New technology for railway transportation
INDUSTRIAL KNOW-HOW
Margaritelli is the leading Italian producer of sleepers for the railway construction industry, thanks to our development of post-tensioning technology using sheathed tendons (for reinforced concrete) and our environmentally friendly impregnation treatment method (for timber). In addition, Margaritelli has developed expertise in designing custom made sleepers for specific purposes, from reduced thickness sleepers for tunnels to those using USPs (Under Sleeper Pads) to reduce ballast wear. Margaritelli is currently the sole Italian producer to have been granted RFI approval for these two models.
Margaritelli is the leading Italian producer of sleepers for the railway construction industry, thanks to our development of post-tensioning technology using sheathed tendons (for reinforced concrete) and our environmentally friendly impregnation treatment method (for timber). In addition, Margaritelli has developed expertise in designing custom made sleepers for specific purposes, from reduced thickness sleepers for tunnels to those using USPs (Under Sleeper Pads) to reduce ballast wear. Margaritelli is currently the sole Italian producer to have been granted RFI approval for these two models.
Eco-friendly impregnation
SUSTAINABLE TECHNOLOGY
Efficient technology in terms of technical performance and cost effectiveness. Throughout history, wooden sleepers for railway construction have been treated with creosote to protect them. Having always placed great importance on environmental as well as health and safety issues relative to materials used, when creosote was classified as a harmful substance under European law Margaritelli began developing an environmentally friendly impregnation treatment method for timber using an autoclave. We stopped using creosote in 2006 and our treatment method is now patented, the impregnation solution is mineral salt based and completely free from chrome and arsenic. This means that treated timber falls into Use Class 4. After impregnation the timber is dried and then treated with a protective liquid paraffin emulsion to prevent cracking and splitting. Using this technology, Margaritelli has made it possible for RFI (the Italian Railway Network) to entirely eliminate the use of creosote. Timber treated with creosote, producing hazardous waste, has now been replaced with materials that are safe and easy to manage.
Efficient technology in terms of technical performance and cost effectiveness. Throughout history, wooden sleepers for railway construction have been treated with creosote to protect them. Having always placed great importance on environmental as well as health and safety issues relative to materials used, when creosote was classified as a harmful substance under European law Margaritelli began developing an environmentally friendly impregnation treatment method for timber using an autoclave. We stopped using creosote in 2006 and our treatment method is now patented, the impregnation solution is mineral salt based and completely free from chrome and arsenic. This means that treated timber falls into Use Class 4. After impregnation the timber is dried and then treated with a protective liquid paraffin emulsion to prevent cracking and splitting. Using this technology, Margaritelli has made it possible for RFI (the Italian Railway Network) to entirely eliminate the use of creosote. Timber treated with creosote, producing hazardous waste, has now been replaced with materials that are safe and easy to manage.
New post-tensioning technology
PATENT FOR PRC RAILWAY SLEEPERS
One of Margaritelli Ferroviaria’s greatest assets is our exclusive post-tensioning technology, patented in 2003. The market for PRC sleepers covers both conventional and high speed lines; post-tensioning technology is easily adapted for the production of all kinds of sleepers and cross-pieces for railway switches up to 6.8 metres long. Both the RFI and the SNCF have approved our technology, which involves applying the pre-compression load directly to the sleeper after removing it from the mould. In post-tensioning the tension load is calculated scientifically and is therefore measurable, which differentiates it from pre-tensioning where the effective pre-compression can only be estimated, resulting in reliability issues. Moreover, due to the fact that the sleepers can be removed from the formwork after the initial setting time and are then moved to a special curing cell, the formwork can thus be used over two production shifts. In this way post-tensioning reduces the impact of production costs to be amortised, with a knock on effect on the final price. For our technologically advanced post-tensioning the pre-compression is not only exact but it is also applied gradually and evenly, reducing stress and cracking inside the sleepers, increasing product reliability and making it possible to manufacture articles of complex geometrical shape.
One of Margaritelli Ferroviaria’s greatest assets is our exclusive post-tensioning technology, patented in 2003. The market for PRC sleepers covers both conventional and high speed lines; post-tensioning technology is easily adapted for the production of all kinds of sleepers and cross-pieces for railway switches up to 6.8 metres long. Both the RFI and the SNCF have approved our technology, which involves applying the pre-compression load directly to the sleeper after removing it from the mould. In post-tensioning the tension load is calculated scientifically and is therefore measurable, which differentiates it from pre-tensioning where the effective pre-compression can only be estimated, resulting in reliability issues. Moreover, due to the fact that the sleepers can be removed from the formwork after the initial setting time and are then moved to a special curing cell, the formwork can thus be used over two production shifts. In this way post-tensioning reduces the impact of production costs to be amortised, with a knock on effect on the final price. For our technologically advanced post-tensioning the pre-compression is not only exact but it is also applied gradually and evenly, reducing stress and cracking inside the sleepers, increasing product reliability and making it possible to manufacture articles of complex geometrical shape.
Research & Development
The innovative solutions that Margaritelli Ferroviaria offer are the fruit of our internal research and development work, which brings into play all the technical experience of our entire team. Research is carried out continuously in the field, day in day out on the job, finding new solutions in response to the challenges faced by operators within the railways industry as they come to light. Our dedication to research and innovation is the driving force behind Margaritelli’s recent innovations such as our environmentally friendly impregnation treatment using an autoclave and our technologically advanced post-tensioning production method, it is also what continues to push us forward in the development of innovative custom built sleepers. The growing need to be able to accurately monitor product quality across an ever expanding production range has also led to the development of a new automised system to check sleeper dimensions for production batches. We put just as much into High Performance Concrete research, enabling us to develop mixes for consistently improved technical performance to better meet production requirements.
The innovative solutions that Margaritelli Ferroviaria offer are the fruit of our internal research and development work, which brings into play all the technical experience of our entire team. Research is carried out continuously in the field, day in day out on the job, finding new solutions in response to the challenges faced by operators within the railways industry as they come to light. Our dedication to research and innovation is the driving force behind Margaritelli’s recent innovations such as our environmentally friendly impregnation treatment using an autoclave and our technologically advanced post-tensioning production method, it is also what continues to push us forward in the development of innovative custom built sleepers. The growing need to be able to accurately monitor product quality across an ever expanding production range has also led to the development of a new automised system to check sleeper dimensions for production batches. We put just as much into High Performance Concrete research, enabling us to develop mixes for consistently improved technical performance to better meet production requirements.