In 1984 BR Research began development on a 25t
axleload low track force freight bogie. Preceding the privatisation and
break-up of BR the designs were sold on to Gloucester. A year later
Gloucester was bought out by welsh wagon builders, Powell Duffryn Rail.
PD Rail carried out a cost reduction of the LTF25 and came up with the
TF25.
Later on PD developed the LTF13 for high containers
and the TF25SA for high speed freight vehicles in Sweden. In 2002 PD
Rail acquired Meridian Rail’s bogie business which included the AMIII
bogie and the Unitruck. In 2004 the company was united under the
‘Probotec’ banner. In 2005, EWS bought the Probotec business, combining
with EWS Rail Components to form Axiom Rail. Today Axiom Rail’s bogie
business is supported by ESG, particularly involved in developing and
working on approval of the European version of the TF25, the TF25E.
ESG support Axiom Rail primarily with Design, Calculation and UK & Europe submissions.
ESG has responsibility for the updating and Issuing
of AutoCAD manufacturing drawings for the whole bogie and suspension
range. The latest bogie developments use Inventor 3D modelling software.
ESG is involved in improvements and new innovations.
Examples include streamlining the number of components and cost and
weight reduction.
ESG work on developing new products for Axiom Rail.
Two latest examples include a high axle load, 100mph version of the
TF25SA and the European version of the TF25.
A big part of what we do is manufacturing support.
ESG are involved with looking at fabricated and fully cast components,
looking at new materials, changing designs. The main drive being to ease
manufacture and reduce costs.
ESG carries out structural calculations and FEA
simulations using the Ansys package. This helps in manufacturing support
and new suspension designs and developments.
ESG carries out extensive dynamics simulation of all products using the market leading Vampire
simulation package. This aids in choosing and specifying components and
new suspension designs and developments. Through Vampire we carry out
approvals to UK and European standards.
- In depth knowledge of structural analysis
- High standards of drafting using AutoCAD
- Expertise in 3D modelling using Autodesk Inventor
- Expertise in Finite Element Analysis using Ansys
- In depth knowledge of railway dynamics
- Expertise in dynamics simulation using Vampire
- Support ‘in the field’
- Test set up and analysis
- Detailed knowledge of braking systems
- Detailed knowledge and understanding of UK and European regulatory requirements