Materials handling with care and accuracy

Written by Jenifer Nunez, assistant editor
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Suppliers offer many versatile options to railroads for precise placement and removal of materials needed along the rights-of-way.

 

{besps}April16_materials{/besps} {besps_c}0|1materials.jpg| GREX’S Self Powered Slot® machine picking up ties.{/besps_c} {besps_c}0|2materials.jpg| Herzog Railroad Services, Inc.’s, Automated Conveyor Train can carry up to 98 tons of material to a jobsite.{/besps_c} {besps_c}0|3materials.jpg| Loram’s Raptor Rail Handling System was designed with tight work windows in mind.{/besps_c}

Suppliers offer many versatile options to railroads for precise placement and removal of materials needed along the rights-of-way.

With safety as priority number one, railroads look to the industry suppliers for machines to handle materials for the rights-of-way in a quick, efficient and cost-effective mannor. Manufacturers are providing multi-functional and at-the-ready machines to step up to the task.

Brandt
Brandt Rail Services has recently released its new RTB130, which the company says, is the most powerful and productive hi-rail backhoe available on the market. It is based on the John Deere 710K Chassis and is said to be ultra-stable with front to rear balance configuration with the heaviest tools mounted on the rear arm. The RTB130 has a 52 gpm of hydraulic flow to handle tough tasks.

“Brandt also has the On Track Material (OTM) Tracker System, which is the safest most productive OTM handling system in the world,” explained Shaun Gettis, sales manager. “It allows you to safely walk along the top of cars to distribute or pick up OTM in an extremely efficient and timely manner. It is the go-to system for Class 1’s in North America.”

While some in the industry are unsure and unsteady about the industry, Brandt remains positive about the rail market today.

“We are continuing to innovate to produce productive and safe solutions for the rail industry,” Gettis noted. “We are in this for the long haul and know the rail industry has always found ways to be innovative and pull out of soft markets.”

Gettis says that Brandt builds its products around safety and that the company is continually enhancing products to be more ergonomic, safe and easy to operate. This allows the operators to be able to focus on the task at hand and the environment around them. Brandt also offers in-depth training for all of its products with decades of experience with a team of support representatives. Gettis notes that customers are always welcome to invite them back at any time for follow-up training for new operators or even refresher classes.

Custom Truck and Equipment
Custom Truck and Equipment (CTE) is carrying an all new material handling loader line that incorporates pressure compensated, load-sensing technology. CTE says this technology is new in the material handler loader market and is comparable to the European standards used in their knuckle-boom cranes.

“The market is tougher today than it ever has been in regards to budgets, but there seems to be a break out in contractor markets over railroads,” explained Kevin LaValley, Rail Division sales manager. “Quick delivery dates can be the most challenging aspect of a contractor-driven market, but for customers with an immediate need, we have a vast rental fleet at their disposal.”
Everyone is always pushing for ways to make handling safer and, at the same time, looking for increased capacity, notes LaValley.

He says CTE always tries to go to the field once the trucks are delivered for an in-service orientation, ensuring operators have firsthand contact with the company and to ensure the safe operation of the equipment CTE provides.

GREX
GREX says its Self Powered Slot® (SPS) machine continues to play a vital role in railroad maintenance. The SPS, according to GREX, is a versatile tool capable of many tasks including ditching, aggregate delivery, removal of spoils, rail and tie pick up or set-out. In addition, the units have seen extensive use in landslide mitigation and casualty (flooding) work. Because the unit is self-powered, the consist is able to work with a GREX operator and customer employee in charge.

“The SPS allows customers to maximize work windows and deploy a unit at a moment’s notice,” noted the company. “Perhaps the unit’s greatest attribute is its ability to take on a variety of assignments. One of its most unique offerings has been the tie set-out solution, which allows railroads to develop an optimized tie unloading delivery plan. By using data collected by Aurora® and Aurora Xi® (GREX’s automated tie inspection services), the tie set-out solution uses precise location data to place ties exactly where they are needed. Ultimately, this improves tie gang productivity by reducing the time in which ties are being handled.”

GREX notes that it is not uncommon for a unit to be assigned to a territory where its work assignments can change from week to week and customers will often use the SPS to bring material from a quarry to a jobsite for exact placement and once unloaded, send the unit out for a quick cleanup of the right-of-way.

“The SPS makes quick work of tasks that can otherwise consume a departments entire day or week, such as removal of legacy ties and rail. Since the SPS is truly open from end to end, customers can fill it entirely with no regard to length of rail,” GREX explained.

The company says its SPS fleet has grown considerably in recent years to meet customer demand. The newest units boast a larger prime mover that provides considerably more horsepower. The company says it is wise to pair the older Slot Machine with one of these newer units, doubling the capacity of the consist to 1,100 tons, ideal for aggregate hauling projects.

Herzog
“The railroad industry was in need of a machine that could surpass the desired expectations and requirements,” noted Tim Francis, vice president of marketing at Herzog Railroad Services, Inc. (HRSI). “The Automated Conveyor Train (ACT) was put to the test last summer after rain washed out the tracks in South Carolina and it performed flawlessly.”

