Interpipe has developed an axle for heavy-duty European trains

The Ukrainian industrial company Interpipe has developed and launched a new railroad axle for the TF25 bogie of British design, which is used in heavy-duty trains. The first batches have already been shipped to customers in Europe, according to a press release.

The new axle features an increased diameter of 225 mm, which is almost a quarter larger than the standard parameters for freight cars. This design allows for a load of up to 25.4 tons per axle and a speed of up to 120 km/h.

According to Frédéric Simonneau, Interpipe’s European Rail Sales Manager, the TF25 bogie has improved noise reduction characteristics and reduces the load on the railroad tracks, making it popular with heavy freight operators.

«We have already delivered the first two batches of 80 units each to France and Germany, where TF25 bogies are also widely used,» said the company representative.

Interpipe has been producing railway axles since 2017 and is gradually expanding its product range for different types of rolling stock. In addition to the new thickened TF25 axle, the company produces different lengths of axles designed for standard, European and Iberian gauge.

In the first half of the year, Interpipe reduced sales of railway products by 5.2% y/y – to 55 thousand tons. The company sold 38 thousand tons (-5% y/y) to the European market and 6 thousand tons (-33.3% y/y) to the Ukrainian market. In the second quarter, the company sold 29 thousand tons (+11.5% q/q).

The company has recently expanded its Ultimate line of railroad products for freight cars by introducing a new niche product – ULT 70 wheelsets. The first batches of products have already been shipped to a customer in France, where they are successfully used on car carrier trains.