One small step to big improvements for the Rail Industry

KTR Couplings Ltd has asked the rail industry to look again at the type of shackle springs it uses, in a bid to improve safety, reduce carriage down-time and make cost savings. KTR – the original manufacturer of the Rigiflex coupling, which has been fitted as standard on all model 465 trains for nearly 20 years – is concerned about the widespread use of “poorer quality, mass produced” shackle springs with KTR’s own precision engineered couplings. Geoff Ancliff, General Manager of KTR Couplings (UK), said: “Mass-produced copies of our products are not precision machined. Our tests show that the geometries of the copies are not as precise as the original product. The parts are not machined to the same exacting KTR tolerances and this leads to different technical parameters in the product such as different stiffness, different torques characteristics etc. This leads to premature failure of the product due to back-lash in the coupling. “These findings have implications not only for the lifespan of the product but also long-term costs. Failure of the coupling could lead to failure of the equipment surrounding the coupling. This then results in expensive down time and repairs.” KTR shackle springs are precision engineered and rigorously tested, and come with full maintenance instructions and after care with every order. The company says it is confident that prices for larger orders are comparable with those of its “poorer quality” competitors, and that over the long-term KTR quality will save rail operators money.

For more information on One small step to big improvements for the Rail Industry talk to KTR U.K. Ltd