In large construction projects there are many factors that cause delays and unplanned expenses. Some are uncontrollable like weather. Other factors such as improper planning, lack of workers, or inadequate tooling are controllable.

Selecting an improper tool for one aspect of a project can cause delays, rework and costs increases.  Worldwide, impact wrenches are a commonly used tool to fasten bolts because the initial purchase is inexpensive.  But the impact wrench is like a small “time bomb” that will eventually lead to catastrophic or latent failures, which are costly.

Impact wrenches are destructive by nature with its “hammering” design. An impact wrench can easily damage parts and the threads of a fastener due to the lack of proper torque control. The wrench is not designed for toque control. The tool tends to under and over tighten the fastening application. An impact wrench is not ergonomically friendly to an operator and an impact wrench requires a high maintenance budget. The tool typically needs service multiple times each year.

During the maintenance of heavily operated railroads or laying down new railroad tracks, using an impact wrench for bolting applications is a costly decision. Lack of proper torque control requires an additional step in the fastening process. Either an additional torque tool is required for re-tightening the bolt or for applying the final torque to the bolt. Neither is an efficient process.

The construction group handling the project of laying down new railroad tracks in the Gotthard Base Tunnel construction project initially were using  impact wrenches to fasten the bolts used with railroad ties. The project is railway tunnel that is currently being constructed beneath the Swiss Alps, which is expected to open in 2016. It will be the world’s longest rail tunnel, surpassing the Seikan Tunnel in Japan.

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A Canadian Rail Yard Selects Mountz Torque Multiplier to Help Raise and Lower Decks During the Loading of Automobiles into Rail Cars

A rail yard in Canada was searching for a torque solution that would speed up the process and remove strain on its operators. The application was to assist their operators raise and lower the decks on the AutoMax rail cars in preparation of loading new cars at a local automotive manufacturing plant.

The rail company has a remote yard about 6.5 miles from the automotive facility. The function of this rail yard is to prepare the rail cars for the different types of automobiles that will be loaded into them before the rail cars arrive at the automotive plant.

There are 3 different types of rail cars that are used at this yard. Two of them use a manual crank to raise and lower the decks. The other rail car used a gravity, weight system to raise and lower the deck.

For the rails cars that utilized a manual crank system, an operator was required to climb into the  rail car and manually turn the crank 40-50 times in order to raise it or lower it. There was crank at the front and back ends of each rail car. The estimated prevailing torque for the crank handle was at a minimum of 150 foot-pounds. The rail yard operators could quickly prepare 2 to 4 rail cars, but their strength quickly diminished thereafter. The rail yard was looking to speed up the process of getting the rail cars prepared for loading and reduce the number of operators suffering from potential work-related injuries.

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