ORT Italia to launch a new production line for railway sleeper screws

Hot forming and hot rolling are the two main processes involved in the manufacturing of sleeper screws for railway applications. The former is fundamental for the preparation of the head profile, while the latter is responsible for the threading.

ORT Italia Since 1964 boasts a deep knowledge in this field: over the years, the company has been supplying a variety of machines and complete production lines all around the world.

This type of equipment is mainly composed of an elevator for the blanks, an induction heating system with a conveyor chain, a U-type inductor, and a main converter. Furthermore, the line is equipped with a “pick and place” system which carries the preheated blank and releases it in an introduction device, which then feeds it into a 3-die rolling machine for the final thru feed rolling operation.

The process must be carried out at precise temperatures, between 1.100 °C and 1.150 °C. A pyrometer constantly monitors the heating: should the temperature be out of the range, the line automatically rejects the semi-finished part before the rolling process.

ORT’s new production lines also feature innovative solutions to ensure the perfect cooling of all the main components of the induction heating system. Unlike the more traditional water tower, the industrial chiller avoids water consumption, allowing the entire line to be installed in countries with low water supply.

The renewed rolling machine is designed with a sturdy frame, to enhance the overall resistance, and boasts a PLC to set up and control all the main parameters.