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12/9/2016

Fabricated Metals: Signal equipment enclosures

Fabricated Metals builds "top quality" aluminum and steel enclosures to house the signaling equipment required for positive train control systems, say company officials. FM's instrument, communication, and positive train control houses or enclosures can be furnished in a variety of sizes with any number of door arrangements. The instrument houses are constructed to meet customers' specifications and can be customized for any job or project requirements.

FM's communication houses are built with all-welded construction and can be manufactured from aluminum; 12 GA or 14 GA hot rolled steel, galvanized steel, galvanneal, stainless steel or Cor-Ten® steel. Walls are constructed of interlocking modular insulated panel sections with all seams sealed. Inside walls have vertical channels with keyholes for mounting shelves, mounting boards, wire chases, and tag boards.

In 2015, the company stepped up production to meet the unprecedented demand from railroads rushing to meet the mandated deadlines for PTC.

"We experienced a 50 percent increase in orders from our largest customers," said FM Vice President of Sales Don Curtsinger, a 50-year veteran of railroad signal industry. "It presented real challenges for our production team to keep up, but we didn’t let any customer down."

The aluminum and steel houses and cases needed for positive train control are similar to those required for older railroad signal technologies, but may be modified to house additional equipment or equipment in different configurations, FM officials say.

"Our company has the unique ability to efficiently modify basic designs to get the railroad customer the exact configuration they need to stay current with PTC regulation," says Kirk Chambers, FM vice president of engineering.

The engineering team takes the requirements from the customer and translates them into precise drawings. These requirements vary by customer and specific application.

Adds Chambers: "There's never a dull moment for our drafters."