Mechan traversers carry first IEP trains
Posted: 28 September 2015 | Mechan | No comments yet
Two heavyweight members of the Mechan family are swinging into action at Hitachi Rail’s new rail vehicle manufacturing facility in County Durham, following its official opening.
The Newton Aycliffe facility is using a pair of 80 tonne traversers developed by Sheffield-based Mechan to move vehicles along the production line.
Richard Carr, chief executive of the rail depot equipment specialist, visited Hitachi Rail’s first European rail vehicle manufacturing facility on September 3 for its inauguration by Prime Minister, David Cameron. It will employ 730 people and supply electric and bi-mode trains to the East Coast and Great Western mainlines, as part of the government’s InterCity Express Programme (IEP).
The traversers, designed, built and installed by Mechan, are part of a series of orders from IEP facilities across the UK. The firm has supplied a set of 40 lifting jacks and an equipment drop to North Pole in west London and a further two equipment drops to Stoke Gifford near Bristol. It is currently working on a three road equipment drop, 40 lifting jacks and two bogie turntables for a new train maintenance centre being constructed in Doncaster.
Richard said: “It was an honour to attend Hitachi Rail’s official opening ceremony and see firsthand the integral part our equipment is playing in this impressive facility. No two traversers are ever the same and their design and implementation is always a challenge due to their sheer size. We have worked closely with the project team at Newton Aycliffe to ensure these behemoths perform efficiently and everyone is very pleased with the result.”
For more information about Mechan’s bespoke design and engineering services, telephone +44 (0)114 257 0563 or visit www.mechan.co.uk