FFU Synthetic Wood

 

Railway bridges

FFU synthetic wood can be used on railway bridges technically and commercially just the same as conventional natural wood. In addition, installing FFU sleepers on railway bridges brings significant additional engineering design benefits in bridge construction.

Additional benefits of using FFU in bridge construction

  • Extremely long product life
  • Lower maintenance effort
  • Lower maintenance cost
  • Short track possessions
  • High availability of the track
  • Increased railway safety
     
  • Highest resistance to weathering
  • Free from insecticides
     
  • Constant static system
  • Use of normal means of fastening
  • Use of identical tools
  • Following of gradient accurate to the millimetre
  • Homogeneity of bridge sleepers in the curve
  • Dimensional stability
  • Full area support on the steel girders
  • Unladen weight of bridge remains the same
  • Visual appearance of the bridge
  • Very good technical characteristics, remaining almost constant in the long run

Practical application

In 2010 a respectable number of railway operating companies are already using FFU synthetic wood on track that adds up to well over 1,000 km globally, with a large percentage accounting for bridge construction.
Since 2004 FFU synthetic wood has been used on projects in Europe, always to the complete satisfaction of customers.
FFU synthetic wood is installed quickly, competently and accurately by professional railway companies and construction companies.

Maintenance intervals

Maximum availability of the track network is a primary goal for the majority of railway operating companies. At the same time they must also observe not untypical maintenance intervals of bridge supporting structures, such as:

  • Corrosion protection after 30 years
  • Rail replacement after 30 years
  • Constructional steelwork after 50 years
  • Replacement of FFU bridge sleepers after 50 years
In implementing the above target values, prolonged track possessions leading to interruption of service does not need to be instigated by the railway operating company until 50 years are up.