Interpipe, the Ukrainian industrial company and the only producer of railway wheels in Ukraine, has started experimental industrial trials at its new production site for finish machining of railway wheels. The facilities provide KLW with the ability to produce complex products that are in high demand in Europe, America and the MENA region. The total investment in the project so far has been $6 million. The project is a part of a complex development program of Interpipe wheel business.
The new finish machining line is intended for precision machining of the wheel bore and various types of web drilling. Previously the company has ordered such services from European subcontractors. But as of now, KLW produces it in-house. The new production facilities correspond to the requirements of leading rolling stocks constructors and national railway operators such as Siemens, Bombardier, Hyundai, Alstom, Deutsche Bahn, SBB, OBB, DSB, RENFE.
The launching of the new site has created 85 additional jobs.
Alexander Garkavij, CCO: “The launching of the new production site for finish machining of railway wheels will give us a good opportunity to move into the market segment of passenger, metro and complex locomotive wheels. As of now, we are able to perform the whole cycle of the necessary operations – from steel melting to precision finish machining of railway wheels. For the KLW brand and Interpipe this is another significant step forward when it comes to creating complex products with high added value for export”.
The production line consists of two CNC machining centers, a painting shop, a coordinate measuring and balancing machine, and an MPI unit. The CNC machining centers are supplied by a Polish producer and provide capacity for the drilling and boring of up to 60,000 wheels per year, depending on their design. The painting shop is adapted to water-based, alkyd, epoxy resin paints, with the capacity standing at 60,000 wheels per year. The coordinate measuring machine, which originates in Germany, will be used during FAI and mass production. (Interpipe/Ukrainian metal)