Rail depot equipment specialist, Mechan, will be showcasing the latest updates to its wide range of lifting and handling products at Railtex 2013.



The Sheffield-based manufacturer will have a working version of its patented Microlink controller on display, along with the innovative CALIPRI-Wheel measurement device.



Microlink has revolutionised the way multiple rail carriages are lifted, making servicing easier and quicker by enabling just one operative to plug into any unit and manage the entire network safely. Recent updates have increased its capacity to 44 jacks and introduced a colour touch screen panel that provides constant feedback on the lift and data on usage and faults.



Visitors to Mechan’s stand can also take a look at the CALIPRI-Wheel from NextSense – the first handheld, non-contact measuring device for railway wheelsets, brake discs, wheel clearance and rail profiles. The firm is the official UK supplier of the gauge, which records geometrical data for any complex-shaped object. It is proven to perform far better than conventional scanning methods, even in restricted spaces or under vehicles. [More]

Sheffield-based Mechan is launching a range of energy efficient shunters onto the UK market, offering a greener alternative to the diesel engines used in rail depots.



Mechan has secured a deal to become the sole UK and Ireland supplier of the award winning Zwiehoff electrically powered road and rail shunters, which are carbon neutral.



The Rotrac shunters achieved third place in the concept vehicle category at the 2012 OkoGlobe awards in Germany, thanks to the high degree of energy efficiency produced by Zwiehoff’s 48V Technology. They use only a few battery cells and a small quantity of liquid to provide the necessary drive and achieve zero emissions through the recovery of energy during operation.



Following the success of the pioneering 250 tonne Rotrac E2, a larger 500 tonne version – the E4 – was premiered at last year’s global transport exhibition, InnoTrans, held in Berlin. This is where Mechan discovered the shunters and expressed an interest in adding the products to its own range of depot handling equipment [More]

A set of Mechan wagon rotators has embarked on the long journey to Johannesburg, thanks to our South African friends at Yale Engineering.

This is the second time Yale has requested wagon rotators for its clients, although this new set is much larger than the previous one. The system comprises two independent structures that rotate a wagon through 360 degrees, allowing work to be carried out at any orientation.

Our thanks also go to Yale for a separate order of four 20-tonne jacks that are being delivered in the same shipment. The equipment is currently at sea and should be with you very soon [More]

Mechan has delivered a second bogie press to Hong Kong's MTR Rail - 13 years after the first one!

Thanks to a deal secured by our local distributors, Associated Engineers, we have recently installed a new bogie press at the Pat Heung depot, which serves MTR's West Rail Line. The original press was supplied directly to the Siu Ho Wan depot in 1999.



Whilst various upgrades have improved the usability and performance of our bogie press, the two pieces of equipment are still recognisably the same, allowing suspension checks and height adjustments to be made to bogies after a rebuild. [More]

Mechan’s jacks were making national headlines again yesterday, alongside the prime minister, David Cameron and his deputy, Nick Clegg.



The duo was in the West Midlands at Birmingham’s Soho Depot to announce a £9 billion package of investment to the rail industry from 2014. Mechan is pleased to hear it will include the electrification of the line from our home city of Sheffield to London, vastly reducing journey times.



Throughout the press conference, Mr Cameron and Mr Clegg were positioned conveniently in front of an older set of our jacks that were still looking as good as the day they left our factory.



To see our jacks share a stage with the coalition leaders, click on the following link to the BBC’s news pages: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-18855210 [More]

Don’t forget to book your tickets to the world’s largest transport trade fair – InnoTrans 2012 – which arrives at Messe Berlin, Germany, once again on September 18.



Mechan will be flying the flag for British manufacturers and showcasing our revolutionary new Microlink jack control system.



Recent upgrades to Microlink have enabled us to install the largest single system of lifting jacks in the UK at the Alstom Transport Traincare Centre near Manchester. Click here for more information about this project.



We look forward to seeing friends old and new at InnoTrans 2012, where we will be providing demonstrations of our Microlink jack control system and its new multifunctional touch screen panel.



Meet the Mechan team in hall 2.2, stand 215m or click here to visit the InnoTrans virtual marketplace [More]

Sheffield-based heavy lifting specialist, Mechan, has become one of the first companies in the UK to have its achievements honoured by the Manufacturing Advisory Service (MAS).

The rail depot equipment manufacturer has received a MAS Works Award to recognise the business and operational gains it has made in recent years.

Mechan was put forward for the award by MAS advisor, Peter Rooney, who was asked to nominate exemplar companies from his region that have demonstrated continuous improvement as a result of support from the organisation. [More]

Sheffield-based rail maintenance equipment specialist, Mechan, has installed the largest single system of lifting jacks in the UK at the Alstom Transport Traincare Centre in Longsight near Manchester.

The 44-jack system, which is the biggest ever produced by Mechan, will be used to service the new 11 car Alstom-built Pendolino trains being introduced on the West Coast Mainline.

Mechan saw off competition from Europe and China to secure the contract, which involved designing a completely new version of its Microlink jack control system, to accommodate such a large number of jacks. The firm also had to manufacture a taller version of its standard jack to enable the system to operate within the practical constraints of the depot. [More]

Rail depot maintenance specialist, Mechan, is bidding farewell to one of the most influential members of its management team, following a 49-year career in the transport industry.

Sales and technical director, Graham Cofield, is retiring after 23 years with the Sheffield manufacturer, during which time he played a key role in shaping the firm’s current direction.

When Graham joined Mechan in 1989 as a design engineer, the firm was trading almost completely in the material handling market. Having spent 26 years in mechanical handling roles at British Rail, he was asked to create a set of railway jacks that paved the way for the firm’s transformation into the UK’s leading depot maintenance equipment manufacturer. This area of business now accounts for almost 90% of turnover.

New engineering director, Martin Berry, will be taking over Graham’s duties. Martin has worked for Mechan as design manager for nine years and will be responsible for shaping the firm’s future product portfolio, using the latest 3D modelling and fatigue analysis software to build on its increasing popularity in the international rail industry. [More]

Sheffield-based rail depot equipment specialist, Mechan, is proving to be a hit down under, after receiving a second request for its lifting equipment from the other side of the world.

Mechan has shipped a set of four 30 tonne lifting jacks to KiwiRail’s Hamilton depot in New Zealand, 12 years after the system was installed at its Palmerston North facility.

KiwiRail is New Zealand’s largest freight and passenger rail operator and will be using the jacks to maintain rolling stock on the North Island’s mainline. Synchronised lifting is achieved using Mechan’s Microlink control system, which provides a constant feed of information to the operator via a single cable, offering maximum safety and flexibility. [More]