Innovation plays a key role for ArcelorMittal, with the support of a dedicated R&D Rail Unit, located in Asturias in the Global R&D Centre.
This R&D Rail Unit is highly committed to provide customers with prompt, innovative and cost-effective solutions.
The research lines carried out by this group are structured around three main axes: the optimization of the manufacturing process, new products development and implementation of new rail track solutions.
The welding pilot plant, the advanced in-use properties testing systems and the recently developments of wireless sensors for track monitoring are some examples of the solutions that the R&D Centre of Asturias are developing through open innovation in collaboration with a network of universities, technology centers and companies from railway sector.
Regarding the optimization of the manufacturing process, the R&D Rail Unit has contributed to the implementation of the new system of “universal rolling” that replaces the traditional “duo” system recently installed in Gijon rail mill. This new system improves quality surface and provides a more accurate control of rail profile. Furthermore, an increase in quality surface resulting from universal rolling is beneficial for controlling accelerated cooling of the rail, which is a critical stage to obtain premium rails. The system of cooling accelerated, known as head hardened line, allowed the rail mill to manufacture high performance rails for all types of projects, and it began recently the production of head hardened asymmetric rails, a product which is used for manufacturing turnouts with asymmetric profiles.