Inspecting Rail Tank Cars - Union Tank Cars' new plant in Alexandria, La., makes use of the latest inspection technologies

摘要

When you visit the new UTLX Manufacturing, Inc., plant in Alexandria, La., you'll see rows of gleaming ebony tank cars awaiting delivery (Fig. 1) and a massive manufacturing space filled with workers, equipment, and dozens of tanks in various stages of assembly. However, you won't see any vats of chemicals awaiting use or containers of spent chemicals. That's because this new plant only uses digital X-ray equipment, with its resultant benefits of real-time, easier-to-analyze results, fewer environmental issues, and space savings. UTLX Manufacturing, Inc., is a wholly owned subsidiary of Union Tank Car Co., Chicago, Ill. The company's goal with Plant 08 in Alexandria was to build the most advanced and automated tank car manufacturing facility in the world. Several states competed for the opportunity before the company selected the Louisiana site. Construction began at the 122-acre greenfield site, a former cotton field, in December 2004. Although Alexandria is in the middle of the state, far enough from the Gulf Coast to avoid the worst hurricane effects, 400,000 yards of soil were brought to the site to raise the elevation above the 100-year flood plain. In addition, 1000 pilings were driven in to help support the more than 900,000 sq ft (20.7) acres of manufacturing space, and the buildings were designed and constructed to withstand 90-mph winds.