Aluminothermic Welding
Head Wash Repair Rail Welding
Pandrol are a world leader in Head Wash Repair welding, which is a cost-effective and efficient solution to repairing railhead defects and significantly decreasing the maintenance cost of modern rail networks. The process has been well established and used in the USA and Canada since 2008, the UK since 2013, and France from 2015, with specific refinements to the process for local rail profiles and network standards.
The process has been designed for repairing defects with a width between 25 mm and 90 mm, and a depth of 25 mm (depending on the rail profile). It can also be used to repair flash butt welds, which often suffer from squats. The HWR process is highly efficient compared to using plug rail, as it reduces the number of welds from two to one, offering a significant reduction in time and maintenance costs.
Pandrol’s Head Wash Repair Welding Process Explained
The aluminothermic head wash repair weld process is carried out using specially designed moulds. After unmoulding, the weld is trimmed and ground in accordance with the network specifications. It is capable of repairing railhead defects between 25mm and 90mm wide and 25mm deep (depending on the rail profile).
The head wash process can be used on both the parent rail and on electric flash butt welds, which often suffer from squats. It is also suitable for repairing transversal defects, shelling and corner gauges, and complies with the quality and safety requirements of all modern rail networks.
- Fast-track rail defect repairs with no need for destressing
- Comply with the quality and safety standards of your global rail network
- Choose a repair process that’s compatible with many weld types
