Complete retrofit after 30 years

1991: the year it all began. The 08-275 ZW tamping machine was shipped to Belgium more than 30 years ago, where it was deployed successfully for years. Most recently, the Polish company Tor-Rent had the machine in its fleet until it ended up on stabling siding. That was too soon for this type of machine and one of this quality! Fortunately, our Used Machines experts heard about it and decided to acquire the machine then and there, even though there was no buyer for it yet.

As Roman Hauke notes, “We’re familiar with the track maintenance machine market, and we know road-rail machines are very popular with smaller companies. In that sense, we knew right away that this machine was perfect for our Used Machines offering.”

The Used Machines team were completely right about the machine. Half a year after acquiring it, the Danish company Nordic Maskin sent an enquiry. The small railway construction company was already familiar with these types of machines, as they had repeatedly hired them for certain projects. However, a recent negative experience put them off: one day before a project was to begin, a machine they were promised was suddenly no longer available. That was a clear sign for Nordic Maskin that the time had come to buy their own machine. The news about the 08-275 ZW came at an ideal point in time.

Nordic Maskin representatives travelled to Austria in mid-2022 to view the machine at Plasser & Theurer. Shortly afterwards, a refurbishment and modernization were agreed on: the project’s implementation could begin immediately. 

The to-do list for retrofitting the 08-275 ZW could almost be a catalogue itself. First, the machine was to be disassembled down to the main frame, which was ultimately refurbished. At the same time, the tamping unit was sent to Munich, and the powered axles were sent to Freilassig, where our partner company Plasser Robel Services refurbished the components. The machine then received a new engine, a new front cab, a refurbished rear cab, and a new lifting and lining unit. Additionally, the pneumatic, hydraulic, and electrical systems were completely replaced, the entire control system was digitalized, and both cabs were equipped with new AC units. Finally, a ballast plough combination was integrated into the rear section of the machine. 

As Frank Hochegger of Plasser & Theurer Customer Services explains, “A retrofit of this scope and, on top of that, on a 30-year-old machine, is obviously a complex matter. But it’s exactly these challenges we’re perfectly prepared for in Linz because we have all the expertise here: for everything from engineering solutions, spare parts production to approval.”

The 08-275 ZW was the first machine to be worked on in the new Life Cycle Service Competence Centre in Linz, which features a spacious workshop and high-quality equipment. This shows we are able to easily execute projects such as large-scale modifications, upgrades of all shapes and sizes, and complete retrofits in Linz. 

The finishing touches were put on the 08-275 ZW in the summer of 2023, including paint in Nordic Maskin’s colours. At the same time, we supported them in obtaining approval. Commissioning takes place at the end of October, and Nordic Maskin’s “new” 08-275 ZW is expected to be put into operation again in November. Let the fun begin again....30 years later!