The Ibex braking system is set to enter service on two new CRRC wagons ordered by Pacific National in Australia for a year-long trial later this month. The rail freight operator is also on course to deliver the system for trials with six wagons operated by FMG before the end of the year and KiwiRail in early 2020. Amsted says it is also eyeing possible projects in Saudi Arabia, Brazil, South Africa and the United States.

The system is a major redesign of a traditional bogie brake mounting, with a beam-mounted slack adjuster ensuring that braking forces are evenly distributed. The connecting rods also offer extra clearance while the beams are also easily adjustable. The system is also lightweight, on average 366kg less than conventional body-mounted brake systems and 100kg less than other bogie-mounted brake systems.

Amsted says that tests of the system has allowed operators to add an additional 56-day brake shoe maintenance interval to current maintenance programmes.

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