Transport and rail

Rolling stock and trackside infrastructure are exposed to a combination of high speed, heavy loads and weather effects that is often more demanding than in stationary machinery. A component in a bogie or a coupling system must function correctly from minus twenty to plus forty degrees, through rain, snow, salt spray from road de-icing salt in winter, and the constant vibration from the track.

Components mounted close to wheelsets and braking systems are also exposed to heat from braking and to the mechanical loads that arise when a train accelerates and brakes repeatedly during the day. We take this into account in the choice of material and surface treatment, so that a component does not fail under the heat cycle that is a regular part of the train's daily operation.

Infrastructure components along the track network, fittings, fastenings and signalling equipment, stand outdoors for years without the possibility of ongoing inspection. We select materials and finishes that withstand corrosion and weathering over the long period the component is expected to remain in place, rather than optimising solely for the price applicable at delivery.

In a coupling system or a bogie, the relative precision between several components determines whether the train's motion is stable at high speed. We machine critical surfaces in as few setups as possible to maintain the relative tolerance between mating surfaces, holes and threads, because it is the sum of small deviations that ultimately shows up as vibration or abnormal wear in service.

Fastenings for rails and overhead lines must be manufactured with tolerances that ensure correct preload throughout their service life, even when the component is exposed to temperature fluctuations and repeated loading from passing trains. We select thread geometry and fit that resist self-loosening, and we document the critical dimensions that are decisive for this function.

Signalling equipment and sensor mounts can have tight tolerance requirements to ensure correct positioning relative to the track, and an error here can affect safety-critical functions. We adapt measurement scope and documentation to how safety-critical the individual component is, in dialogue with the customer and the standards applicable to the task.

In addition to the ongoing documentation that follows each delivery, we work to support the component's entire lifecycle in the transport sector, from the first prototype through the approval process to the last spare part ordered when the rolling stock is decades old. We adapt the level of documentation to the phase the component is in, without compromising on traceability.

Certain components in rolling stock must go through a formal approval process, where documentation from production forms part of the customer's overall application to an authority or a certification body. We supply that documentation in the format and scope the customer needs for the process, and we readily adjust reporting if requirements change during a project.

We store documentation electronically, linked to order and batch number, so that a customer enquiry about a delivery several years old can be answered quickly without having to dig through physical archives. This is a practical advantage when a component needs to be traced back as part of a technical investigation or a warranty case.

Deliveries for transport and infrastructure projects are often part of large, publicly tendered contracts, where confidentiality regarding technical specifications and prices is a condition of the contract. We store project material with role-based access and enter into the confidentiality agreements that are a prerequisite for participating in this type of supply chain.

We readily work as a subcontractor several links down a supply chain, where we never have direct contact with the end customer or the public authority, but supply documentation and components through our direct customer. This structure requires precise communication about requirements and approvals, and we adapt our reporting to how information needs to be passed further up the chain.

For multi-year framework agreements, we prioritise continuity in both technical knowledge and points of contact, so that the customer does not experience the loss of experience with a particular family of components if an employee changes role. The knowledge we build up about a specific component over the years remains part of our internal documentation, tied to that particular customer and task.