Made
of full depth rubber, HoldFast crossings are exceptionally durable
and can endure substantial and continuous traffic and tremendous
weight.
Lifespan is believed to exceed 20 years, even in port situations
where there is continuous use by maximum weight 38 wheeler and
artics, and excessive traffic speed.
Such longevity cannot be matched by alternative surfaces, where
the danger of safety failure; increases in road and rail maintenance
costs; and increased discomfort for road users, may reduce the
crossing
life span to under five years.
Designed
to be Flexible, Manufactured to be Durable
Our surfaces are produced in the UK using a pioneering manufacturing
process. The rubber panels are made in a cold cure using advanced
polymer bindings and high quality rubber granules to create
100% full depth solid panels.
Rubber
has undergone intensive research and development as a crossing
surface in recent years:
| Benefits..
|
| • |
Fast
to install |
| • |
Fewer
joints than other crossings |
| • |
Extremely
robust |
| • |
High
skid resistance |
| • |
Flexibility
(standard panels can compress for slightly curved crossings) |
| • |
Individual
removal of panels |
| • |
No
panel tipping, rocking or displacement |
| • |
Protection
to rail flanges and rail fixings assured (salt, water etc.) |
| • |
Shock
loads to the 'railtrack bed' are considerably reduced due
to these loads being absorbed by the rubber panels |
| • |
Due
to raised circular patterns on surface of panels water displacement
is excellent |
| • |
Flexible
panels ensure the breaking / cracking of sheet ice is good
compared to that on road and hard surfaces |
Fast
Delivery The solid panels are made at ambient temperatures
which drastically reduces manufacturing time. Each mould is
adapted and 'set-up' for a particular country's needs and then
kept unchanged, ensuring fast delivery times. Delivery ex stock
for most UK and European crossings.
Fast
Installation Of course, fast installation is essential
to avoid prolonged closures on busy artorial traffic routes.
See our installation section
to discover just how fast HoldFast crossings are to install.
Protection The
flange way for train wheels acts as a good waterway to disperse
water to the end of the crossing. Also, the 'nose' of the panel
is so tight to the rail web that protection from corrosion to
the rail flanges and rail clips caused by salts, water etc.
is assured. Many other systems do not achieve this protection.
Panels
for any Sleeper All
panels are designed to sit on sleepers - whatever the profile
HoldFast make panels to suit, including Bull Header Rail and
Flat Bottom Rail. Although every fourth sleeper should be placed
at 1.8 metre centres, the intermediate sleepers are not so critical.
Individual
Panel Removal Individual panels can be removed at
anytime without disturbing adjacent panels. Gauge panels are
made in two halves giving a distinct advantage for installation
and removal.HoldFast's system does not require shunting several
panels backwards and forwards for access to one particular panel.
It is therefore not difficult to offer 'half road closure' if
necessary.
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