Voestalpine’s new point machine reduces railway malfunctions
Dutch railway supplier Voestalpine WBN was authorised by national infrastructure manager ProRail for delivering the NSE (Type 4) point machine and the 1:15 manganese steel frog to local customers. Both products allow improving railway network performance by reducing the number of malfunctions and the required turnout maintenance.
The NSE (Type 4) point machine was fully developed by Voestalpine WBN. The main feature of the device is a new switch box. It is capable to delay the start current of the switch motor and to limit the peak current. The point machine is also able to turn itself off after 10 seconds. The switch motor and the electricity supply of the device have a longer lifetime.
Besides the point machine, Voestalpine WBN will also supply the 1:15 manganese steel frogs. Earlier, the company delivered only the 1:9 manganese turnouts. The use of manganese switches was implemented by ProRail regulations. The Dutch railway infrastructure manager considers them as more effective and sustainable in terms of lifespan.
New type of point rod
Currently, Voestalpine WBN works over developing a new type of point rod. The company tries to create a new product requiring less maintenance. “We were asked to create a point rod that does no longer have to be periodically lubricated and that is easy to adjust,, noted the company’s product manager Daniël Poll Jonker. According to him, the first results of the project will be reported this summer.
Voestalpine WBN, a part of Voestalpine VAE Group, is specialised in manufacturing way components and turnouts. The company has been working on the Dutch railway market since 1893. It extended its business to the expertise on switch motors and rods due to an acquisition of another Dutch railway supplier Rail Service Nederland. The new point machine and manganese steel frogs are the results of this merger.
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