Safety secures trust

Bridges and railways are much more than parts of a transportation network. They are vital components of public infrastructure, where community investment includes trust in the ongoing safety and performance of the application. Living up to that trust means there can be no compromise on the parts and materials that, at the end of the day, are essential to ensuring critical services with minimum risk of failure and harm.

That’s a lot of responsibility. And though the thousands of train passengers crossing the Hohenzollern Bridge daily are unlikely to give it much thought, they are benefitting from the vigilance of the German Federal Railway Authority and Deutsche Bahn and its partnership with ThyssenKrupp Schulte.

The latter supplies the unique SBS (Steel Beam Sleepers) that are capable of handling the tremendous strain on the bridge’s sleepers and tracks caused by accelerating or braking trains. And to fasten and secure the SBS positions, ThyssenKrupp Schulte chose Nord-Lock washers.

It pays to make sure

There were other options. There always are. But ThyssenKrupp Schulte put the Nord-Lock washers through single test cycles at the Technical University of Munich. And subsequently chose the solution that would ultimately live up to the safety standards they stand for.

For Nord-Lock, it was more confirmation that their commitment to unparalleled safety is what sets them apart. Nord-Lock is the original innovator of wedge-locking technology. The company’s products are designed for superior performance in the most extreme conditions, providing effective bolt security throughout an application’s lifetime. Since 1982, Nord-Lock washers and Superbolt tensioners have secured billions of bolts in millions of applications all over the world, earning a record for unsurpassed safety and making the company a natural first choice on safety-sensitive projects.

The Nord-Lock commitment to safety is also confirmed in its collaboration with external testing centers and research institutes. The company’s products have been awarded a wide range of certifications from independent testing facilities including ABS, DIBt, DNV-GL, TÜV and more. In-house laboratories and verification centers in Europe, North America and Asia ensure quality standards for any application worldwide are consistently high.

One very tangible result of this focus is that Nord-Lock has become a trusted partner, resource and industry voice for bolt securing. Clients often turn to Nord-Lock for advice and insights on securing, especially on challenging or unique applications. Working closely with their clients, Nord-Lock’s expert technical teams use and share their knowledge, insights and expertise to support the project from initial planning to installation and ongoing maintenance. Perhaps that’s why the company boasts an impressive long-term client list, featuring ongoing partnerships with leading brands around the world.

Building trust worldwide

The Hohenzollern Bridge is one of Cologne’s most recognizable landmarks, and a vital link across the Rhine to connect the city’s two main train stations. About 1,200 trains cross the bridge daily, making it one of the busiest rail bridges in Germany. Each of its 1,346 beams is fitted with Nord-Lock washers.

Nord-Lock washers are also securing the more than 8000 SBS sleepers on 50 other bridges throughout Germany. The reality is that leading public infrastructure developers and suppliers put their reputations on the line with their choice of commissioned materials and support technologies. The public puts their trust in the project managers, builders and engineers. And judging by the company’s presence in major projects globally, managers, builders and engineers are putting their trust in Nord-Lock, number 1 in bolt securing systems.