December 02, 2008

Evraz NTMK launches 2nd rail wheel test line

Evraz announced that it’s Nizhniy Tagil Iron and Steel Works has signed an official statement on the successful completion of a 72 hour test of rail wheel product test line.

The line provides for a fully automated 70 second testing of a 400 kilogram all rolled wheel for internal defects. The unit makes it possible to single out and separate all the faulty items automatically.

The second stage of the reconstruction of the enterprise’s wheel production line included assembling seven new machines such as the ultrasound quality control unit designed and developed for the company by the Fraunhofer society for applied research (Germany). The line is also fitted with a fluorescent magnetic particle control unit produced by Introtest of Russia. The new facility is also equipped with a device meant for strengthening the wheels with special beads, made by Wheelabrator Group of Canada.

This is expected to remove the remaining surface pressure and prevent possible fractures. All the data on the setting parameters and the results of control are stored in a special electronic archive for the whole life period of a wheel.

This is NTMK’s second railroad wheel product test line; the first one was launched in 2004.