Product category:
Knobs, Handles and Enclosure Hardware
News Release from: Southco | Subject: Custom access hardware
Edited by the Engineeringtalk Editorial
Team on 25 October 2004
Access hardware keeps CAF on the right
track
Developing products for the international railway industry can be a monumental undertaking.
Developing products for the international railway industry can be a monumental undertaking Plagued with unique challenges and a host of regulations, manufacturers in this industry need supply partners on whom they can rely; partners who understand these needs
This article was originally published on Engineeringtalk on 20 Nov 2001 at 8.00am (UK)
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That's why rail industry leader Construcciones y Auxiliar de Ferrocarriles (CAF), turned to Southco, its partnering access hardware supplier, for the innovative access solutions it needed after winning a prestigious new contract.
OEMs in the rail industry know that designing products from the component level to the finished design is a complex, challenging, and potentially frustrating endeavour.
Designers and manufacturers are not only faced with the specific needs for each application throughout the train, but they must also consider the exacting needs of their customers, as well as the stringent requirements of various international governing bodies.
From installation to operation to appearance, each minute detail must be perfected before the new product can be unveiled or even accepted.
More than almost any other component on the LRV design, access hardware products, are subject to some of the strictest scrutiny and must meet some of the toughest standards regarding function, safety, and even styling.
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Key requirements for access hardware used in this industry include corrosion and vibration resistance, specific installation needs to facilitate quick assembly, specific functionality such as left- or right-hand operation, and custom key or tool recesses to provide access restriction.
Even aesthetic concerns such as colour, design and finish, are important considerations.
But the most important detail of any component for this industry is, of course, safety.
"Passenger and operator safety is the number-one priority", states Irene LeCovec, Southco Industry Manager.
"For external applications at the platform level (or skirts of the train), failure of a latch could lead to personal injuries".
"Within the train, on applications such as overhead ceiling panels, storage compartments and access panels, safe and secure access hardware plays a critical role in the prevention of potentially hazardous accidents".
"Safety in every area, and with every component, is always the first consideration".
When Construcciones y Auxiliar de Ferrocarriles (CAF), a leading European rail manufacturer was awarded the contract to provide both new and refurbished light rail vehicles (LRVs) for the Pittsburgh Port Authority (Pennsylvania, USA) it was looking at a complex undertaking.
Not only did CAF have to design a totally new rail car, it also had to devise a plan to refurbish the existing cars to bring them up to current standards regarding design, operation and safety.
In order to accomplish this in a time- and cost-effective way, CAF needed a supply partner on which it could rely.
Southco, designer and manufacturer of engineered access solutions, was the immediate choice.
"We needed numerous access point solutions both inside and outside the train", says the projects Technical Engineer at CAF.
These light rail vehicles are high-specification products which demand quality and reliability in each and every component".
"The performance of individual parts, right down to the access hardware, is critical to ensuring safety, security, and reliability".
"Having worked with Southco for over 10 years, we knew they would be able to provide the products we required".
Primed with this challenge, Southco took an existing standard latch on which to base its solution.
"First, we needed a latch that already met the basic requirements of the application", says LeCovec, "Southco's popular vice action compression latch in stainless steel was the perfect choice".
As good as designed for the rail industry this latch meets the important requirements of both CAF and their customers, the operators.
Unique from its competitors, this Southco solution provides consistent, vice-like compression which reliably resists vibration and spontaneous opening, making it the ideal solution for external skirt applications.
In addition, its stainless steel construction provides superior strength, corrosion resistance and heavy-duty durability.
Sealed both internally and externally, this latch is designed to withstand both indoor and outdoor environments and other harsh contaminants and it meets the corrosion-resistance and sealing requirements including IP65 and NEMA 4 standards used in this industry.
The latch is further designed for quick adjustment to precisely fit the panels used in the LRV, and can accommodate panel misalignment or manufacturing variances.
Furthermore, it offers easy, economical installation, as well as intuitive operation to turn and unlatch.
Through close collaboration with CAF, the design of this latch was then modified to create a unique solution for CAF.
Instead of requiring only one latch to secure each access panel, the new LRV design called for two latches per panel, both of which had to be operated simultaneously to remove the panel.
As most standard latches operate in only one direction, this would pose an awkward problem for the operator.
"The obvious solution was to modify the latch such that it would operate in the opposite direction", says Jesus Pinuela, Southco Account Manager.
"By reversing the pawl mechanism we were able to create a mirror image of the standard product, providing CAF with both a left- and a right-hand latch which can be installed onto the panel".
The second major change that took place concerned the tool recess.
"Control of access restriction is a key component in the rail industry", explains Pinuela.
"Each town or region has its own access style that is used consistently on all their trains so that they can only be accessed by the necessary authorised personnel".
In the case of the Pittsburgh Authority, the access style dictated was a 9mm triangle headstyle.
Southco's engineering team then set about to modify the tool recess of the latch to meet these needs.
CAF was extremely happy with Southco's customised solution and has now specified it on all new and refurbished LRVs for Pittsburgh.
To ensure a consistent look and operation throughout each entire train, CAF is using this product for both interior and external applications including internal electrical cabinets, wall and ceiling panels, and radiators, as well as exterior applications such as the external skirts, both under the train at the platform level, which cover electrical cables and switches.
"Southco excels at providing creative solutions to customer challenges", explains Pinuela.
"As in our partnership with CAF, when our standard products don't meet the exact requirements, our experience, and willingness to innovate take over".
"This passion for providing our customers with the perfect product is mirrored in our global manufacturing and supply chain organisations".
"Our entire organisation strives to help our customers differentiate their products and win success by bringing to them a wealth of global experience and knowledge".
CAF agrees.
"There was a consensus at CAF that Southco was the right choice - their reputation speaks for itself", states the project's Technical Engineer.
"Their expertise and flexible approach allowed for modifications throughout the process to achieve the ideal solution which not only fulfils all of our requirements, but is also top in terms of cost-effectiveness".
"Southco is more than just a supplier".
"CAF and Southco are a great partnership".
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