Interpipe has developed and launched production of 59 wheel sizes for locomotives in 5 years

Over the past five years, Ukrainian industrial company Interpipe has developed and launched production of 59 wheel sizes for locomotives. These products are used by such well-known companies as Alstom, Bombardier, Siemens, as well as leading railways in Europe and the US.

This was announced by Oleksandr Roslyk, technical director of Interpipe’s railway division, during his speech at the VII International Conference on Rolling Stock Production, Operation, and Repair.

“We supply locomotive wheels not only to European Union countries, but also to Saudi Arabia, India, and North America. Among the examples of wheels that we have developed over the past five years for leading European companies are wheels for Siemens, Alstom, and Bombardier locomotives,” said Olexander Roslyk.

He added that all products are tested in European and American testing centers, and their quality is confirmed by international standards ISO 9001 (TUV CERT, Germany), AAR M-1003 (Association of American Railroads, USA), and others.

In addition, railway products are certified by leading railway operators – Deutsche Bahn, the railways of the USA, Great Britain, Austria, Poland, Slovakia, Bulgaria, and other countries, as well as rolling stock manufacturers – Alstom and Siemens Mobility.

According to Oleksandr Roslyk, locomotive wheel designs vary significantly, as they are manufactured to meet individual customer requirements and the specific operating characteristics of rolling stock.

At the same time, he noted that locomotive wheels are a fairly niche product compared to other railway products manufactured by Interpipe.

“The production and supply volumes of wheels for locomotives are small compared to the wheels we supply for freight or passenger cars. However, the list of customers is very wide,” the technical director summed up.

As reported by GMK Center, Interpipe’s sales of railway products in Q2 grew by 11.5% to 29,000 tons. In total, 55,000 tons of products were sold in the first six months of this year, including 38,000 tons to the European market and 6,000 tons to the Ukrainian market.

Interpipe recently expanded its Ultimate line of railway products for freight cars, introducing a new niche development – ULT 70 wheel sets. The first batches of products have already been shipped to a French customer for use on car carrier trains.

In addition, the company has developed and launched production of a new railway axle for the British-designed TF25 bogie, which is used in heavy-duty trains.

As a reminder, Interpipe plans to invest $120 million in modernizing its railway product manufacturing facilities by 2032. In particular, it plans to build a new heat treatment line, expand its wheel and axle finishing capabilities, and modernize the infrastructure of its production workshops.