A North American Class 1 rail operator with >20,000-miles of track covering the length of North America, presenting a multitude of climatic conditions, varying terrain, and operating conditions.
The Problem
The rail operator’s Friction Management Program had evolved over time, leading to the use of multiple rail curve lubricants. However, each lubricant offered limited performance with narrow operating windows, making it difficult to adapt to the diverse conditions encountered. This variability resulted in inconsistencies, such as uneven and excessive track wear, blockages in wayside units and application bars, product freezing, fluctuating maintenance demands, and unpredictable expenditures. Additionally, the need to manage multiple products and switch between winter and summer grades posed challenges in material handling and logistics.
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The Solution
The operator decided to address these concerns and put in motion a 2 year long study, sufficient to thoroughly analyze rail wear, wayside unit performance and a Return On Investment (ROI). The operator was looking to establish a performance base line, for the implementation of a system wide cost analysis approach. The aim was to reduce the number of rail lubricants in use and to drive continuous improvement, while the 2 year long study provided ample time to address varying climatic conditions. ClareTech EcoCurve Heavy Haul formed an integral part of this 2 year study, and with measured rail wear data highlighting a 75% reduction in ‘average curve flange wear rate’, compared to other greases on test, (a 4 fold increase in rail life), the study was almost cut short given the dramatic differences in benefits that RS Clare’s technology was delivering.
ClareTech EcoCurve Heavy Haul was consistently praised during the trials as the “best lubricant we’ve seen” by all stakeholders involved—a sentiment echoed throughout the North American rail industry, and in addition to the rail wear data, is further supported by the consistent pumpability throughout a wide temperature variance, providing true, reliable performance across all seasons, reduced wayside unit interventions, minimal waste at the application sites and no observable oil separation in lubricator reservoirs.
In addition to performance, ClareTech EcoCurve Heavy Haul was chosen for its strong environmental credentials. Made from 75% renewable sources and being readily biodegradable (ensuring it breaks down naturally in the environment after use), it aligns with the rail road’s sustainability goals, supports environmental compliance, and upholds corporate responsibility without compromising on performance.
ClareTech EcoCurve Heavy Haul is now being rolled out across the network, starting with problem areas to standardize performance and deliver maximum ROI.
