Enerpac, a global market leader in high pressure hydraulic tools, has partnered with family-owned Ballarat business Harrybilt to distribute its products throughout Victoria and beyond.
We caught up with Beau Nash, Asia-Pacific Vertical Market Manager – Rail at Enerpac, at a recent demonstration of its new TL248 track lift system and RP70A rail tensor for one of its customers, Keolis Downer.
Nash said Enerpac is delighted to team up with Harrybilt because of the distributor’s excellent reputation.
“In the past few months, we’ve put in some hard work to bring them on as a rail stocking distributor,” he said. “This will really benefit the rail industry in Victoria and throughout Australia as well.”
Alexander Heiden, Business Development Manager at Harrybilt, said Enerpac’s products complement the range of rail equipment the business already has on offer.
“We want to become a one-stop-shop for the rail industry,” he said.
“Enerpac’s customers are similar to our customers, so it made sense to add value for our existing customers by expanding our offering.”
Harrybilt’s Ballarat base spans 4000 square metres, with dedicated facilities for production and stock storage.
Heiden said that while the business is initially focusing on Enerpac’s rail offering, it has access to the entire range and there is potential to expand the partnership in the future.
“We’ve had a fantastic experience working with Enerpac so far,” he said. “They’ve been great during the onboarding process – very structured and taking a step-by-step approach.
“They flew in their international product support team for the AusRAIL conference and they will be giving our sales team a technical rundown on their products, so we will be confident we can answer any questions from customers.
“They are always thinking about how to make products safer throughout the design process, which is very important to us, so our values also align there. The partnership is a win-win all round.”
The TL248 track lift system
New to Australia, the Enerpac TL248 track lift system is a compact, powerful, and precise hydraulic solution for lifting and supporting rail tracks during track maintenance.
Compared to traditional track maintenance methods that rely on bulky, expensive heavy lift equipment, the portable, self-contained TL248 system enables safer, faster work with greater precision and shorter, less disruptive possessions.
“This product has already been rolled out in the United States and the United Kingdom, and there’s a lot of interest in it here in Australia,” said Nash.
“It’s specifically engineered to lift track from below and designed with integrated fork pockets and lifting hooks.
“The system is easy to transport and deploy, even in tight spaces and remote environments.”
The TL248 is equipped with four independent hydraulic jacks, each rated at 62 tonnes, providing a combined lifting capacity of 248 tonnes.
These jacks deliver highly accurate lifts with 3.2-millimetre precision – critical for maintaining track switches, crossings, turnouts, retarders, and for securely supporting bridge ends.
In addition, the TL248 includes an intuitive, colour-coded central control panel illuminated by built-in LED lighting for clear visibility in all conditions.
Redundant safety features, such as manual needle valves and pilot-operated check valves, protect against jack drift and ensure safe operation under load.
It is a fully self-contained power unit so there is no need for external power sources, which provides teams with more flexibility on-site and in remote areas.
Nash said that by lifting the track from underneath, the TL248 avoids the usual challenges that come with working around overhead structures and power cables.
“This setup not only bypasses clearance restrictions but also keeps the track steady so maintenance equipment can roll straight over it when it is sitting on the ballast,” he said.
“All of this dramatically cuts possession times and reduces the impact on rail services.”
Because the unit is compact and the jacks are placed in optimal positions, track excavation times are also shortened significantly.
“It is easy to bring the TL248 to site on the back of a ute thanks to its small footprint, so there is no need for bulky crane trucks,” said Nash.
With these efficiencies, the TL248 can help maintenance teams lift up to four diamond crossings or six turnouts in a single day.
The RP70A rail tensor
Enerpac’s RP70A rail tensor is engineered to deliver controlled, high-force rail stressing with unmatched accuracy.
With a capacity of 70 tonnes and a stroke of 200 millimetres, it enables rail contractors to apply the necessary tension safely and efficiently to continuously welded rail (CWR) during installation and maintenance.
Nash said the tensor’s lightweight, modular design allows for easy transport and setup, even in remote or constrained environments – a key advantage for rail teams working across Australia’s vast and varied terrain.
“It’s one of the most lightweight rail tensors on the market, and can be operated by just two people,” he said.
“The unit is also very robust and has a corrosion-resistant finish, which makes it ideal for harsh outdoor conditions – ensuring a long service life and minimal maintenance.”
One of the standout features of the RP70A is its integrated gauge and stroke limiter, which gives users precise control over the stressing process.
“This not only improves operational safety but also reduces the risk of over-stressing, which can lead to rail damage or long-term performance issues,” Nash added.
“The RP70A rail tensor is already making a difference in major Australian rail projects, helping teams meet tight deadlines while maintaining the highest standards of safety and quality.
“Whether it’s for new track construction, CWR maintenance, or emergency repairs, the RP70A delivers the reliability and precision that rail professionals demand.”
