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| about us: weighwell | |||
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A Brief History of Weighwell, and the Birth of the PTW.
In the beginning. . . Weighwell was formed in 1988 by Paul Horsfall when he was only 22 years old. The company began by servicing and maintaining weighing equipment of all shapes and sizes from small laboratory scales to large weighbridges. The company grew steadily and the development into manufacturing came naturally. Innovation The first DTI innovation award was won in 1995 as a result of the design and development of a Portable Bogie Weighing System for ABB Transportation. The concept of a Portable Train Weigher (PTW) had been born! A concept that was greeted with a measure of disbelief, but for Paul it was a challenge that quite simply had to be accepted. Prototype PTW The concept achieved a second DTI innovation award and by 1997, after extensive tests and trials, Weighwell had designed and developed a basic prototype PTW. A working demonstration was arranged at Foster Yeoman, Merehead Quarry by Stuart Palmer, Production Strategy and Development Manager, Railtrack. The demonstration proved that what was previously impossible was now a reality. A portable train weighing system that could be carried by two men to a rail vehicle located…'85.anywhere! Railtrack approval The PTW comprises of two substantially convex shoes fitted with strain gauge sensors, which clamp against the inner sides of any existing conventional rails. When the flanges of the wheels engage the shoes dynamically, the tires of the wheels are raised just clear of the rails. A signal is collected and the wheels are guided back on to the rail. The signals are digitised and processed by the indicator to give a weight. Approved by Railtrack, the next stage was to officially launch , at Railtex '97 the PTW. 'Railtrack could foresee the potential use and wider implications for the railway industry of the Weighwell PTW, and therefore endeavored to encourage and facilitate the introduction of the system.' STEWART PALMER, formerly Railtrack's Production Strategy and Development Manager and recently appointed Operations Director, Connex South Central. First sales LUL became the first company to purchase the PTW, whilst Serco Railtest is one of a number of leading companies that have the system on hire. Railtrack's 'Virtual Quarry' Project was to be the first extensive use of the PTW, the limited space and nature of the fifteen sites precluding the use of a fixed weighing system. Overloading The safety aspect, cost savings potential and the accuracy of the PTW are some of the reasons as to why Weighwell has not only been recommended for a Queen's award for innovation, but has just received a SMART award for innovation from the DTI. The PTW is now out 'in the field' proving itself. Its principal value is still to be fully realised. To stop overloading. International sales. Weighwell have supplied many countries around the world, most notably: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Croatia, France, Germany, Greece, Hong Kong, Iran, Italy, Korea, Lithuania, Mexico, New Zealand, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Thailand, Ukraine and USA. We currently have an office in the far east with agents based in Australia, Germany and USA. What are we doing now? Weighwell has also added other products to their rail weighing system portfolio. We supply dynamic and static weighing equipment with other portable and permanent applications. Weighwell are constantly striving to listen to their customers requirements and often design bespoke weighing equipment to meet their needs. Weighwell are still looking and striving to improve their products. This has been highlighted recently with the development of the bogie press weighing system which provides individual wheel weights for bogies in production. The bogies are pressed via hydraulic test rigs to simulate train loads. This identifies discrepancies in wheel weights which can be adjusted prior to being applied to the carriage or wagon. This increases the lifespan of wheels and bogies whilst also substantially improving the ride of the vehicle. We still have industrial, agricultural and process weighing teams. So whatever your need come to us for all your weighing requirements. |
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