FFU^® synthetic wood

railway sleepers 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.

Technology

Shows the production incl. quality control as per ISO 9001, milestones, such as tests, first projects and standards as well as chemical resistance, and also the advantages and benefits of FFU.

Technical characteristics

After FFU sleepers were installed in 1980, tests on these first sleepers were carried out after 5, 10, 15 and 30 years of use by RTRI (Railway Technical Research Institute). Munich Technical University tested FFU synthetic wood for sleeper heights of 16 cm and 12 cm in 2008 and 2013 - with positive results.

Processing

Custom manufacture to millimetre precision in accordance with the customer's drawings from 10 to 60 cm width, lengths up to 10 m and heights as required. On the job, FFU can be worked like natural wood. If holes have been drilled incorrectly, a repair set is available which allows you to position the hole correctly after 30 minutes curing time.

Bridges

Open steel support structures with wooden sleepers are the main areas of application for our reliable and durable FFU bridge sleepers during refurbishment work. FFU synthetic wood is increasingly used in ballasted track on bridges.

Switches

The heart of a reliably working rail infrastructure. Here, FFU offers above all long term elasticity at the frog, in addition to long service life and good interlocking with the ballast, and noticeably reduces the cost of routine maintenance.

Flat sleepers

These are already in use for suburban railways with a height of 10 cm and for main line railways up to 200 km/h and 22.5 tons axle load with a height of 12 cm. The advantages are, amongst other things, the increase in the ballast bed thickness and track maintenance using classic tamping machines.

Special projects

For example, the decking of bridges and level crossings for the rural agricultural goods transport network. If required, also with non-slip surfaces for cyclists. The resistance to weathering ensures long life and safety for users and operators.

Approvals

After FFU synthetic wood was used in Japan for the first time in 1980 and was preferentially used by the Japanese Railways, the first project in Europe followed in 2004. Since then, FFU synthetic wood has been installed and approved in many European countries.

FFU® synthetic wood