Fairclough Corporation
Fairclough Corporation Pty Ltd was formed to improve rail flaw detection (RFD) accuracy, repeatability and ease of use. From experience and expertise through many years in the rail industry which has led to the ULTRAWave and RIPWave analysis systems.
Our company was formed in 1996 and was fully operational by January 1997. Initially, we concentrated on improving service and maintenance support for rail instrumentation systems.
This has expanded into a successful product range offering electronic computer track measurement and advanced user-orientated software systems. With our continued expansion, we opened the Centre for Advanced Transport Engineering and Research (C.A.T.E.R) to meet the growing demand for technical research and product development.
The initial business was to provide service and maintenance support for rail inspection instrumentation. This has now expanded into the current range of products and services demonstrating arguably world's best practice.
Focus: Skilled Research
C.A.T.E.R (Fairclough Corporation Pty Ltd 1996) has an extensive background in Research & Development.
Our main focus of business is developing, trialling, testing and prototyping rail specific inspection instrumentation with a commercial potential.
Rail Audit
Survey Service for Targeted Asset Management
Leads to targeted maintenance planning for reduced personnel and materials' costs. Planning can focus on 'areas of interest' for managing personnel and materials in a more strategic and cost-effective way.
Efficient planning also aids reducing costs by:
- Maintaining rail safety
- Avoiding environmental damage
- Reducing rail traffic disruptions for passenger and freight lines
Systems Engineering
Engineering for Specific Solutions
We have a strong focus on research, development, prototyping and testing of products for commercial readiness. In collaboration with customers, comprehensive rail specific solutions are developed to enhance individual maintenance programmes and address particular concerns.
Contract Rail Testing
Service Provision for PerWay Inspection
Complete rail inspection services to rail networks on a regular basis to provide information for accurate maintenance needs.
ULTRAWave
Ultrasonic Rail Flaw Detection System (RFD)
ULTRAWave is a proven method to analyse the internal structure of the rail as internal defects cannot be seen from visual inspection.
C.A.T.E.R uses the latest technologies to offer the most comprehensive equipment choices based on many years of rail industry experience. We provide a complete rail inspection system developed to the highest engineering standards.
ULTRAWave
Ultrasonic Rail Flaw Detection System (RFD)
The ULTRAWave System is mounted on to a self-powered or towed carriage.
The customer can supply their own rolling stock and have the ultrasonic system retrofitted to existing rail bound vehicles.
All equipment is designed and configured for exceptional reliability and for optimum performance.
Rail vehicles are capable of higher speed, longer range testing, and comfortable work spaces.
C.A.T.E.R's experience in developing the ULTRAWave RFD system offers the customer lower risk and greater value from excellent detection performance and unmatched reporting abilities.
Features
- Fully digital signal processing techniques
- Enhanced ultrasonic signal electronics
- Excellent rail surface tracking
- Cant and Lateral adjustments for accurate signal response
- Uses RSU style Wheel Probes
ULTRAWave Compact
Compact Rail Flaw Detection System
The ULTRAWave Compact system is adaptable to a trolley or a light weight vehicle.
The ULTRAWave control and display software can be configured to perate on a notebook computer with single monitor for portable systems, or it can be configured to operate on a computer with multiple monitors for enhanced operational efficiency.
ULTRAWave Compact
Compact and versatile RFD System
The ULTRAWave Compact system is adaptable to a trolley or a light weight vehicle.
Ideal for metropolitan networks
Adaptable to carriers from portable trolley style to full size maintenance rail bound vehicles
The Advantages of this system is that it bridges the gap between portable and automated high-speed configurations.
Features
- High performance
- Light and compact
- Moderate speed up to 15 - 20km
- Provides unique versatility and functionality
RIPWave
Post Processing Analysis
Powerful software program designed for post-run analysis and reporting incorporating various information types and sources.
This software can collate, combine, compare and analyse legacy and current information
RIPWave
Comprehensive and Inclusive Post Processing Analysis
Features
- Incorporates information from all C.A.T.E.R instrument systems
- Imports historical test data including legacy data formats
- Incorporates different information technologies into a uniform report
- Run-on-run comparison of a selected location or over a particular time period
- Exports Reports in various formats for adding information to existing client database systems
- Information is viewed and shared in industry recognisable format, not exclusive proprietory
Advantages
- User-friendly interface to move quickly and easily between different test information
- Flaw trending and condition monitoring is enhanced by incorporating different formats and information into one uniform report for improved decision making
- By synchronising various information sources for a chosen location leads to more accurate and comprehensive monitoring of that location
- Accurate information leads to improved Maintenance budget management
- Industry recognisable formats allow for greater portability and inclusion into existing databases
VIDWave
Video Identification & Analysis Viewer
VIDWave Inspects rail, sleepers (ties), ballast and other Permanent Way assets and infrastructure Visual confirmation and cross correlation of information collected from other inspection systems. Records PerWay condition for maintenance and safety assessment
VIDWave
Video IDentification & Analysis Viewer
VIDWave aligns with other C.A.T.E.R inspection information such as ULTRAWave
Accurate location markers are included such as GPS, odometer and RFID tags. The images are recalled in post-processing for identifying corrosion, verifies flaws not detected by ultrasonics.
VIDWave is a high performance video acquisition system for recording digital images of track.
The VIDWave system offers high resolution images at typical rail access speeds without compromising sensitivity (regard to resolution)and providiing consistent image quality.
VIDWave recorded images are analysed to identify defects, review sysptomatic conditions and verify other features identified from other C.A.T.E.R PerWay inspection instrument systems.
Images are conveniently visualized using RIPWave.
Features
- High quality, high resolution images
- Industrial cameras and purpose built lighting systems
- Robust design for external vehicle mounting
- Automatically adjusts the picture rate to the speed of the vehicle
- Can run as a standalone system or integrated into existing track inspection systems
- Can be retrofitted to existing RFD or track maintenance vehicles and machinery
- Storage is by SSD and is transferrable by portable media
HANDWave
Portable Ultrasonic Rail Inspection System
Pedestrian type Single and Dual Rail Testers for flaw and rail condition analysis.
Reaches hard to access areas
A robust and lightweight ultrasonic rail flaw detection tool with powerful detection, display and processing features which collapses quickly for easy transport
LRT | SRT | DRT | DRT Towed
The Portable Ultrasonic Rail Inspection system
Lite Rail Tester (LRT) - Lite and Compact, suitable for short distance testing.
Single Rail Tester (SRT) - Equipped with an outrigger for stabilisation. Greater repeatability for results.
Dual Rail Tester (DRT) - Suited for testing both rails simultaneously.
DRT Towed - Suited for longer testing sessions with operator comfort; carries water, spares and tools on board. Can be towed by petrol, diesel or electric vehicles.
Features
- Fully digital signal processing techniques
- Enhanced ultrasonic signal electronics
- Excellent rail surface tracking
- Cant and Lateral adjustments for accurate signal response
- Uses RSU style Wheel Probes
- Reaches areas not regularly tested; remote areas, high traffic, depots
International Market
C.A.T.E.R's is an international supplier and developer of significant engineering services and technology for measurement and flaw detection systems in rail transport worldwide.
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