Kastamonu timber flat cars from UWC

(Posted on 11/12/18)

Research and production corporation United Wagon Company will supply 75 high-capacity flat cars for timber transportation to KASTAMONU, one of Europe’s largest wood-processing companies.

The first batch of flat cars, consisting of 30 model 13-6852-02 cars with loading volume of 122 m³ and length of 40 feet, has already been shipped to KASTAMONU. Over the next year, UWC will deliver a further 45 model 13-6895 platforms with loading volume of 155 m³ and length of 60 feet. The models were developed by the All-Union Research and Development Centre for Transportation Technology and manufactured at TikhvinSpetsMash (both companies are owned by UWC).

The key advantages of both flat cars are increased payload capacity and loading volume. Bigger loads at unchanged transport tariffs offer substantial cost savings to rolling stock owners. With length of 40 feet and payload capacity of 74 tons, the model 13-6852-02 flat car can carry an extra 5 m³of wood with density of 0.8 t/m³ compared with standard timber platforms the most available on the market. The model 13-6895 flat car increases load by 30-40% compared with standard cars thanks to increase of payload capacity to 72.5 tons and loading length to 60 feet.

Both models are equipped with integral posts that are higher than those of standard models. Side posts have a rectangular cross-section, which significantly reduces unused dimensional volume when transporting packaged cargo and prevents damage to the cargo. Construction of the center sill and side sills enables convenient inspection and maintenance of the platforms. The floor is designed to prevent cargo residues falling onto the track and to make cleaning easier. Drainage holes prevent moisture accumulation.

The bogie of the flat cars is designed for axle load of 25 t. Longer intervals between overhauls (up to 1 million km, or 8 years) compared with earlier models reduce life-cycle cost of the flat cars by almost three times.

“There is currently no alternative to rail transport for long-term and large-scale supply of raw materials,” said Ali Kiliç, CEO of KASTAMONU in Russia. “UWC has a wealth of experience building specialized rolling stock, so we were naturally interested to see what solutions UWC could offer. KASTAMONU is increasing its production capacity year by year and acquisition of timber flat cars will reduce the risks associated with timber supply by rail. These specialized timber railcars are optimally suited to our needs. They enable us to substantially reduce time spent loading and unloading wood, and they minimize the risk of damage to the car during loading and unloading operations.”

According to market experts, there are about 20,000 specialized timber flat cars operating in Russia at present. About 1,000 of them will be written off in the next decade at the end of their service life. Meanwhile, demand for specialized rolling stock will increase as timber cargo volumes rise due to development of the Russian forestry industry. Modern wood processing enterprises, such as KASTAMONU, are combining innovation in their own industrial processes with updating of logistics, reduction of time required for loading and unloading operations, and improvement of transport safety and reliability, all of which depend on rolling stock. The new generation UWC timber flat cars offer solutions to all these challenges.