Rail Transportation
Enhancing efficiency without compromising passenger safety or comfort
Railway efficiency demands lightweight and versatile materials
Rail transportation is facing evolving demands for comfort and safety, leading to increased costs and weight. Lightweight, high-performing insulation is key to managing energy efficiency while upholding both passenger safety and comfort. Closed-cell elastomeric insulation, next-generation aerogel blankets, state-of-the-art sound attenuation technology and PET-based foam cores improve space and energy efficiency and passenger comfort in rail vehicles. Designed to meet the strict requirements of the international rail industry, they deliver sustainable performance – from HVAC, plumbing and structural insulation, rattle protection and vibration dampening to lightweight structures - significantly reducing the need for frequent replacement or maintenance.
Enhancing passenger comfort and energy performance
Providing pleasant temperatures and acoustics is an important aspect of passenger comfort. With rail vehicles requiring up to 40 percent of energy on heating and cooling, selecting the right thermal insulation is crucial to elevating resource efficiency. Rail-specific insulation helps reduce energy costs and mitigate airborne noises of high-speed trains without taking up noticeable space. To further improve customer comfort, specifiers should also incorporate protection against harmful microbes. As the only manufacturer of flexible technical insulation materials equipped with built-in antimicrobial protection, we offer rail solutions featuring Microban® additives that provide proactive protection against bacteria, mould, and mildew.
Maximise efficiency and minimise weight
Today’s train operators and manufacturers are challenged by the need for even lighter, more energy-efficient and environmentally friendly trains that do not compromise on safety or durability. But as comfort requirements increase, so does the weight of railcar bodies, typically constituting about 25 percent of the total weight. By opting for low-density, lightweight materials like insulation foam and PET-based foam, specifiers can cut wagon weight by 15-20 percent and enhance fuel efficiency. The material’s outstanding impact resistance allows for a durable sandwich structure with long-term performance, fewer repairs and easy maintenance in use. Based on 100 percent recycled material, it provides an economically and environmentally optimised core material solution for the manufacture of structural and interior train parts, from the driver’s cab, body shell and floor to doors, lavatory modules, compartment walls and tables. All sandwich constructions can be coated with a variety of materials helping operators stay in line with the industry’s high standards for hygiene and performance.
Benefit from high convertibility and processibility
Convertibility and processibility of structural elements are essential to reducing installation time due to the naturally complex shapes and configurations of rail components. Modern PET-based foam offers highest flexibility and ease of fabrication and can be easily cut, shaped, and installed to fit various contours and spaces within the rail system. Leveraging the attributes of fibre-reinforced polymer (FRP) composite, they allow for durable and precise installations, while reducing labour time and costs.
Navigate rail-specific fire safety standards
To ensure passenger safety, all materials used in rail vehicles must meet the stringent fire, smoke and toxicity requirements of the international rail standards. Our highly flexible, dust-and fibre-free materials achieve the most stringent hazard level for trains operating in underground track sections or tunnels. As a halogen-free product, ArmaPET® is characterised by very low smoke generation and reduced smoke toxicity. In combination with appropriate laminates, ArmaPET Struct core sandwich structures also achieve the highest classification, which qualifies the material for use in all types of trains including metro, sleeper, and couchette cars.