AUSTRALIA: Heavy lifting equipment manufacturer Mechan has completed its first delivery to Australia, supplying a pair of 10 tonne bogie rotators to Downer Rail's rolling stock maintenance depot at Newport in Victoria.
The rotators comprise two independent structures which hold a bogie frame in place while it is rotated through 360°. UK-based Mechan typically produces rotators to support between 6 and 8 tonnes, but Downer Rail required capacity of 10 tonnes and the ability to handle up to 10 types of locomotive. As a result, the rotators are the heaviest that Mechan has produced at its Sheffield plant, and incorporate design modifications including extra bolt holes.
The rotators were supplied through local distributor Unique Rail. 'Having supplied a similar order to Asia last year, we were confident the equipment would meet the needs of our Antipodean colleagues', said Mechan Managing Director Richard Carr. 'It was installed successfully by Unique and is now being used by a very satisfied client.'
