Rail maintenance outfit Loram tells Rail Express about its plans for the Australian market now its acquisition of Aurizon’s grinding business is complete.
Loram Maintenance of Way finalised its deal to buy Aurizon’s rail grinding business late in October. The purchase effectively increased Loram’s number of rail grinding service customers by four in Australia, with the notable addition of all mainline and turnout rail grinding for Aurizon Network.
Tom L. Smith, Loram Australia’s director of business development, spoke with Rail Express at the company’s stand at AusRAIL PLUS in Sydney, about the next steps for the business.
“The top priorities following the transition are to build upon the success of our customers’ rail grinding programs while building Loram’s brand as a contract service provider,” Smith said. “We will be listening to our customers’ toughest maintenance challenges in order to provide innovative solutions.”
Smith says customers should initially expect little to no change – the intent being a frictionless transition which he says is so far being successfully executed.
In the longer term, however, Smith is keen to see Loram’s newer and cutting edge technologies applied more in the Australian market.
“Loram is very proud of providing more rail grinding kilometres per year worldwide on service contracts than all other suppliers combined,” he said. “That success is based upon unmatched reliability, continuously advancing machine technology, and through innovative rail grinding management programs.
“In Australia, as with our customers around the world, track maintenance windows are decreasing and we need to optimize production to provide the best return on investment.
“Optimised grind programs look to maximize the efficiency of using Loram’s leading production and specialty grinding platforms to be used when and where they are needed, efficiently removing the correct amount of steel off the rail.”
Loram’s latest machine – the RG419 – has recently been delivered and commissioned in Australia. The 120-stone machine uses Loram’s proprietary Rail Pro grind management system and will start delivering kilometres interstate in 2020.
Contact: www.loram.com.au