Experts in the Sales, Hire and Service of lifting, Winching, Jacking and Load Securing products to a wide range of markets and industries

Experts in the Sales, Service and Hire of a wide range of Lifting, Jacking and Materials Handling products to the rail industry.

Arbil 4x4 is dedicated to bringing you the best brands, best quality and best technical support to give you maximum off roading enjoyment.

 

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Choose Offroading As Your New Hobby

October 5th, 2011

If swimming, stamp collecting or salsa just aren’t exciting enough for you, then why not make offroading your new hobby?

Offroading is great for all types of people, as long as you can drive! It’s an activity that can be taken up by couples, groups, families and single people. In fact, for any singles out there it’s a great way o get out there and meet likeminded people.

You can go offroading on all kinds of terrain in all types of weather and at any time of year, meaning that the opportunities for offroading are pretty much limitless.

Taking part in this exciting activity also gives you a great opportunity to experience a truly exciting holiday that is far removed from the usual sun, sea and sangria that most of us are used to.

You can embark on an offroading adventure in countries all over the world. What’s more, offroading can provide an amazing way to see some of the globe’s most spectacular sites, such as the Grand Canyon in the USA, the pyramids of Egypt or even the Himalaya mountain range of India.

In fact, the idea of exploring out there places in a 4×4 has become so popular that it has even spawned a TV show. BBC2’s ‘Worlds Most Dangerous Roads’ follows pairs of celebrities as they attempt to negotiate some of the globes most terrifying terrain in a 4×4.

Highlights have included comedian Sue Perkins and adventurer Charlie Boorman driving across America on some of the world’s most treacherous ice roads. Comedians Hugh Dennis and Greg Davies travelled to Mexico where they experienced rock falls, monsoons and took a death defying drive along narrow roads with sheer drops.

The popularity of the BBC2 show has encouraged even more people to take up offroading at home and abroad and the activity is becoming one of the fastest growing pastimes in the UK.

Whether you want an offroading holiday or an experience at home you will be able to find lots of exciting opportunities.

In the UK there are hundreds of places where you can experience the thrills and excitement of offroading . Not only will you get the adrenalin pumping but you’ll also develop your driving skills, your problem solving skills and your ability to perform under pressure.

 

Subsidy Savings Promised From Network Rail

October 5th, 2011

A cross Industry five year plan released by Network Rail last week has estimated that rail companies could be saving up to £1.3 billion a year by 2019, meaning there will be a far smaller percentage of government subsidy needed.

The plan’s publication represents the first part of a five year long collaboration between the rail regulator and Network Rail.

There has been some criticism of the plan from the Office of Rail Regulation who believe that some of the savings Network Rail already claim to be making may not be valid.

Network Rail collaborated with train operators and suppliers to devise the plan which explains how costs can be reduced across the rail industry allowing the governments to reduce its annual spend on railways from the current figure which stood at £4.6 billion in 2009/10.

Amongst the changes that Network Rail has suggested are more collaborations between different service providers and offering more lengthy contracts to service providers.

According to the Network Rail report savings of 16% on rail maintenance should be made from when the plan starts in 2014.

However, the ORR called Network Rail’s assertion into question as they believe Network Rail have not made as large a percentage of savings as they claim and that the rail giant were unable to produce evidence that showed they had achieved the savings they had claimed.

Paul Plummer, Group Strategy Director for Network Rail commented that collaborating more closely with other industry players was an efficient way to make savings and would also give the government more choice about the funding decisions they made.

It is hoped that the government will decide by next summer which parts of the projected plan will go ahead and which parts of it they will fund and what percentage of funds will be made available for rail funding.

After this the ORR will make a decision as to the spend Network Rail need to make and how much funding will be needed. This decision will be made in 2013. Meanwhile Scotland’s government have made an announcement that they will have a new rail link built next year which will be funded solely by Network Rail and not as originally planned by private investors.

Originally the Borders Railway, which will run between Tweedbank and Edinburgh, was expected to be financed through private funding but two of the investors dropped out and Network Rail stepped in.

It is hoped that Network Rail’s involvement will provide a significant saving for the tax payer.

 

What is Lifting Gear Service?

October 5th, 2011

Lifting gear is utilised within the construction industry for various purposes. It needs to be serviced and maintained on a regular basis in order to ensure that it is operating at maximum safety and at maximum efficiency.

There are many different types of lifting gear which require different safety testing methods. Before safety tests are carried out instruments used in heavy lifting are generally stripped and cleaned of all dirt and oil that they have accumulated since their last check.

This is normally done through industrial cleaning methods such as shot blasting or chemical cleaning which also removes paint to take machinery back to its original state. The type of cleaning method chosen depends on the fragility or size of the machinery being cleaned. For more delicate items shot blasting is not appropriate. Large items can be placed in a soak tank where chemicals gradually soak dirt and grime from the parts of the machinery. Smaller items can be placed in a type of metal laundry system or a polishing box, which is the normal method for cleaning chain.

