Whittling it down to prevention

摘要

The old saying, "an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure," is an apt description of what's trending today in the rail-grinding sector. More equipment suppliers are promoting the concept of preventative grinding as opposed to waiting for rail to deteriorate to the point of needing corrective action. If well planned, preventative grinding can help railroads achieve a more efficient and cost-effective maintenance program to achieve optimal rail performance, equipment suppliers say. For example, Vossloh Rail Services (VRS) is concentrating its rail-grinding efforts on new generation rail-life management technologies, said Vice President and General Manager Ron Martin in an email. "The philosophy is not to wait for rail damage to occur," he said. "This consists of rail grinding at more frequent intervals with minimal metal removal to maintain the profile and correct damage, such as rail contact fatigue and corrugation before it requires extensive repair."