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UK rail industry eager to use composites: Report

11 Jul '16

2 min read

The UK rail industry is looking forward to using composite materials that will increase performance and reliability, according to a report by the Oxford Advanced Surfaces, providers of adhesion promotion, fibre sizing, and surface wetting solutions for advanced materials, after attending a brace of events in the rail sector recently.

OAS chief executive Philip Spinks attended the 'Opportunities for Composites in Rail' event that was held in Manchester and also 'Rail Live' that was held in Warwickshire. Both events highlighted examples where composites have been successfully specified in the rail industry and areas in which challenges still exist.

Two of the strongest themes that came out across both events were a clear move towards lightweighting of rolling stock that will give way to lighter and more efficient trains, and a keen interest in how composites can be used to enhance the performance and service life of key rail infrastructure.

Philip said, “Ever since British Rail created a Plastic Development Unit in 1959, the rail industry has always been keen to embrace new materials and that's definitely still the case today. There are some big projects on the horizon – including HS2 – and they are creating opportunities for advanced materials. The rail industry wants the best solutions and that's great news for the industry.”

“Network Rail is looking to invest in new engineering solutions that require less maintenance and are easier to use. Longevity and service life are important qualities to today's rail industry specifiers and that's a positive for businesses involved in developing and supplying composites,” he added. (GK)

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