Enhancing Railway Safety and Efficiency – Pandrol South Africa Showcases Advanced Fastening Solutions at SARA 2023
At the recent Southern African Railways Association (SARA) conference and exhibition, Dean Lincoln, Managing Director of Pandrol South Africa, provided an insightful overview of the company’s products and services, which are crucial in railway track infrastructure and safety. Operating from four facilities in Kempton Park, Pandrol SA services the Southern African region, including Ghana and Guinea, and specialises in producing a range of railway products.
Pandrol SA’s offerings include rail fastening systems and aluminothermic welding products, covering everything from railway clips, insulators, and pads to surface rail and mine fastenings. Additionally, the company supplies rigid fasteners like coach screws, fish plates, insulated block joints, and various nuts and bolts. Lincoln emphasised the importance of these components in maintaining sleeper and railway line stability, noting that all products are Transnet approved and locally manufactured.
Lincoln’s presentation at the SARA conference focused on product development, particularly in the realm of rail infrastructure and safety. He discussed the industry’s current challenges, stressing the need for innovative solutions. A critical issue raised at the conference was the illegal removal or theft of railway line clips, which causes significant disruptions and poses safety risks. This illegal activity leads to track and rolling stock damages, loss of cargo, and even human fatalities, with substantial financial implications for maintenance and material replacement.
In response to these challenges, Pandrol SA’s technical team has developed two key products: the Anti-Theft fastening system (AT), featuring a three-way locking mechanism, and the Anti-Sabotage system (AS) designed for high-theft areas. The anti-theft system is maintenance-friendly and both systems effectively deter theft.
Pandrol SA’s success in mitigating fastener theft is evident in various sites across South Africa, where the Anti-theft fastener system has proven highly effective. A recent installation by Saflog on a high-theft railway line further validates the product’s effectiveness. In the Democratic Republic of Congo, an installation of 100 Pandrol anti-sabotage clips on a main line known for high fastener theft saw remarkable results: since the installation, no clips have been stolen or removed. This success mirrors Pandrol SA’s experience since 2014, supplying Anti-Sabotage clips throughout South Africa, particularly in high theft areas, and being standardised by PRASA.
Pandrol SA also produces and supplies Aluminothermic Welding kits, all manufactured locally in South Africa. Their products include welding kits for all types of rails and grades, featuring a quick pre-heat one-shot system and varying weld gap sizes. Notably, their welding products are eco-friendly, resulting in less wastage and interchangeable tooling/hardware between rail sizes. The company offers full training at no cost to the customer, reinforcing their commitment to comprehensive solutions and professional service.
Pandrol SA’s business success model is built on employing experienced railway employees with deep industry knowledge, continuous customer engagement to provide solutions, forming strategic alliances, focusing on growing their African market footprint, and driving down operational costs by optimising manufacturing processes.