustable 21 metre F panel test rig which can simulate realistic track conditions for component testing. Flexible installation methods enable test programmes to be devised and implemented against customer specifications and a wide range of testing facilities are available to support this activity. All data is captured on a dedicated server, and analysis during the validation stage ensures that design safety and performance
The launch of the next generation Mk3 products in the UK heralds an important time for SPX Rail Systems and will be followed by the introduction of the European Mk4 Clamplock in November 2015. Customers from various markets were invited to see the new developments for themselves at Rail2015, and looked around the rest of the show while they were there. “We were delighted to welcome some of our European customers, and we hope that them visiting Rail2015 was beneficial to some of the other UK suppliers, and vice versa,” said Scott Harrison, general manager of SPX Rail Systems UK. “We believe that collaborative working is as much about sharing contacts as it is about utilising knowledge - the UK rail market has such a wide breadth of talented people and clever organisations, and hopefully our European customers will have benefitted from meeting with some of these great organisations.”
Lifting barriers on infrastructure safety and performance • MK3 BR843 Barrier Machine • MK2 / MK3 BR843 Protective Guard • MK3 BR985 Power Pack SPX Rail Systems Unit 7, Thames Gateway Park, Choats Road, Dagenham, Essex, RM9 6RH Tel.: + 44 (0)208 526 7100 Fax.: + 44 (0) 208 526 7151
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