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Rail Technology and Vehicles
Plastics for Rail Technology and Vehicles

Ready-to-install components for rail vehicles

Range of systems: Engineering, production, painting, bonding, assembly & tailoring

Rail transport brings people and goods quickly and safely from point A to point B. Once on the rails, efficient and reliable technology is required. Every designer faces the challenge of developing economical, fast and safe rail vehicles. As a system supplier for components made of composite materials and thermoplastics, we support you all the way.

Efficient, safe & convenient

We have worked closely with leading vehicle manufacturers for decades. The focus is always on the central themes of transport for the future:

  • Weight reduction & fuel efficiency
  • Enhanced passenger safety
  • Increased reliability & reduced maintenance times
  • Improved riding comfort

Ready-to-install components

We manufacture ready-to-install components and entire assemblies made of thermosetting and thermoplastic materials according to your wishes and technical specifications.

Full service

On request, we can accompany you throughout theentire design and production process – from engineering, through bonding, screwing, painting and assembly, right through to the complete tailoring of installation-ready components.


Where our components are used:

Application areas:

  • Trams and light rail
  • People movers
  • Subway / metros
  • Commuter and regional trains
  • Passenger carriages
  • High-speed and intercity trains
  • Locomotives
  • Freight trains, freight wagons

Exterior

  • External claddings
  • Side skirts
  • Exterior panelling
  • Roof panels
  • Roof cladding
  • Portal cladding
  • Apron flaps

Interior & floor

  • Side wall cladding
  • Cove flaps
  • Ceiling panels
  • Door pillar cladding
  • Door mechanism covers
  • Window pillar cladding
  • Portal cladding
  • Middle ceilings
  • Side ceilings
  • Seat shells
  • Air ducts, air conditioning ducts
  • Floor plates

Technical parts

  • Guide rails
  • Spacer discs
  • Wear plates
  • Housing covers
  • Cable clamps
  • Insulation components
  • Operating elements, e.g. for controllers
  • Sliding elements
  • Holders
  • Spacer plates
  • Pilots

Rail infrastructure

  • Cable ducts
  • Conductor rail supports
  • Covers for 3rd rail
  • Insulators
  • Spacer plates under turnouts
  • Signal and control covers (ETCS)

Lightweight, safe & efficient

A rail vehicle only earns money when it's moving. Together with our customers, we aim to increase efficiency, reduce maintenance times and optimise the safety and comfort for passengers and drivers.

High efficiency

With their low weight, our components support you in the development of efficient rail vehicles and above all offer advantages over conventional materials such as metal.

Corrosion-free & weather-resistant

Depending on the material, our components have very high corrosion resistance and, with their weathering resistance to sunlight, rain and snow, are suitable for permanent use outdoors.

Long service life:

With their mechanical strength, components made from our materials have a long service life and are suitable for the high demands in rail transport.

High riding comfort

Depending on the material, our components contribute to a pleasant environment and a high level of comfort for passengers and vehicle drivers thanks to their very good thermal, acoustic and electrical insulation properties.

High-quality look and feel

Depending on the material, our components have a very high-quality appearance and tactile surface. In this way, they help in providing a very pleasant environment in your seating compartment.

High passenger safety

Fire protection

Depending on the material, our materials meet various standards for flame retardancy and thus contribute to a highlevel of safety for passengers and vehicle drivers. For instance:

  • EN 45545
  • NFPA 130: ASTM
  • ASTM E162
  • ASTM E662
  • UL 94 V-0
  • BSS 7239
  • FAR 25.853
  • JP Railway Ignition Test
  • UL Yellow Card

Finding the right plastics for fire protection

Fire protection is essential in railway technology. However, blanket demands for materials that meet the highest hazard levels are not very productive. This limits the choice of materials unnecessarily and may not make economic sense. For this reason, the material must be individually selected for each requirement. But which plastics are suitable for which application? 

Learn more about the selection of flame-retardant plastics for railway technology

Application examples

External claddings made of Durostone® profiles

With their low weight, high strength and flame retardant properties, Durostone® glass fibre reinforced profiles are used for external claddings in rail vehicles around the world. With their properties, they contribute to the efficiency and passenger safety of your rail vehicles.

External claddings made of Durostone® sheets

With their low weight, high strength and flame retardancy, Durostone® sheets are suitable as external cladding in rail vehicles wherever flat surfaces need to be clad.

Interior cladding made of Durostone® profiles

Thanks to their low weight, high strength and flame retardancy, our electrically non-conductive Durostone® glass fibre reinforced profiles are used as interior cladding in rail vehicles worldwide. With their properties, they contribute to the efficiency and passenger safety of your rail vehicles.

FlooraX® train floor plates

Our FlooraX® train floor plates made of high-quality beech veneers are characterised by very high wear resistance, meet the requirements of EN 45545-2 R10 HL3 and contribute to the efficiency of your rail vehicles with their low weight. The floor covering can be glued very easily to FlooraX® train floor plates.

