Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL) - Durgapur Steel Plant has supplied the first consignment of Linke Hofmann Busch (LHB) wheels to Indian Railways on March 25, 2019. While Indian Railways are shifting to LHB coaches from the ICF coaches for improved safety and higher speed, the wheels for LHB coaches are currently being imported. SAIL-DSP has developed these wheels and supply of first consignment of 30 no. of wheels from SAIL comes as another step towards import substitution by SAIL. SAIL was initially given an order to supply 1000 LHB wheels by Indian Railways whose first consignment has been dispatched.
These LHB wheels having unique web profile with metallurgical properties are specially designed to befit the high speed movement on broad gauge as per the requirements of LHB coaches. These LHB wheels are developed with the help from Research Design and Standard Organization (RDSO) of Indian Railways and Wheel & Axle Plant of DSP. They have provided the knowledge, skill and technical knowhow for producing the LHB wheels as per stringent quality norms, specifications and standards laid by Indian Railways. The LHB wheels have pneumatic disc brake system for efficient braking at higher speeds reducing the impact during accidents or emergency situations.
Chairman SAIL praising the DSP collective on this achievement said, "Our entire focus is to begin the supply of this advanced LHB wheels so that the requirement of Indian Railway can be fulfilled domestically. I believe that meeting the entire requirements of LHB wheels domestically will reduce the imports and also help in saving foreign exchange."
SAIL-DSP is supplying wheels and axles to Indian Railways for the last five decades and is the only producer of forged wheels in the Country. It has also developed Loco wheels as per the requirements of Indian Railways, which were earlier being imported. SAIL, the only forged wheel producer of India has a capacity to produce more than 70,000 forged wheels per year. Along with this wheels in different design and dimensions are also manufactured as per the demand. Very recently SAIL has also supplied wheels for Kolkata Metro.
SAIL-DSP fully tests every manufactured wheel as per the stringent standards of Indian railways on various parameters including stress bearing capacity, Ultrasonic testing, Magnetic Particle Inspection and testing for hardness etc so that each and every wheel meets every quality standard.