FFU Synthetic Wood

 

Special projects and profiles:

Individual prefabrication in the works enables customers to make ideal use of true-to-form and precisely manufactured FFU special profiles in their rail infrastructure.

FFU twin-block sleepers

At the initial trial of FFU back in 1980, twin-block sleepers of FFU synthetic wood were installed on a ballastless track segment in a tunnel. Rubber shoes are generally used for installation on ballastless track and, similar to other ballastless track systems that use twin-block sleepers, the stiffness of the shoe inlays can be clearly defined beforehand.

Special dimensions

Special profiles of FFU synthetic wood with a severely reduced overall height of just 10 cm and shortened length of only 2 metres, for example, are already being used long-term for the renewal of existing sections of line. Very good experience with FFU synthetic wood sleepers gathered over many years is the reason for replacing ageing sleepers of other technologies with FFU ones in exchange programmes. This exchange is taking place with rubber shoes on ballastless track, on mass-spring system sections and also in areas of direct sleeper fastening.
Profiles with very large dimensions, such as w/h/l = 26/30/420 cm have already been installed successfully on bridge projects in Europe.

Railway crossings

In the past, railway crossings on secondary lines were usually made of wood. Rapid weathering of wood and its subjection to heavy loads from forestry and agricultural vehicles and equipment, meant that wooden structures had to be replaced within a very short time so as to maintain the required safety for crossing pedestrians.

In contrast to wood, FFU synthetic wood is based on an almost pore-free material that absorbs no moisture, needs no environmentally harmful chemicals (adherence to environmental and water protection) and proves to be extremely weather resistant. These aspects make for safer railway crossings and bring the certainty of a substantially longer functionality.

The design of the railway sleepers used in the area of railway crossings, made of concrete, wood or ideally FFU synthetic wood, defines the geometry prefabricated from drawings and to the millimetre in the factory.
The few components are mounted easily and accurately at the railway crossing.

Within just one hour an old crossing can be removed and a new one of FFU synthetic wood installed. Train services can be resumed immediately thereafter and the crossing released for traffic.