21st Technical Seminar of the Institute of Rail Welding commemorates 10th anniversary

18/05/2012

The 21st Technical Seminar of the Institute of Rail Welding will take place on Thursday 28 June 2012 at TWI in Cambridge. The theme of the event will be ‘Rail Welding – What’s new?’ and will commemorate the 10th anniversary of the Institute of Rail Welding (IoRW).

The Institute of Rail Welding was formally launched in April 2002, with over 200 people attending the launch event at the Royal Society in London. A great deal has changed since then, but the IoRW is still going strong and a number of special features have been included in this seminar to commemorate its 10th anniversary. These include:
  • A celebratory luncheon with a high-profile guest speaker.
  • A look back at the 2002 launch event through video and photographic archives.
  • A review of the achievements of the IoRW in its first 10 years.
But, as usual, the IoRW is more interested in looking forwards rather than backwards, and therefore the event will focus on key technical developments that affect rail welding. As always, a team of high-quality speakers has been assembled to deliver the technical programme.

As well as reporting on recent developments in aluminothermic welding equipment, arc welding techniques and in the deployment of mobile flash butt welding by Network Rail, the event will cover broader issues, such as the recycling of materials and the outcome of the European Innotrack project on developing cost-effective high-performance track. There will also be a special presentation on the problems and solutions associated with the tri-metal welds used to install cast manganese crossings.

A team of well-known experts has been assembled in order to give a high-level, comprehensive and practical insight into all the topics indicated.

By attending this event you will:
  • Be able to exploit the latest technical developments in rail welding.
  • Gain an understanding of the broader issues driving permanent way developments.
The programme will include networking opportunities and talks on subjects including:
  • Innotrack project – solutions towards significant cost reductions of infrastructure investment and maintenance.
  • Use of recycled materials removed from track.
  • Approval testing of Network Rail’s mobile flash butt welding machines.
  • The effects of high deposit rate rail surfacing on preheating temperatures.
  • Aluminothermic welding equipment developments aimed at reducing operator variability.
  • Tri-metal weld failures.
www.twi.co.uk