HRSI’s ACT consists of 30 cars, each with the capacity to carry 98 tons of material. The acceptable material size ranges from sand up to five inch “B” stone plus/minus. The operator of the ACT also has the capability of selecting the specific car to unload first, last and throughout the entire unloading process. This allows the ACT to carry and unload commodities of varying size to the same or multiple job locations, depending on the scope of the project(s). Each car is equipped with an independent belt underneath the HRSI-designed hopper. This allows the ACT to unload material in curves of up to 13 degrees and at a super elevation of up to five inches.

“The discharge car on the ACT has many benefits, as well,” explained Francis. “This car is outfitted with a 35-foot long boom that can deliver material at up to 2,000 tons per hour, approximately 50 feet from track center. The material can be off loaded at 45 degrees to either side of the machine and up to 18 degrees above level. The discharge car also has an automated plow directly in front of the lead set of trucks. This allows material to be unloaded directly in front of the machine and we can strike it off without having to push a tie along in front of us.”

Additionally, a camera in the operator cab allows for an unobstructed view of the plow so the operator can verify that it is working as intended. Lastly, the discharge conveyor is set up with a positive lock. This allows Herzog to work on the field side without concern of inadvertently swinging back to and fouling the live track side. The entire machine was also built within plate “c” standards.

Loram
Loram Maintenance of Way, Inc., says its Raptor Rail Handling System sets a high standard for the rail handling industry in terms of speed, performance and reliability, as well as in safety.

“Over the past few years, rail traffic has been at record breaking levels,” explained Scott Diercks, director of marketing and business development. “As a result, railroads continue to need enhancements, which will result in increased performance and productivity in the shortened window for maintenance. Obviously, the ultimate goal is to complete more work during a season and, hopefully, reduce unit costs in the process.”

Loram points to new technologies, which allows customers to do a better job of assessing needs and planning the associated work plans. Diercks says these technologies are helping focus the efforts on the areas that will generate the greatest payback.

“In addition to the new technologies, railroads are coordinating equipment with work gangs and areas with major track outages,” noted Diercks “Utilizing these work blocks allows Loram longer periods of uninterrupted work time, which translates into more effective utilization of the maintenance time provided.”

Loram says its Raptor Rail Handling System out performs traditional rail handling systems with double the production and with reduced staffing requirements, he says.

“Raptor’s rail handling system retains total control of the rail while loading and reloading,” explained Diercks. “This significantly reduces the need for human interaction and leads to an outstanding safety record.”

Increased rail traffic is responsible for the greater need for maintenance, however, this also means shorter work windows.

Diercks notes that this is the reason the railroads are looking for equipment with increased performance and productivity.

“Loram is constantly looking for creative ways to make our equipment more productive, while maintaining or lowering unit cost and providing for the work to be done safely,” he said. “Efficient increases in productivity are vitally important, but not at the expense of safety. Although there is a large amount of work to be done, getting it done safely is of greatest importance. When in doubt, take the safe course of action.”

Mitchell Rail
Mitchell Rail offers a 180-degree Swing Loader based on the Caterpillar 930M, which has a 20,000-lb. lift capacity. The machine has been installed on many different size Caterpillar wheel loaders since the late 1980s that feature parallel-lift to lift loads vertically.

“Parallel-lift offers operators great visibility down the center of the lift arms,” noted Estel Lovitt, president. “This is particularly useful in material handling and laying rail where you need to see the ground or work area in front of the machine. With parallel-lift, the operator has the ability to lift materials off the ground in a parallel motion so the material raises flat, rather than rolling back. The parallel-lift linkage has true wheel loader geometry with automatic bucket/fork positioner, adjustable in-cab and automatic lift and bucket kickouts, adjustable in-cab.”

Lovitt says budgets are always tight, but having a multi-purpose machine, such as a Cat930M with the Mitchell Swing-Loader system and Friction Drive hi-rail gear is very cost effective because the machine has less idle time and railroads and contractors experience improved machine utilization to perform more functions in tight work windows.

“Railroads have been asking for improved machine utilization by requesting the Mitchell Weight Transfer Coupler and Train Air Brake System for moving rail cars with the Swing Loader,” Lovitt said. “Additionally, they are asking for better stability over the side. For better stability, Mitchell offers Swing Loader Systems for larger Caterpillar Wheel Loaders, such as the Cat950M/962M wheel loaders. With these larger wheel loaders, more railcars can be moved at a time, as well as offering improved stability when working with loads throughout the 180-degree swing arc.”

NMC Railway Systems
The latest addition to the NMC Railway Systems product line is the newly-updated NMC CTC08E Tie Crane. The CTC08E Tie Crane is designed specifically for railroad tie placing and material handling projects. The compact design of the tie crane allows for increased lift capacity with exceptional swing speed and, with its precise tool control, the machine is able to deliver enhanced tie handling agility. As a Tier 4 final unit, it doesn’t require DEF fluid and regeneration is totally transparent to the operator and does not require stopping. It also boasts a fuel burn average of less than two gallons per hour.

