Welding Technology Center
Achieving High-Quality Long Rail Production Through New Technology
Manufacturing Long Rails by Combining
State-of-the-Art Welding Machines
and Peripheral Equipment with
an Efficient Facilities Layout
In railway transportation, long rails, which can be 150 meters or more in length, are essential for improving safety, passenger comfort, and ease of maintenance. At the Welding Technology Center, we use state-of-the-art machinery to efficiently manufacture and supply long rails to the highest quality standards.
Factory Welding with State-of-the-Art Machinery
The Welding Center, located in Mukomachi along the JR Kyoto Line, manufactures long rails and operates flash butt welding machines and related equipment.
Welded rails help to provide safe, comfortable tracks with few joints, ensuring a smooth ride.
Welded rails help to provide safe, comfortable tracks with few joints, ensuring a smooth ride.
Flash Butt Welding Machine (Schlatter: Made in Switzerland)
Flash butt welding involves passing a large electric current through the two rails to be joined. Due to irregularities on the contact surfaces, localized electrical resistance is generated, creating sparks known as flashes as the rail ends are heated.
Once the rails are sufficiently heated, strong pressure is applied to force them together, joining them in a single motion.
Compared to on-site welding while trains are running, this method allows for highly precise and efficient welding in a very short amount of time.
Once the rails are sufficiently heated, strong pressure is applied to force them together, joining them in a single motion.
Compared to on-site welding while trains are running, this method allows for highly precise and efficient welding in a very short amount of time.
端部研磨機
フラッシュバット溶接機
縦横矯正機
レール粗仕上げ機
全自動研磨機
ロングレールの積込み作業
専用の貨車によるロングレールの輸送
Flash Butt Welding Line
We manufacture long rails using state-of-the-art machinery, including flash butt welding machines. While some of these machines operate automatically, operators are required to perform certain machine operations and inspect the finished welded joints, a task that requires skilled craftsmanship. After manufacturing, the long rails are loaded onto specialized transport vehicles and shipped to locations throughout western Japan, where they are installed to replace rails currently in use on existing tracks.
Anti-corrosion Treatment of Railway Rails Using Zinc-Aluminum Thermal Spraying
Railway tracks are at an increased risk of corrosion in locations where the rails are frequently exposed to moisture, such as inside tunnels and at level crossings. Zinc-aluminum thermal spraying is a technology that prevents this corrosion.
We have automated the two most labor-intensive steps in the anti-corrosion process, namely surface treatment and thermal spraying. These improvements have enhanced safety and productivity.
We have automated the two most labor-intensive steps in the anti-corrosion process, namely surface treatment and thermal spraying. These improvements have enhanced safety and productivity.
We protect railway infrastructure,
pass it on to future generations, and support people’s daily lives.
pass it on to future generations, and support people’s daily lives.
