Greater Manchester-headquartered safety seal manufacturer Roxtec is preparing to ramp up production this year after landing multiple orders from train maker Alstom.
Roxtec says it is now supplying Alstom on several rail projects including multi-million pound upgrades to train fleets for the West Midlands, South Western Railway and Greater Anglia. Roxtec has also won new orders from Alstom to supply its £100m-plus deal to deliver new trains for c2c, which operates across south Essex and east London.
Roxtec has a long-standing relationship with rail giant Alstom, and it also supplied Bombardier Transportation, the rolling stock business that Alstom acquired in 2021.
The bespoke designed parts Roxtec is supplying Alstom include seals for the carriage-to-carriage power cables and rooftop pantograph terminal boxes. The seals serve as a barrier against water, fire, dust, moisture and oil.
The pantograph is located on the roof of the train and collects the electricity needed to power the train. Roxtec’s seals are also being used for general environmental sealing and strain relief and retention on board the trains.
Clive Sharp, Roxtec UK managing director, said the company is working closely with Alstom to create cost effective designs, including using aluminium to reduce weight.
He said: “We will see acceleration in these rail projects in 2022 and that’s going to have a positive impact on our business as we look towards the next 12 months. It is going to be a very busy time for us.
“We are ready to step up to meet the demands from our clients. And we’re also looking at further opportunities in the sector, utilising all our rail industry experience and knowledge. We believe there are strong opportunities out there.”
He added: “Alstom chose Roxtec because of the quality we deliver. Our products have exceptional durability, over 15 years to protect the cables over their lifespan, plus they are easy to install and maintain.”
Mr Sharp said the seals Roxtec is supplying to Alstom have fire rates to EN 45545 and are tested to withstand extreme movements as well as static, shock and vibration. He said the seals feature EPDM rubber for sealing, cable retention and strain relief and have design capabilities for new applications.
Earlier this year it was announced that Roxtec is undertaking an extensive six-figure deal to help upgrade the London Underground.
The £5bn Four Lines Modernisation project (4LM), which launched in 2016, aims to update the Tube network’s Circle, District, Hammersmith & City and Metropolitan lines with hi-tech signalling equipment capable of boosting the frequency of trains and cutting down on delays.
The project has seen 51 new signalling rooms created, as well as equipment to house signalling cabinets along the 161km of track, with Roxtec products sealing cables going into and out of these buildings and cabinets.
Other recent key UK projects include heavy-duty cable seal solutions for Network Rail’s London Bridge Station, while the firm has been involved in pioneering schemes such as Crossrail’s new Elizabeth line for London and the South East, and the supply of cable and pipe seals for use within tunnels, substations, flood defences and signalling infrastructure as part of the UK’s HS2 project.