“The CTC08E’s ability to work in a systems gang allows the operation to run smoothly down the track lines with minimal disruptions,” explained Mark Anderson, sales manager. “At NMC Railway Systems, we’ve seen growth in the need for a more compact piece of material handling equipment that still has the capabilities to move up and down the track lines. Operators of the NMC CTC08E Tie Crane can handle concrete and wood ties in a more efficient manner. The innovative on-track drive solution on the tie crane also allows for greater visibility and enhanced tie placement and accuracy. Designed to provide maximum power for material handling and transport, the tie crane is engineered to enhance ease of use for its operators.”

The updated crane offers additional comforts, including ground serviceability, pilot controls, air suspension seat and a 70dB(A) cab.

“Operators can now work with railroad ties, as well as other material handling applications in a safe, well-equipped cab area,” Anderson noted.

Omaha Track
There have not been any significant new innovations to material handling hi-rail trucks (grapple trucks) in the past few years, according to John Gallo, business development manager at Omaha Track Equipment. While creep drive systems were one of the most requested features a few years ago and remain so today, Gallo says today he sees more inquires for knuckles with train air for movement of railcars with these trucks.

“The market seems to be softening with a downward trend of the Class 1 railroad capital spending programs,” explained Gallo. “The majority of our grapple trucks are being sold to railroad contractors. The contractors have little flexibility when it comes to equipment delivery. Once they are awarded a contract, they generally are on a tight timeline; therefore, at Omaha Track Equipment, our attempt is to have work ready equipment available when it is needed.”

Omaha Track Equipment offers grapple trucks, as standard, equipped with 1/3 cord bypass-type grapples (other grapple styles, such as butt grapples are also available depending on the user’s application). Also as standard, Omaha Track Equipment provides trucks with pintle hitches for towing trailers and material carts. In most cases, the end user is selecting magnet packages, as well. For normal “duty cycle” usage, the company now provides battery (electric) powered magnet systems. For heavy “duty cycle” usage, a hydraulic motor driven generator magnet system is a must. Another optional feature that is requested more often than not, Gallo says, is a creep drive system. The creep drive system allows the truck to be driven on track at very low speeds from the upper operator’s seat. Other optional features that are being requested are clam bucket attachments, hydraulic tool circuits and knuckle with train air for moving railcars.

RCE
In the past year, Rail Construction Equipment Compnay (RCE) has expanded the Railavator (hi-rail excavator) product line to include smaller and larger-sized equipment. With more Railavator options now available, RCE can provide a wide range of material handling tasks on or off the track, including tie and rail handling and distribution, scrap and material reclaiming and even larger tasks that require heavy lifting capabilities, such as track panel handling and placement. Combine these units with RCE’s

Swing Loader swing crane and the company says it can offer material handling units to fit anyone’s needs.

“Currently, the railroads are dealing with a large amount of emergency track repair issues due to the weather, especially down south,” explained Dennis Hanke, sales manager. “Machine versatility remains a top priority to customers.”

Vaia Car
Vaia Car has come out with a new product, the Vaia Car RT-5 Trailer, which is a simple device that can, in many cases, significantly reduce the cost and increase the efficiency of specific operations.

The Vaia Car RT-5 on/off-track trailer can be used with any vehicle that has an air braking system. The company notes that it works especially well with the Vaia Car 504, 704 and 804 series excavators. The RT-5 was designed to move track materials from off-track worksites to their point of use without transferring material from a ground carrier to a rail transport, thus increasing efficiency, reducing labor and promoting safety as material does not have to be transloaded to get to the jobsite.

“The market is generally good,” explained Davide Vaia, chief executive officer of Vaia Car. “The strong dollar makes it more attractive for European manufactures.

Railroads are spending enormous sums to maintain their infrastructure. These are not expenditures passed on to the taxpayers as is the case for trucks on the highways.There are constantly ways being sought to maximize work windows with minimum disruption to rail traffic.”

When it comes to demand, Vaia says that safe, reliable and efficient are always in demand with other features specific to individual machines. Safety issues are always of prime importance, he notes. European railway safety specifications are very strict and all equipment producers must comply to be accepted by the railways. It is an ongoing process with continual improvement, the company says.

V&H
V&H Inc., Trucks, is now carrying the brand new Palfinger Epsilon with A-frame outriggers. The company says this loader has a greater lifting capacity and a longer reach than its competitors in its class.

“The market is a little soft so far this year,” explained V&H. “The railroads are tightening up their budgets with a little glimmer of hope off in the horizon of a small upswing in business. V&H Inc. has equipment priced for all budgets and a large inventory of used equipment to accommodate the needs of our customers. V&H has rental units available, which enables customers to have the equipment they need without a long term commitment.”

As for what is being asked of the industry, V&H says the rail market is continuing to ask for greater lifting capacities on the loaders, along with ways to be more efficient as they pick up the material.

Training and customer service is important to V&H. The company has a complete training facility in Marshfield, Wis., to assist in training employees and customers, has a full-time trainer on staff and webinars available monthly.

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