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Rail Industry Component:
Construction Polymers Technologies Inc.: high-performance Resilient Fastener (RF)

Construction Polymers Technologies produces the Resilient Fastener (RF) at its facility in Saukville, Wis. A high-performance fastener, the RF was designed in conjunction with MTA New York City Transit (NYCT).

The transit agency needed a fastener that could withstand the rigors of its subway system – which includes 138 route miles of tunnels, and 70 route miles of elevated and viaduct structures – as well as provide exceptional noise/vibration attenuation and electrical isolation, Construction Polymers Technologies officials said in an email. NYCT's track structure generally involves wood ties embedded in concrete and steel aerial structures with wood-tie decks. Since there's virtually no resilience in either of those track structures, noise and vibration levels are elevated, Construction Polymers Technologies officials said. The RF can rectify the problem by providing the highest degree of noise and vibration attenuation of any direct-fixation fastener currently on the market, they said. The RF now has been in service at NYCT for more than 10 years, with more than 1 million units installed.

The fastener can achieve exceptional acoustical performance through the use of a specialized microcellular polyurethane pad, produced in conjunction with partner Getzner USA, a leading noise- and vibration-attenuating product supplier, Construction Polymers Technologies officials said.The RF's bottom plate is a fabrication so the anchorage positions can be custom configured to a customer's requirements, while the top plate can be produced as a fabrication to accommodate the use of different rail hold-down clips, rail sections, and canted or non-canted rail seats.

The company also produces a line of "Resilient Fasteners" for use with guard rails, restraining rails and special trackwork