Mechan has won a contract to supply two traversers to Hitachi’s new train factory in County Durham.
The Sheffield-based depot equipment manufacturer will develop an internal and external traverser for the facility which will be producing trains as part of the multi-billion-pound Intercity Express Programme (IEP).
Mechan has previously supplied equipment to Hitachi’s Ashford and North Pole depots, and the company was recently awarded a contract to supply equipment drops to the Stoke Gifford depot.
Darren Cumner, manufacturing plant manager, Hitachi Rail Europe, said: “Mechan is recognised as one of the market leaders in depot handling systems and Hitachi Rail Europe has had a long-term relationship with Mechan on other programmes.”
Richard Carr, managing director of Mechan, said: “This contract is fundamental to Mechan. We have been involved in the IEP and other Hitachi projects for the last 4-5 years, providing different types of equipment for depots across the country.
“We support our clients throughout the entire commissioning and manufacturing process and we are pleased Hitachi has chosen a local British company to manufacture these traversers.
“Almost 95 per cent of our supply chain is in the UK and typically 80 per cent of this is within just 20 miles of our Sheffield factory.”
The new traversers are expected to be delivered to Newton Aycliffe in spring 2015.
In October 2013, The Rail Engineer featured the Port of Felixstowe’s new North Rail Terminal, which has a 30-metre long, 170-tonne traverser built by Mechan.
