Come prepared with guaranteed quality!

Research has shown that the use of milled rails qualitatively improves the railway infrastructure. During the production process of the rail, its top layer becomes decarbonised. Due to the intensity of the train traffic, this top layer - which is less solid than the other rail parts – penetrates into the surface layer beneath it. As a result, this carbon-reduced zone has to be removed to prevent damage to the railway track. This task is preferably executed immediately after the construction of the railway by the contractor using a rail grinder train. However, logistic problems frequently cause the grinding of the rail to be delayed. This undesirable situation can effectively be dealt with by the technique of stationary preventative milling. According to this process, rails are milled prior to their installation and can be used instantly and without damage afterwards.

We found in Linsinger a suitable partner who was prepared to collaborate intensively with us in developing an innovative milling machine. Given its newness and uniqueness, the machine had to be designed fully from scratch. Ultimately, we succeeded in optimising the system to such a degree that we are now capable of milling rails with superb precision at high speeds. Our milling machine is the only one in the world that can symmetrically mill as well as post-grind a rail in one operation cycle! Watch the time lapse video about the construction of the factory.

Our stationary milling system offers multiple advantages compared to the alternative, a rail grinder on the track. First, ProRail has stipulated that milling should take place within 6 weeks after installing the railway track. In practice, however, this is unfortunately not always possible. 

Second, in the milling factory, the rail retains its exact profile, whereas grinding may result in faceting, a more irregular surface of the rail head. An exact profile ensures less wear and tear because the rail and the train wheels have an optimal contact. Finally, the grinding train can cause the rail head to heat up severely, thereby increasing the chance that the latter’s metallurgical characteristics are modified. If the track is then used again, there is an imminent risk of damage to the rail. During the milling process, however, the heat is absorbed and drained off through the metal chips.  In this way, an optimum rail (head) quality can be guaranteed.

Setting up our milling factory has also led to a number of other advantages. One is that we are able to mill symmetrically, which is beneficial in terms of transport, storage, and installation, because it makes no difference from which side the rail is brought into the track. Moreover, the milling process in the factory takes place under conditioned circumstances, and thus in an optimal environment. All these benefits promote a prolonged service life of the rail.

A year and a half after our first milled rail left our brand new factory, it is time to look at the future. As the only company in the world that has the means and skills to mill rails symmetrically and in high volumes on a daily basis, we have gained a great deal of experience. Having reached this level of optimisation, we are eager to use our knowledge in helping other railway operators to achieve their objectives more easily, such as maintaining the best quality infrastructure, realising a constant availability of the network, and lowering their Life Cycle Costs.  

Owing to our strategic location we are able to mill all common vignole rail types for both Dutch and foreign railway operators, engaged in either high-speed train traffic or urban transport.

In addition, our assortment has been extended by the production of step rails at custom-made heights. You can read more about this in our next update.