PRWIL31 Release
Date: 23 March 2015

Wilmat provides lift for tilting train refurbishment

High resolution image for download 

A Birmingham-based manufacturer of specialist materials handling equipment, is supplying vital lifting equipment for a heavy engineering programme that will improve journeys for millions of rail passengers.

The Alstom Traincare Centre in Manchester maintains the fleet of 56 tilting Virgin Trains'Pendolinos on the West Coast Main Line and has recently put into service 7 bespoke Lift Trucks designed and manufactured by Wilmat.

Part of Alstom's refurbishment, which is part of the fourth heavy engineering maintenance programme for the trains, involves the replacement of special filter inductor mounts on the trains, which represents particular challenges for engineers.

Marie Lacey, Wilmat's Sales Manager explained: "Lifting these inductors from their casings is not straight-forward as working space is limited and conventional forklift trucks are unable to access them or provide the reach required.

"As Wilmat specialises in developing bespoke lifting solutions, we carried out a site survey at Alstom with a view to developing a solution that could solve the problem."

Based on Wilmat's successful ‘Diamond' design - which has a proven track record - the resulting trucks have a reduced height, shortened chassis and long forks to enable the inductors to be lifted safely from their mounts without fouling the train car.

This helps enable Alstom engineers to meet their target of replacing all the filter inductors on the 11 coach trains within a one-week schedule that includes routine service checks as well as the filter refurbishment.

"Our design, engineering and manufacturing is highly flexible to allow us to provide handling solutions which currently don't exist off the shelf', Marie said. "Our customers get solid, British engineering with bespoke options where required."

Alstom's Chris Higgins who worked with Wilmat on the solution, added: "Wilmat came to check out the site and application and were able to provide us with a specifically designed solution.

"We were extremely pleased that Wilmat were flexible enough to produce exactly what we needed."

END

Editor's Notes

Wilmat Group

Wilmat Limited designs and manufactures bespoke, pedestrian-operated materials handling equipment for clients across a wide range of sectors.

Clients use its consultancy service to find cost effective solutions to their materials handling problems. All bespoke products are manufactured in the UK at Wilmat's factory in Birmingham.

Products include industrial fork lifts, tow tractors, scissor lift tables, stackers, prime movers, cranes, mould / die handlers, platform trucks.

Clients include major companies such as BMW, Ford, Caterpillar, BT, Siemens, Schneider, London Midland and Southern Railways, KP Foods and Aga.

Wilmat Limited provides its clients with a full after sales and maintenance service through its Servicing Division. All service engineers are employed by Wilmat to ensure exemplary service and increased operational life for its manufactured products.

Wilmat can also fulfill its client's day-to-day materials handling needs through its catalogue service for standard materials handling and lifting equipment products.

The company's headquarters is in Steward Street, Birmingham.
 

MEDIA CONTACT 
Ian Parry
Changeworks Communications
E: iparry@changeworkscom.co.uk
T: 01785 247588