The solution for voids underneath sleepers
ShimLift is a height-adjustable rail fastening system for improved track quality and reduced maintenance costs.
ShimLift on the track
Shimlift
ShimLift features
- Delays and stops renewed formation of voids underneath sleepers
- Compensates voids underneath sleepers of 1-30 mm in 1 mm steps
- Avoids damage to sleepers and ballast caused by manual tamping processes
- Installation possible on all common types of sleepers
- Reduces wheel-rail vertical forces in the superstructure
ShimLift advantages
- Rapid repair of transition zones after voids have formed underneath sleepers
- Reduction of renewed formation voids
- Ballast memory effect has no impact
- Available for various types of sleepers and rail fastenings
- No intervention in the compacted ballast bed required
ShimLift Installation
- Replacing the rail fastening on the sleeper
- Time required for installation per transition zone: 3 workers, 1,5 working hours
- Time required for height adjustment approx. 30 min per transition zone
ShimLift approvals
Various approvals, both for operational testing and for series application, have been obtained in the meantime. Please contact us regarding further approvals, also according to the cross-reference method.
What is ballast memory effect?
The track ballast needs sufficient space to form a new load-bearing and stable aggregate after a tamping operation. When eliminating voids of low height by tamping, only the angular position of the ballast under the sleeper is usually changed, but not its orientation. This prevents the desired creation of a new aggregate: after just a few train crossings, the ballast returns to its original position and the void underneath the sleeper is back.
What are transition zones?
The transition zone is the area between superstructure systems with different settlement behaviour. These transition zones are found before and behind railway bridges, level crossings, and where ballast superstructure changes into slab track. There may also be transition zones between different ballast qualities (e.g. transition from old ballast to new ballast).
ShimLift Video
ShimLift’s design and functionality are shown in the video clip.