AusRAIL, Market Sectors

On track with Manitou ‘ MANIRAIL

Over the years John Holland has introduced new technology and the latest purpose built railway equipment into the Australian market.
The latest such development is the addition of Manitou’s 160ATJ elevating work platform on Hi-rail, known as Manirail.
Whilst elevating work platforms on Hi-rail are not new the Manirail unit has some unique features that give John Holland Rail operators greater flexibility and performance. The Manirail 160ATJ ensures a highly mobile and flexible work crew thanks to its unique drive line solution and other features.
Warren Williams, overhead wiring superintendent for John Holland Rail said, “We looked at several elevating work platforms to solve our access and mobility problems in relation to access to the rail track and after seeing the Manitou and hiring a machine it was clear that it was the only machine on the market that would allow us to drive up and over the track but to also cope with the issue of track ballast.”
The Manirail 160ATJ is fitted with mechanical axles incorporating limited slip differential and differential lock. The system gives the Manirail 160ATJ unparalleled rough terrain performance.
Emmanuel Amandjules, customer service manager for Manitou Australia said, “Manitou is recognised across Australia as the leading manufacturer of rough terrain materials handling and our range of ATJ Maniaccess, elevating platforms are based on the same principles. Not only does our ATJ range out perform any other elevating work platforms in this rail application it also provides greater mobility and
flexibility in all applications.”
The Manirail 160ATJ also incorporates a number of the other design features to ensure that operators are in complete safety at all times. This is especially important when the Manirail 160ATJ is operated with Hi-rail deployed.
“When designing the integration of the Hi-rail system from Arrow Engineering we had to ensure that the platform still complied with all the requirements of AS1418.10,” said Amandjules.
“The advantage of our ATJ range is that it has a Can Bus electrical system as standard and with the Manitou factory in France we were able to design a system that not only tells the machine when on Hi-rail but also limits movements of the boom functions to ensure complete safety at all times.”
The Manirail 160ATJ is design registered in accordance with State Legislation and has Workcover approval, reference EWP 6-118395/09.

Source: The Australian Journal of Mining – www.theajmonline.com.au
&nbsp