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New or refurbish? That is the question…

New or refurbish? That is the question…

01/11/2011 | Channel: Rolling Stock

The downturn in global economics is driving key decision makers within the rail industry to now consider whether to invest in new rolling stock or refurbish existing stock. Hepworth Rail has recently seen a significant rise in RFQs and won orders for the refurbishment of existing rolling stock on projects in the UK, Romania, India, South Africa, China and Holland

With ever-increasing requirements for better quality and safer rolling stock, Hepworth Rail International is now qualified to EN 15085-2 for the welding of new components and parts for railway vehicles. Hepworth Rail’s business plan recognised that for all train builders to purchase and fit welded components onto any rail vehicle in the future, all welding must be completed to this new standard. So, with the full support of the CEO and senior management team at the Hepworth Group, the necessary steps were taken to invest significant time and money in the award of EN15085-2. This certification provides the Hepworth Group with a strong competitive advantage within the rail industry, as they are now able to provide documentation that meets the requirements of railway products manufactured for global customers.

Due to new EU legislation, buyers of simple fabrications traditionally bought by train builders now face difficult and quite demanding processes usually associated with the purchase of more complex components. The addition of the EN 15085-2 certification means that Hepworth can offer their fabrication facility as an opportunity for all rolling stock manufacturers, whether new-build or refurbishment, to purchase all types of metal work and electrical and mechanical products, knowing that the systems are fully qualified to the latest standards and managed by a process that has achieved an excellent score awarded by LRQA in its recently awarded IRIS revision 02 certification.

Design facilities, manufacturing, customer services and management of all projects from cradle to grave have led to Hepworth Rail’s phenomenal success over the last five years. Hepworth’s ability to take responsibility for any component whether a cab back wall, wipers, tanks, tip-up seating or even general metal work varying from cab front plates to internal bracketry, has provided customers with the support and confidence to let Hepworth manage these components, whilst the customer can then spend time concentrating on other issues.

Hepworth Rail continues to go from strength to strength globally, as market leader in the supply of bespoke electrical wiper and wash systems. Their ability and experience in designing electrical wiper & wash systems and bracketry has driven these recent successes, particularly in the removal of pneumatic wiper systems that cost significant amounts of money to maintain (LCCs) and replacement in the existing space envelope of a system that, when fitted, incurs no LCCs for at least five years except to change consumable blades. This, along with integrating the wiper system onto cab front plates that are then painted and welded to very high standards and thus providing a full ‘plug and play system’, has added to Hepworth Rail’s continued success.

For further information, please contact
Mark Jones at:
Hepworth Rail International
Tel: +44 (0)1527 61243
Email: MarkJones@b-hepworth.com
Web: www.b-hepworth.com