51 / 68
51
HIRE AND RENTAL NEWS • AUGUST 2016
SAFE at WORK
Kennards Hire Rail and partners Hinton
Engineering and Rosenqvist Rail,
developed a new head for applying e-Clip
and other Pandrol fastening systems. The
new technology was debuted at AusRAIL
in 2015.
The new head allows for the automatic
installation and removal of e-Clip, Traklok
and Fastclip fastening systems. The head
is a component of the Rosenqvist CD 200
push behind automated system. Both
systems work under the Rail Industry
Safety and Standards Board (RISSB)
standard.
The idea for the head was developed
when a major rail contractor approached
Kennards Hire Rail to see if a device could
be developed that enhanced workplace
safety as well as increasing productivity.
Up to this point, e-Clip and other Pandrol
fastening systems were often attached
and removed using hand tools. Applying
fastening systems such as e-Clip involves
the application of considerable pressure.
Accidents on site occurred when that
pressure was inadvertently released while
rail staff were using hand tools.
The research and development process
involved Pandrol, the manufacturer of the
e-Clip system and Hinton Engineering.
There are various permutations of the
e-Clip systems, so the head had to be
adaptable. In addition, there is a rail
height profile difference of approximately
150mm between the rail profiles.
Consultation is required with contractors
regarding the weight of their rail, since
Kennards Hire Rail collaborates to create world first
In a world first, Kennards Hire Rail and partners have developed a new system which
negates the need for hand tools and reduces the amount of manual handling needed on
site, increasing the level of occupational safety.
weights can vary from
31kg to 60kg.
Hinton Engineering
was approached to
partner with Kennards
Hire Rail to develop
the new work head.
Hinton Engineering
was chosen because
it has been a supply
partner for Kennards
Hire Rail for three years
and a synergy between
the two companies
exists. Hinton also has
a deep knowledge of the rail industry and
understands what is required to navigate
the different approval processes with
various track owners nationally.
Bruce Durie from Hinton Engineering
said: “The new work head represents a
50% saving in equipment usage; up till
now rail staff had to use one piece of
equipment to install e-Clip fastener and
only one e-Clip could be extracted or
installed at a time and other fastening
systems use one tool to install the
fastening system and another to extract.
The Hercules e-Clip head will install and
extract two fasteners at a time.”
The CD 200 system is comprised of
three components; a power pack, braked
support frame, and the working head.
The head is interchangeable depending
on what fastening system is being used.
The CD 200 system can safely remove the
e-Clip fastener.
Using the mechanical clipping machine,
CD 200, in combination with other
innovative products such as the Vortok
Stressing Roller & 120T Tensor sets, a
maintenance crew is able to achieve
a much larger scope of works in a
scheduled possession than ever before.
Adoption of these new work procedures
is happening nationally and competency
based training packages (developed by
Kennards Hire Rail partner RTO Go Train)
are available for this equipment.
Go Train General Manager Phillip Long
said: “In the past, end users could hire
a complex machine with minimum
instruction. This was not adequate and
could lead to both injury and damaged
equipment. Working with Kennards
Hire Rail and Hinton Engineering will
ensure workers are better trained on the
machinery, and safer on the job.”
Visit: www.kennards.com.au
Kennards Hire Rail and partners have developed a new head for
applying e-Clip and other Pandrol fastening systems