Ever got to the platform to discover that you train has been cancelled? If yes the chances are that thieves or vandals may have stolen valuable copper items, like rail cable or electrical earthing components, without which the trains cannot safely run. In the East Midlands, FM Sudafix’s home region of the UK, the costs in compensation for cancelled or delayed rail services are enormous and rising, and this does not include the costs of remedial action. FM Sudafix Group CEO, Steve Hutchinson, commented, “Whenever I read reports of thefts leading to problems on the railways I can’t help but think that a theft resistant, reduced copper Conducrete system may have prevented the problems. As an Achilles Link-Up supplier to the rail industry we are contacted when remedial works happen and you can’t help but notice the waste; I would always much rather see our products and services used on a new project, which expands and improves the UK infrastructure as opposed to having to put something back that should be there.”

The thieves who steal valuable non-ferrous metal products from electrical safety systems expose themselves to great personal risk as injuries can result in death. Steve further commented, “Anyone who thinks that stealing copper is a good idea should check the internet and search to see the injuries that they could suffer. Desperate people, or those attempting to make cash quickly from stealing, often end up dead. The people who steal copper and get away with it often have the narrowest of escapes from injury probably without realising how lucky they are; in that way by catching and stopping criminals the British Transport Police are probably saving those people from horrendous personal injury.”

The FM Sudafix Group supplies a range of railway electrical safety products and services featured on a dedicated website, where customers can see the range, which includes railway earthing cable, rail contact kits, rail bonds, Voltage Limiting Devices (VLDs) and many others. The company is recognised for its ability to engineer solutions for railway projects, often finding suitable applications for the cost, time and life-saving conductive aggregate Conducrete, which prevents theft and reduces a reliance on copper products to create electrically safe zones.

If you have concerns about the electrical safety, or wish to safeguard operational continuity, then please contact the team.

Rail infrastructure projects are always exciting. Measuring progress on construction projects will obviously vary, however in rail progress is usually measured in kilometres or miles of track, and I think that is incredible, which is one of the reasons that I take great satisfaction the FM Sudafix Group presence on so many rail projects.

But what do rail customers seek when they come to the FM Sudafix Group? It could be a range of things. Usually first contact is made when project consultants or designers require assistance with the notoriously difficult task of specifying and designing effective earthing / grounding systems or to determine bonding / coupling requirements to ensure that lineside infrastructure does not present a hazard to the public. It could also be the task of designing, specifying and determining the requisite quality control and testing measures to establish effective control of stray current; indeed stray current management systems are frequently required. Obviously the JMI technical team has a long history of supporting these projects and I know that I speak for John Maher and his team when I say it is always a pleasure to help and form a safety net of support for project teams.

But let us presume that the conscientious and prudent project team have contacted JMI for its technical services, is that where the FM Sudafix Group ends when it comes to rail projects? No, far from it. These projects require high performance and robust products in order to provide electrically safe zones. FM Sudafix supplies a whole range of rail specific products, as well as materials with attributes that make them ideal for rail projects, such as Conducrete conductive concrete. FM Sudafix rail products include rail drills, rail cable, rail contact kits, pre-made rail bonds, stray current collector cable, surge protection devices (SPDs), voltage limiting devices (VLDs) including products that have been specifically designed to meet light rail / tram performance criteria, rail earthing / grounding materials and testing equipment for a range of rail electrical resistance performance requirements.

Whilst we always like to see the entire range being used on rail projects the best sellers are certainly the rail contact kits, which are used to affix rail bonds to the rail. They have to meet stringent performance and quality standards and are designed to be quick and easy to install. Rail contact kits are sometimes referred to as rail bonding kits or rail coupling kits, but essentially they all describe the same function. If customers decide to use our pre-manufactured rail bonds / rail couplers service they are complete and ready to install to pre-drilled rail using a rail contact kit the second they arrive on site.

Whether it is a sector leading JMI service or a robust and effective product the FM Sudafix Group is an ideal choice of partner for all rail projects, and it is for this reason that the company is sought the world over. Want to know more? Please get in touch with the team.

Rail and infrastructure projects form a substantial part of the activity of FM Sudafix Group companies. Our clients, customers and interested parties have genuine needs to establish the latest developments in the earthing/grounding, stray current management and cathodic protection aspects of the rail industry. The FM Sudafix Group is committed to providing its stakeholders with an industry leading standard of communication and access to current information about its ongoing performance and its involvement in rail and infrastructure projects is no exception. Whether our customers require effective, safety enhancing and theft resistant earthing/grounding products, or sector leading support services the FM Sudafix Group is demonstrably the choice of prudent buyers and project managers alike.

Visit: www.railearthing.com