United Wagon Co (UWC — Russia’s largest manufacturer of freight cars) and the Polish company Laude Smart Intermodal SA (one of the fastest-growing companies in the intermodal transport services and logistics sector in Central and Eastern Europe) have signed a contract for the supply of 200 Sgmmns flat cars for transporting heavy-duty containers throughout the 1,435mm track gauge area.
These cars are expected to be delivered to the Polish railway operator by the end of June.
The cars differ in their technical specification from similar types currently available on the European market.
They have an unladen weight of 15.5 tonnes (compared with 16 tonnes and more for standard models), a load capacity of 74.5 tonnes and a length of 40ft; they can accommodate two 20ft containers with a gross weight of 37.25 tonnes each, a single 40ft standard container, or a specialised container with a gross weight of 74.5 tonnes per car.
They were developed at UWC’s engineering centre, and the first prototypes are being built at the Tikhvin production site.
Starting in February 2020, they will undergo a series of certification tests at a European testing facility for compliance with TSI (Technical Specifications for Interoperability) requirements, including strength tests for static load and impact, stationary and mobile brake tests, dynamic strength tests in mobile conditions, and noise impact tests.
Boris Myagkov, deputy CEO for commerce and marketing at UWC (
www.uniwagon.com), said: “Developing co-operation with Laude Smart Intermodal SA in the 1,435mm gauge is an important step towards the implementation of the group’s export strategy.
"More and more major international companies now view UWC as a reliable supplier that can develop and produce various types of railcar, meeting all kinds of international standards.”
Earlier last year, UWC delivered 400 40ft-container flat cars with an axle load of 25 tonnes to Laude Smart Intermodal SA (
www.laude.pl) for the transportation of heavy-duty containers weighing up to 40 tonnes throughout the 1,520mm-gauge area.