The Twin-Block VDH Railroad Tie System:
The VDH Twin-Block sleeper system and manufacturing process has proven to be successful for more than 30 years. The company designs and manufactures its own range of ties depending on different factors like use, speed and weight of the trains, climate, etc.
Based on the above considerations and long-term experience with concrete sleepers, we confirm hereunder the main topics distinguishing the functioning of Twin-Block reinforced concrete sleepers.
ITB-Tradetech, S.A. has been directly involved in the Railroad Industry since its inception in 1908. Since then, millions of VDH Twin-Block Railroad Ties have been installed on track without incident or problems.
VDH Twin-Block Railroad Ties are widely used around the world in different systems:
- City Metros and Light Rail Systems
- High Speed Trains
- Regular Passenger and Freight Trains
- Extra Heavy Load Railroad Systems
The VDH ties offer the strength of the mono-block concrete tie with the flexibility and other operating benefits characteristic of wooden ties. VDH Ties offer great economies because they are manufactured locally and on-site, using local labor and supplies.
Twin-Block ties fulfill the functions expected from wooden railroad ties but with better handling of increased axle loads. Better track stability under lateral loading conditions both for curves and with long welded rails where compression efforts in the rail must be opposed by sufficient anchorage of the track to the ballast. It is important to note that while mono-blocks ties have copied the ÒshapeÓ of wooden ties. VDH Twin-Block tie system have copied the ÒbehaviorÓ of wooden ties.
VDH Railroad Ties' success has taken many years of investigation and hard work. Customers like the high-speed TGV Trains of France and Belgium have availed the quality and safety of the Twin-Block Ties designed and manufactured by ITB-Tradetech, S.A. It is important to note that these Trains run at speeds that can go up to 225 miles per hour.
VDH ties are manufactured and installed in a wide variety of climate conditions around the Globe; harsh environments like those in different countries in Africa and Asia where VDH Ties have been in use for many years, does not affect them.
Advantages of VDH Twin-Block Sleepers:
The fact that the rolling stock represents a dynamic and irregular load, creates an essential requirement for flexibility in the foundation of the track in order to absorb these loads; this is where VDH Twin-Block Sleepers come into play. VDH ties greatly contribute to the absorption of these dynamic and irregular loads preventing premature damage to the sensitive parts of the track and to the undercarriage or trolleys of the railcars.
Thanks to the flexibility of the connecting bar existing only in VDH Twin-Blocks, the tie reacts as a car with independent wheel suspension, applying less pressure to the ballast bed.
It is important to remember that VDH Dual-Block Ties are the perfect combination of flexibility, strength, rigidity and durability. These ties offer the flexibility of a wooden tie but with the strength of concrete. The rigidity of the VDH Twin-Block Sleeper can be modulated by the tie bar design.
Two of the major advantages of the VDH patented manufacturing process is the very low tolerance for rail fastening which is 1mm maximum; and the use of double-steam shoulders for rail fastening to the tie. The use of this particular shoulder, greatly increases the Òpull outÓ resistance of the shoulder when pulled by the forces applied by the passing trains.
Conclusion:
ITB-Tradetech, S.A. with more than 30 years of experience in Europe, especially in Belgium and France, and around the World providing the VDH ties for different users and climate conditions, give us a competitive advantage.
Our competitive advantage comes from our originally patented tie design, many times copied and many times failed.
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