Mechan on track in Hong Kong

Sheffield-based Mechan has delivered lifting jacks and bogie turntables to the nation’s rapid transit railway operators, MTR and is now building a bespoke bogie drop.

Working with local agent Associated Engineers, Mechan has supplied two dozen 20-tonne versions of its flagship jacks to the Wong Chuk Hang depot on the South Island and four turntables to transfer bogies between maintenance roads.

Mechan visited the depot to oversee installation and carry out training on its equipment. The jacks, which are working in two sets of 12, are controlled by the firm’s patented Megalink system, which allows a synchronised lift to be managed by just one operator.

A bogie drop for the Shek Kong Running Maintenance Shed is currently under construction that will incorporate a number of new design elements to meet MTR’s requests for higher levels of automation

Richard Carr, chief executive of Mechan, said: “We have a longstanding, successful relationship with MTR spanning almost two decades and we are very pleased the operator continues to source new depot lifting equipment from us.

“Our jacks and turntables are now fully operational and after a long and complex planning stage, we are confident the bogie drop will follow suit before the end of the year.”

The majority of Mechan’s work is undertaken in the UK, though exports currently account for more than 20 per cent of turnover.