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FEATURE
QTS Group continues
to lead innovation in road rail plant fleet
B
eing the leading force in bespoke rail plant has always been a passion for rail contractor QTS Group. Founded in 1992 by managing director Alan McLeish, the company has brought a selection of world-first machinery to the rail industry and now employs over 500 staff and has offices around the UK, including at Strathaven, Nottingham, Preston and Penrith. QTS has grown over the last 29 years and now delivers a variety of services to the UK rail network, including drainage, fencing, civil engineering and design and training, as well as vegetation management. Through the years, QTS has developed a strong reputation for its innovative approach to plant, creating bespoke pieces of kit which can travel easily from road to rail. These machines are not only unique, but they also allow for the creation of huge efficiencies for the company and its clients. One of the most well know is the Mega Chipper, the world’s first rubber-tracked and railmounted chipper.
Rail Engineer | Issue 188 | Jan-Feb 2021
Mega enhancements However, with a commitment to improvement and innovation, the team at QTS is constantly evolving its ideas and has recently unveiled a new, industry leading rail mounted chipper, the Mega Chipper V2. This advanced machine is the successor to the original Mega Chipper, which QTS has revamped, re-engineered and improved to create a more powerful and efficient machine. The fully automated 460 horsepower machine has the ability to chip a 600mm diameter tree in 10 seconds, enabling the company to process more material than any other rail contractor in the UK.
Following years of studying and improving the existing machine, the V2 now features a personnel carrier for up to four operatives, fault reporting by text and remote diagnostic access for fault finding. The new blade configuration helps to make the machine operate more smoothly and efficiently. The rail wheels are hydrostatically driven when in work mode and can be fully operated via remote control, enabling the operator to be located in a position of safety. The rubber tracks are more powerful for both climbing steep embankments and road travel. One of the new Mega Chipper V2’s first jobs was on the East Kilbride line,
