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FFU® synthetic wood
Since 1980, FFU railway sleepers have been used in more than 1,400 km of track (2015) and have thus been in reliable service for 35 years.
Switch sections and railway bridges are the preferred applications for railway companies. The optimum operation of these valuable assets is essential.
FFU® synthetic wood railway sleepers
Continuous glass fibres and polyurethane are combined into a high quality and long life material.
FFU has the life expectancy of high quality plastic and the weight of natural wood and can be worked like natural wood.
Fiber Reinforced Foamed Urethane = FFU
Since 1980 in daily use on more than 1,400 km of track
Developed in the 1970s in cooperation with Japanese Railways. In 1980 installed in two projects and since 1985 in use as the standard railway sleeper of Japanese Railways.
Since 2004, installed on bridges and in switches in Europe in a sustainable manner.
Up to the end of 2014, more than 1,400 km of track worldwide have been fitted successfully with FFU on railway bridges and in switches.
Projected life expectancy of 50 years
In 1996, the Railway Technical Research Institute (RTRI) carried out tests on sleepers which had been installed in 1980. Several fatigue tests simulated 100 million load cycles. These tests led to the prediction that FFU would have a life expectancy of 50 years.
In 2011, sleepers from 1980, which had now been in service for 30 years, were again removed and tested by RTRI. As a result, RTRI has informed the Japanese Railways in writing that these FFU sleepers would work safely for the next 20 years.