Matrox® wagon linings

The use of freight wagons for a wide variety of bulk materials demands a balance between protecting against wear and minimising friction. For hopper, saddle or standard type wagons, we recommend our Matrox® material. Matrox® combines the best surface friction with the highest abrasion resistance and thus promotes the optimal material flow of your bulk goods.

Wagon linings

The universal use of freight wagons for a wide variety of bulk goods demands a balance between protecting against wear and minimizing friction. In principle we recommend our Matrox® SI 12 for hopper, saddle or standard type wagons. Particular bulk goods may create a requirement for special linings in certain circumstances. We would be happy to advise.

External claddings made of Permaglas® SMC compression moulded parts

Compression moulded parts made of our Permaglas® glass fibre reinforced material combine low weight with high strength and flame retardancy. Manufactured with different geometries, wall thicknesses and dimensions, they are used in rail vehicles worldwide as external cladding for a wide range of design requirements.

Interior cladding made of Permaglas® compression moulded parts

Compression moulded parts made of our Permaglas® glass fibre reinforced material combine low weight with high strength and flame retardancy. Manufactured in individual geometries, wall thicknesses and dimensions, Permaglas® interior cladding can be used to meet different requirements and design conditions.

Conductor rail supports made of Permaglas® compression moulded parts and covers for the 3rd rail made of Durostone® profiles

Conductor rail supports made of Permaglas® and covers made of Durostone® for the 3rd rail contribute to the construction of high-performance rail systems worldwide with their high strength, electrical insulation as well as UV and weathering resistance.

Cable clamps made of Sustamid® 6 FR

Our Sustamid® 6 FR material meets the relevant requirements of the rail vehicle standard DIN EN 45545-2:2013 and, as a semi-finished extruded product, enables you to manufacture large-scale machined components in small quantities – for example, cable clamps for rail vehicles.

Wedges and spacer plates made of Sustamid® 6 FR for turnouts

In tight tolerances, machined wedges and spacer plates made from our flame-retardant Sustamid® 6 FR for turnouts will assist you in the design of efficient and low-maintenance rail systems.

Insulating parts for rail transformers made of Lignostone® Transformerwood

Insulating parts for rail transformers made of Lignostone® Transformerwood - The energy supply of locomotives is vitally important. We offer fully assembled components made of Lignostone® Transformerwood for locomotive transformers. They offer excellent insulating properties alongside very high mechanical strength and have been used successfully in mineral oils and synthetic esters, e.g. Midel 7131, for decades.

Related products

Our range of systems

Planned together, delivered ready to install

Together with our customers, we have been developing and producing components for rail vehicles for more than 40 years. Based on this experience, we know that each project must meet different requirements in terms of design, geometry, material properties as well as specifications and standards.

With our wide range of materials and products, worldwide locations and our full service, we have the highest degree of flexibility. Together with you, we develop and manufacture exactly the components you need for your rail vehicles and accompany you throughout the entire project from development to the ready-to-install component/assembly.

Full service

Our Corporate Research & Development department develops the optimum formulation for your application that meets the mechanical requirements as well as the demands on fire behaviour. Economic feasibility is always the focus here.

In our in-house CAD department, we develop the design of your components together with you. Our experienced technicians and toolmakers will coordinate with you on the feasibility and the highest possible fulfilment of the requirements for your individual application. Own tool and fixture construction allows very high flexibility for a variety of tasks.

Our quality management continuously monitors the production processes and checks the properties of the components in the company’s own material testing laboratory.

We are certified according to DIN 6701-2 (A1) for the bonding of railway vehicles and components. Our bonding specialists create high-strength, rigid and also elastic thick-bed adhesive joints. During assembly or pre-assembly, we integrate plug and screw connections made of different materials according to your specifications. We are also certified for welding rail vehicles according to EN 15085-2 (CL4).

Depending on the material, we can provide your components with paints or protective coatings as protection or visual enhancement. From simple protective functions to high-quality A1 surfaces – if necessary with protection against vandalism using anti-graffiti protective varnish – we produce high-quality surfaces for various requirements by means of different painting processes. Pre-treatments, primers and undercoats are individually matched to the base material and surface requirements of your component.

On request, you will receive completely tailored components from us. We carry out the mounting of electrical components, including cabling, and the installation of mechanical components.

We work with reusable or disposable packaging that meets special requirements for product protection and especially surface protection. This means that we can supply you with high-quality parts ready for installation directly to your assembly section.

Variety of products and materials

Arrange technical advice

The performance of components for rail vehicles is determined by various influencing factors. These factors must be taken into account for the correct selection. For instance:

We would be happy to advise you on material selection, development and production of the right components for your application. Simply use our contact form at the bottom of the page or give us a call.

 
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Plastics for technical Applications

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