A Brazilian railway company operates a fleet of six locomotives, four from the 1970s and two from the 1980s, to transport materials across a rail network featuring numerous curves and switches, requiring speeds to be limited to 10 km/h due to track conditions. In addition to maintaining a robust six-week maintenance schedule and in-house machining capabilities, the company sought advanced materials to enhance locomotive performance and reduce maintenance demands.
The railway faced significant challenges with locomotive pedestal liners, critical components that aid lateral stability and axle alignment. Traditional steel pedestal liners wore out within a year and caused premature wear on the expensive axle boxes, necessitating frequent replacements that increased maintenance costs and disrupted operations. The company needed a durable, low-maintenance solution to extend component life and improve operational efficiency, particularly for its ageing locomotive fleet navigating a demanding rail network.
Vesconite Rail collaborated closely with the railway to implement Hilube 20 pedestal liners, made from a self-lubricating, low-wear material designed for high-load applications. These liners, custom-engineered for the company’s locomotives, replaced the traditional steel liners. The solution was seamlessly integrated into the railway’s maintenance processes since it reduced frequent maintenance, eliminated the annual replacement of the steel pedestal liners and extended the service life of costly axle boxes
The introduction of Hilube 20 pedestal liners resulted in significantly less wear compared with steel, considerably extending component life and reducing the frequency of replacements. This improved durability translated into a reduction in maintenance costs, allowing the railway to allocate resources more efficiently. The enhanced stability provided by the liners improved locomotive performance, ensuring smoother operations across the complex rail network. The railway is now exploring additional applications that have been developed by Vesconite Rail.
