Leading the world in
energy absorption
Decision makers from across the world attended the four-day event in Berlin where Oleo, by adding the manufacture of the new couplers to its existing product portfolio, raised the bar and was met with a wave of interested and approving eyes from key players in the industry.
Among the many visitors to the stand, Oleo was pleased to welcome representatives from the China Ministry of Railways as well as other notable organisations from Russia, Germany and other nations from across the globe and is delighted to have received its first order since the show from a Chinese metro company.
With a bigger and better stand this year, Oleo capitalised on the pioneering launch of the Sentry rail couplers which have many benefits that set it apart from competitor ranges including an impressive half tonne saving in weight, competitive pricing and improved performance.
Peter Lee, Engineering Director at Oleo International commented: “We’ve spent many years manufacturing buffers and deformation tubes for rail, which we have had to pass onto a third party to be incorporated into couplers. By manufacturing the coupler ourselves, we keep the entire project in house and can exercise full control over the quality and testing of the product. We also take a modular approach to the new design, which means we can pass on reduced costs, improved performance and shorter lead times to customers.”
The company used the event as a platform to launch its new Sentry range of couplers. By adding couplers to its manufacturing programme, Oleo has become one of few businesses globally with the capability to deliver a complete rail safety solution.
Unique to Oleo’s new range, aside from the fact the company is now delivering a complete energy absorption solution for the rail sector, is the quality and durability of the coupler. Designed, developed and produced in the UK, the company will manufacture a standard set of couplers, as well as offering bespoke options. And because Oleo International has a long heritage of manufacturing energy absorbers and deformation tubes, it is uniquely positioned to deliver a competitive coupler and anti-climber package to customers.
As traffic volumes and rail speeds for both passenger and freight trains increase, they require improved protection and the highest levels of impact crash energy management. Oleo’s rail buffers, of which the company has over 70,000 in operation worldwide, provide vehicle protection for a range of velocities in the event of crash. These buffers are integrated into rail couplers to provide high levels of recoverable energy absorption following a collision, passing on lower life cycle costs, and lower repair and maintenance costs for rail vehicle operators.
Another important component for rail safety is anti-climbers, a product that Oleo International has manufactured since the early 1990s. Anti-climbers are designed to absorb energy in the impact of a train-to-train collision, to prevent one vehicle from climbing over the top of the other.
As part of Oleo’s Sentry range, there is also a new range of anti-Climbers, which have been continuously improved through ongoing research and development.
Sul Sahota, MD of Oleo International, concluded: “The feedback to our new Sentry range of couplers has been incredible and we are delighted to have received our first order, just a few days after the show closed and we are still speaking to many more organisations. This confirms our confidence in the range and Oleo’s ability to move ahead, innovate and continually strive to meet the fast-moving requirements that are placed upon our sector, reinforcing our commitment to safety and performance.”