FVG Rail has installed an advanced automatic pit lathe developed by Meccanotecnica using FANUC technology. This machine makes it possible to reprofile train wheels without dismantling them. This reduces lead times by 50% and eliminates the need to transfer wheels to foreign maintenance centers.
To ensure the safety and efficiency of trains, wheel re-profiling is an essential part of railway maintenance. Railway wheels are subject to constant wear and require periodic intervention to re-profile them. This process involves the removal of material to eliminate defects. Traditionally, especially when wheels have to be removed from wagons, this operation requires special machines and a lot of time.
Meccanotecnica has produced an innovative pit lathe equipped with the FANUC CNC 31i-B Plus numerical control, which supports multi-axis turning, and the PANEL iH Pro industrial PC with a customized user interface. This solution ensures precise and reliable control of the re-profiling process while making it easier and safer for the operator.
FVG Rail can now carry out wheel re-profiling directly in the workshop. There is no need to remove the wheelsets from the train. This not only reduces the lead time by 50% compared to what was originally planned. It also eliminates the need to move the wagons to other maintenance centers, often abroad. The lathe is also IoT-enabled, meaning it can be remotely controlled and analyzed for predictive maintenance.
"This lathe responds to a growing demand for this type of machining. It allows Italian operators to perform re-profiling in Italy, eliminating lead times and improving the efficiency of our service,“ commented Dino Parelli, Operations Manager at FVG Rail.
