What Is a Railway Wheel?

Railway wheels are the assembly of two wheels fixed to the axle by interference fit. These wheels rotate along with the axle, without any independent relative movement, as in the case of other automobile wheels. Railway wheels are provided with a flange towards the inner side, which guides the wheels to travel on the rails and does not allow them to fall down from the rails. There are many railway wheel producers around the world, some of which we are going to introduce in this article.

What Is a Monoblock

Monobloc wheels are also known as “one-piece” wheels. It means that they are made in one piece and consist of no removable components. In the first level of the manufacturing process, a monoblock wheel is a single, round block of 6061-T1 aluminum alloy. The aluminum block is compressed and subjected to intense heat, which creates a dense grain structure and forms a round, hollow metal piece. A single piece of aluminum alloy is then formed into a stream and placed in a CNC milling machine in which the blades are formed to complete the production process. Therefore, made of aluminum alloy, the monoblocks are the lightest of forged Railway wheels.

Greatest Railway Producers Around the World

Due to the expanding application of railways for transportation and traveling goals, railway wheel production has become one of the profitable industries of the world. Geographically, rolling stock markets in Western Europe and North America remain as one of the world’s largest markets. It is mainly due to the well-established railway infrastructures in the region. However, emerging economies such as India, Brazil, China, and Iran are expected to become the most lucrative markets for the global rolling stock industry over the next few years.

This thesis is based on the rapidly expanding industries and government initiatives that aim to develop advanced railway transport systems. Here you are introduced to some of the biggest railway producers all around the globe.

CRRC Corporation

CRRC corporation is a state-owned railway vehicle manufacturer in Beijing and is the world’s largest train manufacturer and the top rolling stock company by revenue. The main business of this corporation is to produce and sell railway locomotives, EMUs, urban transit vehicles, and railway wheels. The corporation is also engaged with other business activities such as engineering machinery, various mechanical and electrical equipment, electronic equipment and parts, electronic appliances and environmental protection equipment products, industrial investment and management, and asset management.

Bombardier Transportation

Headquartered in Berlin, Germany, Bombardier Transportation is one of the leading manufacturers in the world transportation industry that produces a wide range of aircraft and trains. The rolling stock division of the corporation mainly offers products such as locomotives, Diesel Multiple Units (DMUs), single-decker EMUs, powerhouses, double-decker coaches, as well as train operations, and maintenance services.

Siemens Mobility

Siemens Mobility, also known as Siemens Transportation Systems, is one of the world’s top 10 largest rolling stock and railway wheel producers. The company headquarter is located in Munich, Germany, and offers all sorts of products and services in the railway industry. These services and productions include:

• Rolling stock
• Rail services
• Rail automation
• Railway building information modeling
• Rail electrification
• Turnkey rail solutions

Alstom Transport

Alstom SA is a France rail transport company and one of the largest rolling stock and rail wheel producers in the world. Alstom’s best-known products include the AGV, TGV, Eurostar, Pendolino high-speed trains, metro trains, and Citadis trams. In February 2020, Alstom and Canada’s Bombardier announced to merge both their railway manufacturing units to increase the competitiveness of the railroad signaling and high-speed train markets in Europe and across the world.

GE Transport

GE Transportation is another one of the world’s largest rolling stock and railway wheel producers. The company headquarter is located in Chicago, US. This transportation company is the largest producer of diesel-electric locomotives for both freight and passenger trains in North America.

 GE Transportation also produces related railway products, including railroad signaling equipment, locomotive components, railway train parts. GE corporation also provides repair services for GE and other locomotives around the world.

Stadler Rail AG

Stadler Rail is a leading Swiss rolling stock manufacturer with a business focus on providing regional train units and trams. Headquartered in Bussnang, Switzerland, it is one of the largest rolling stock companies in Europe. The main products of this company include high-speed electric multiple unit train, articulated railcar, diesel railcar, tram, and diesel-electric locomotive. Stadler has also built a number of custom railway vehicles in Europe.

The Greenbrier Co.

The Greenbrier company is one the leading railroad freight car equipment manufacturers in North America. The company headquarter is located on Lake Oswego, Oregon. The company has railcars manufacturing plants in Brazil, North America, and Europe and delivers railcars for the Saudi Arabian market.

The Greenbrier Co. is also known as a leading provider of train wheel services, parts, leasing, and other services to the railroad and related transportation industries in North America and a provider of railcar repair, refurbishment, and retrofitting services in North America.

Trinity Rail Group

Trinity rail group is one of the large rolling stocks and railway wheel producers of this industry, and its headquarter is located in Dallas, Texas. Trinity Industries provides railcar leasing, management services, rolling stock manufacturing, maintenance, and modifications.

 It also owns businesses that are engaged in the manufacture of products used on the nation’s roadways and in traffic control, as well as logistical and transportation business activities that provide support services to a variety of industrial manufacturers.

Wheel; A Tool That Made Progress Happen Faster

Wheels are vastly believed to be humankind’s most important innovation throughout history. Wheels have been having an enormous effect on the pace of human progress since the day they were invented.

Du to the expansion of transportation needs, the rolling stock, and railway wheel producers play an important role in the field of railway transportation. Therefore, rolling stock manufactures and services are considered as one of the most progressive and profitable industries around the world.