To avoid such problems, railway maintenance workers use massive track grinders, guided by precision electric linear actuators. How a rail grinder worksRailway track grinders remove irregularities and restore the shape of worn tracks, enhancing their surface smoothness. Their core component is a grinding wheel that contacts the rail as the grinder self-propels along the tracks. As it does, the grinding wheels rotate at high speeds to abrade corrugation, surface defects, fatigue cracks, and other imperfections from the rail surface.To maintain optimal contact between the wheel and the track, sensors mounted on the equipment frame scan the tracks for variations and send their readings to a control unit. The control unit then signals electric linear actuators to adjust grinding pressure based on variations in wear level. Going electricTraditionally, rail grinder manufacturers used hydraulic cylinders to provide these adjustments, primarily because of the high force needed and the high duty cycle. But as the number of rail passengers increased, and with it the wear on the rail lines, one of the largest rail grinder manufacturers in China concluded that hydraulic cylinders did not have enough accuracy or stability to meet its expanding needs.
Read the full article in DPA's October 2025 issue
With over 35 years of frontline experience in B2B media Andrew Quenault is closely aware of the issues and challenges facing UK manufacturing - his multi media approach to covering these issues has made him one of the regular faces of the industry