It is very important that any machinery is thoroughly clean before checks and repairs are carried out as if it is not this can impair any maintenance that is carried out.

A repair company that deals with lifting gear will have highly trained staff who understand the rules and regulations surrounding cleaning and repairing lifting gear. They will also have access to a wide range of spare parts and other equipment to aid repair should they be needed.

Once any repair work and cleaning has been carried out machinery will then be thoroughly checked and tested to ensure safety. This can involve checking machinery for minute cracks or fractures or any flaws which could make the machinery less safe.

Any lifting gear will be measured against specific criteria to ensure that it meets all the necessary standards. Testers will also provide a thorough set of paperwork detailing all the safety tests that have been carried out and what the results of these tests were.

After all tests have been carried out and machinery has been deemed to be safe and in excellent working order it will be placed in the paint shop ready to be repainted and brought up to standard to be used again. Generally, any paint or finishing work will be undertaken by machine which gives the best result and ensures that each piece of machinery adheres to the highest standards of quality.

 

All About Lifting Gear Service

September 2nd, 2011

Lifting gear is used throughout the construction industry but needs to be serviced and maintained on a regular basis. Read on to find out about how different types of lifting gear are serviced.

Most component parts need to be stripped and cleaned before they are repaired. This is carried out initially with chemical cleaning or shot blasting. This is the best way to remove any paint, grease or grime that has built up so a thorough inspection can take place.

The process for doing this will be different depending on the type of equipment that is being cleaned as some equipment is not ideal for shot blasting and may in fact be damaged by it.

Larger equipment is placed in long soak tanks, for smaller items there is a metal laundry system, whilst chain is cleaned in a polishing box.

Stripping and cleaning not only allows equipment to be examined in detail, but also improves the quality and result of repairs.

Reputable lifting gear repair services will offer a wide range of lifting gear repairs and will also have access to a large number of spare parts. Lifting gear repairs will be carried out by highly skilled professionals to ensure that all safety measures are fully met.

Lifting gear service will also incorporate inspection and testing. This is carried out after cleaning and repairs have taken place to ensure that equipment is working to the optimum level. In addition, all good companies should supply a detailed record of test and thorough examination.

Lifting gear service will also involve calibration and verification where lifting gear is measured against the standard to ensure that it is running as smoothly and efficiently as possible.

Painting and finishing is the final part of the lifting gear service process. Equipment will be placed in a paint shop, the majority of which feature a runway system so items can be suspended and a roller conveyor for bigger and more cumbersome items.

Painting and finishing is carried out by machine which ensures that the finish is of the highest quality possible and extremely durable. All lifting gear can be colour coded and appropriately labelled after painting.

This represents just some of the activities that are carried out during lifting gear service. Servicing is an essential part of the life of any machinery and regular repair and servicing will ensure that all equipment is safe and that it lasts for as long as possible without needing to be fully replaced.

 

All About Rail Handling Equipment

September 2nd, 2011

There are various types of rail handling equipment that are used in the construction and maintenance of railways.

Read on to discover more about different types of rail handling equipment and what it is used for.

Manual rail handling beams are designed to lift and move railway sleepers. Different beams are able to handle sections of rail which are 30, 45 or 60 ft long.

These beams are very versatile and can be fitted with webbing slings or rail clamps. Each beam is fitted with a centre lifting eye for accurate lifting and also features lifting lugs at either end that can be used with a double leg sling.

Hydraulic rail handling beams can be fitted to a road rail loader, excavator or crane and can lift rail sections of between 18 and 60 m length. The beam is made up of two sets of hydraulic clamps attached to a steel frame. A safety valve system makes sure that the clamps do not open during lifting.

Drag clamps fit over the head of a rail and can safely pull rails of up to 600 ft long. The clamp can be used with tow chains or ropes with a large link at each end.

Camlock CR clamps can lift most sizes of rail that are utilised in Great Britain. It can be fitted to a crane with a hook ring. It can also be fitted with an adaptor so it can be used with an Ironman rail transporting system.

MR clamps are used to transport rail sections from rail stacks to wagons. They are normally used in pairs and feature automatic double safety locks. The Ironman is generally used in pairs and transports, lifts and transposes rails.

Rail scooters are used in pairs and transport rails. Each unit is operated by a single person. They are normally fitted with a short shackle, chain assembly and rail clamp.

De-stressing kits provide control for accurate stressing of rails in any weather conditions. They make in track welding possible.

De-stressing pumps are petrol powered pumps used specifically for the railway industry. It features a roll cage and manual valves. When using this pump the operator can stress two half tracks at the same time. It also features a hand driven back up pump in case there is an engine failure.

All of this equipment is essential in railway maintenance and is widely used by railway engineers across the UK.

 

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