Metalastik® sidebearer springs win contract in the secondary suspension of Indian Railways’ WAG 7 locos due to their exceptionally long service life.

 

Originally selected in the mid 1970s, the Metalastik® sidebearers achieved a life of six years despite the forces exerted by tight turns on the track.  A subsequent change to locally-manufactured parts resulted in a reduction to just nine months in service and so Indian Railways returned to the original Trelleborg product in 2000. Since then the company has supplied over 17,000 units and the service interval is back at six years once again.

 

 
The Metalastik® sidebearer is a robust rubber/metal laminated sandwich mount, fitted to the locomotive bogie to absorb high levels of noise and vibration.  They are designed to allow bogie rotation, track twist and lateral displacement. In a revised geometry some designs can also be used as traction centres. Of the 2,000 units in the current order, the majority will be fitted in new-build locomotives, while the remainder will be used as retrofit replacements in the refurbishment of older freight locomotives.