https://www.engineeringnews.co.za

AG wheels launches a wheel machining shop

20th May 2016

By: Creamer Media Reporter

  

Font size: - +

South African rail engineering company Grindrod Locomotives and ATCOM Wheels, a supplier of new and refurbished wheel sets are in the process of establishing a wheel shop located at Grindrod Locomotives' works in Pretoria West.  Our joint goal is  to accommodate  wheel machining opportunities that we believe are growing within the rail sector says Grindrod Locomotives COO Leon Broom.

'We have identified potential markets where rolling stock wheel machining and re-profiling needs cannot be met timeously due to capacity constraints. With the launch of the new wheel shop in June 2016, we will be able to [easily] accommodate the industry's overflow requirements and offer quick turnaround times,'Broom explains.

Depending on the locomotive usage and mileage, significant wheel wear is identified within 12-24 months, thereby making the inspection of wheel sets an essential element of proactive maintenance in order to maximise their working lifespan. The wheel lifespan on locomotives, coaches and wagons is reduced dramatically without regular re-profiling.

'In addition to wheel re-profiling, the new wheel shop will also shortly undertake the full spectrum of wheel, axle and bearing maintenance. Our vision with the launch of the new wheel shop is to offer a complete wheel shop that will cater for the full spectrum of maintenance on wheel sets'said Broom.

Investing in the wheel maintenance market
Grindrod Locomotives and ACTOM Wheels have significantly invested into this wheel shop programme and recently imported a top of the range Hegenscheidt wheel lathe for the wheel shop. In order to accommodate the expected wheel maintenance overflow, AG Wheels intends to add further members to the current compliment of qualified artisans. Broom stated 'The investment in the Hegenscheidt wheel lathe machine will enable us to run two shifts, 24 hours per day. It will, ultimately, enable AG Wheels to refurbish 25 to 30 wheel sets per day.'

Regional Activity
Grindrod Locomotives undertakes locomotive re-builds for customers in Mozambique, Botswana, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Namibia, Kenya, Tanzania and Sierra Leone which, as part of the re-build agreement, which includes an automatic inspection of the wheel sets. Wheel re-profiling and axle refurbishment is undertaken where

necessary as a matter of course with a turnaround time of two to three days.  We believe that these initiatives will add value to the venture.

Looking Ahead
'ACTOM Wheels is excited to have teamed up with Grindrod Locomotives in this initiative as this provides the business with major geographic diversification. ACTOM Wheels has been a market leader in the development of solid forged wheels for old generation rolling stock in the South African Commuter Rail marketÖ', says Mervyn Naidoo Divisional CEO of ACTOM Wheels.

'Grindrod Locomotives has always been progressive in how it invests for the future. The launch of this new wheel shop is a further step in Grindrod's business development initiatives building upon the foundation of the rail business platform that it has already established.'

'Through our acquisitions over the last five to six years it has been our strategy to build a platform to really be in a position to provide a service or a product that is not only complimentary to one another, but that ultimately can meet all the requirements of the rail industry. The launch of the new wheel shop in conjunction with ACTOM Wheels in June of this year is part of our planning for the future, is part of our looking ahead with positivity and part of our goal to provide a complete turnkey operation to customers who need competent and professionally managed overflow wheel machining.'concluded Broom.

Edited by Creamer Media Reporter

Comments

Showroom

Yale Lifting Solutions
Yale Lifting Solutions

Yale Lifting Solutions is a leading supplier of lifting and material handling equipment in Southern Africa. Yale offers a wide range of quality...

VISIT SHOWROOM 
Hanna Instruments Image
Hanna Instruments (Pty) Ltd

We supply customers with practical affordable solutions for their testing needs. Our products include benchtop, portable, in-line process control...

VISIT SHOWROOM 

Latest Multimedia

sponsored by

Option 1 (equivalent of R125 a month):

Receive a weekly copy of Creamer Media's Engineering News & Mining Weekly magazine
(print copy for those in South Africa and e-magazine for those outside of South Africa)
Receive daily email newsletters
Access to full search results
Access archive of magazine back copies
Access to Projects in Progress
Access to ONE Research Report of your choice in PDF format

Option 2 (equivalent of R375 a month):

All benefits from Option 1
PLUS
Access to Creamer Media's Research Channel Africa for ALL Research Reports, in PDF format, on various industrial and mining sectors including Electricity; Water; Energy Transition; Hydrogen; Roads, Rail and Ports; Coal; Gold; Platinum; Battery Metals; etc.

Already a subscriber?

Forgotten your password?

MAGAZINE & ONLINE

SUBSCRIBE

RESEARCH CHANNEL AFRICA

SUBSCRIBE

CORPORATE PACKAGES

CLICK FOR A QUOTATION







sq:0.112 0.167s - 139pq - 2rq
Subscribe Now