Rail depot equipment specialist, Mechan, is boosting export trade in the far east after securing two major orders from Hong Kong.

The Sheffield manufacturer 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 20t 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, allowing a synchronised lift to be managed by just one operator. A new emergency stop safety circuit was also designed and fitted to comply with Hong Kong’s stringent electrical regulations.

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 and address the way the train is supported. Due to the ground conditions at this site, pit depth is limited and this too had to be overcome in the design.

Richard Carr, Mechan’s chief executive, 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."

Although the majority of Mechan’s work is undertaken in the UK, exports currently account for more than 20% of turnover and its products are used in 30 countries worldwide.

For more information about its range of depot maintenance equipment, contact Mechan.