AusRAIL PLUS Conference and Exhibition
Come touch the Manco metal Established rail equipment manufacturer Manco Engineering is always at the forefront of research, development and innovation, and two of its latest products on display at AusRAIL are bound to draw attention. Look around the convention floor at AusRAIL PLUS and you can’t miss it: the newly launched bespoke engineered equipment from Manco Rail. Make the most of this opportunity to get a first-hand look at the hi-rail specialist’s latest electrification and construction maintenance equipment. Through decades of experience, Manco’s know-how in the rail industry and constant innovations have been a trademark, and on show this year will be latest light rail vehicle undercarriage, and next generation rail boom. Come along and touch the Manco metal! MANCO LIGHT RAIL VEHICLE (LRV) CONVERSIONS Manco’s new hi-rail guidance system for light vehicles, to be launched at the conference, is set to impress. The traction drive (LRV) design converts vehicles up to 12 tonne GVM and is available in narrow, standard, and broad-gauge variants to suit models from all major manufacturers. According to Ryan Black of Manco Engineering, the company started with a clean sheet of paper when designing the new undercarriage system to ensure compatibility with the latest safety technology included in modern vehicles. “Safety was the key contributor to the design. Manco wanted to ensure that the front hi-rail axle is located behind the front steer axle,” he said. “This is to ensure that the front under-run protection and in-cab air bag safety systems were not compromised. “Maximum operator and pedestrian safety is assured by not compromising any of the vehicle factory-fitted safety systems such as pedestrian detection systems, automatic warning systems, FUPS and airbags, to name only a few. The development of the system was in consolation with the national vehicle standards and the latest rail safety standards. “ The new rail guidance system provides independent wheel articulation via a proprietary hydraulic and spring suspension design. “Testing this vehicle personally, I can confirm that it provides a smooth quality of travel at all speeds but with additional benefits at high speeds,” Black said.
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“The track test results did not disappoint and I am confident the design will meet the national demands of the various rail networks. The four-wheel independent suspension is remarkable. “Each axle is fitted with hydraulic service disc brakes and failsafe spring applied parking brakes. Additionally, each wheel is fully insulated and fitted with hub-based antiderailment devices.” Manco considered the end user’s requirements for this type of vehicle carefully. The wide range of applications and the road conditions these vehicles operate on were additional key contributors to the design. The rail guidance equipment is stowed close to the underside of the vehicle chassis, providing excellent road clearances. “However, we identified customers would
want to fit a wide range of equipment on the chassis. Therefore, the rail module design does not exceed the top of the chassis rail, providing clear space behind the cab and optimising the full chassis length,” Black said. Manco is offering an extensive range of body configurations for the LRV, from toolboxes and personnel carriers to cranes and specialty welding equipment, all designed and manufactured in-house through the company’s body shop. “The electronic operator interface comes with all the bells and whistles the clients expect these days, but with the added simplicity to perform servicing and diagnostic work in remote areas,” Black said. Manco has demonstration vehicles available. You can register your interest at the Manco Rail stand at AusRAIL.
Safety was the key consideration in the LRV design.
“Maximum operator and pedestrian safety is assured by not compromising any of the vehicle factory-fitted safety systems such as pedestrian detection systems, automatic warning systems, FUPS and airbags, to name only a few. ” Ryan Black, Manco Rail
