How to Meet Buy America Standards for Railway Applications

You could say we know a little bit about railroads. From our beginnings as a manufacturer of railroad rolling stock, we’ve been innovating to meet the unique demands of the rail industry. High quality, compressed air is critical to the smooth and safe operation of railway vehicles. Our compressors for critical railway applications, such as brake systems, pneumatic door operation and vehicle suspension, withstand the harsh weather conditions, high humidity, dust, debris and vibration and are designed for a long service life common in the rail industry.

Based on Archimedes’ screw principle developed in Ancient Greece, rotary screw air compressors have become the most widely used air compressor type for standard industrial applications for a number of reasons, including its simple operating design. Designed for the unique requirements of the railroad industry, from extreme weather fluctuations to easy access for maintenance, rotary screw technology is more efficient and reliable than reciprocating compressor technology. Our GAR series of railway compressors uses Atlas Copco’s rotary screw element design and currently delivers up to 180 CFM (rated as free air delivery as opposed to displacement).

Atlas Copco Begins U.S. Production of GAR Series of Railway Compressors

All of our products for the railway industry are designed to meet the unique demands of the industry and feature extremely reliable package designs that require minimal maintenance over a long service interval and low overall life cycle cost. With our dedicated Railway Competency Center in France and state-of-the-art production facility in Bay Minette, Alabama where we are currently manufacturing GAR models for U.S.-based locomotive builders, we continue to be a trusted partner to the railway industry in the U.S. and around the world.

Atlas Copco to Attend Railway Interchange 2015

We will be available at Railway Interchange 2015 to discuss the importance of offering production of the GAR series in the U.S., which meets the Department of Transportation’s Buy America provisions that ensure transportation infrastructure projects are built with American-made products.

Products on display will include the GAR 30 and the GAR 37 oil-injected, air-cooled screw compressors. The GAR compressor uses Atlas Copco’s rotary screw element design and currently delivers up to 180 CFM (rated as free air delivery as opposed to displacement). Custom designs can be adjusted based on electrical requirements, physical space and ambient operating conditions; connector types, air treatment requirements and cooling air flow can also be accommodated. We will also introduce a new model to the GAR range, the GAR-45, currently in development at Atlas Copco’s dedicated Railway Competency Center in France, which would supply more air to the brake line in less time, resulting in better fuel efficiency.

The Atlas Copco exhibit will be located at booth No. 3715. Representatives will be available from Oct. 4-7 at the Minneapolis Convention Center, to discuss our range of products for the railway industry, including our lightweight membrane air dryers and two oil-free options—the LF oil-free piston compressor and LFpR oil-free pantograph compressor. Will you be there?

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Source: Compressed Air Blog