Mechan Railway Depot and Workshop Equipment
Mechan is one of the UK’s leading railway maintenance companies, offering a wide range of heavy lifting and handling products to clients worldwide.The Sheffield-based manufacturer combines traditional engineering skills with innovative design and the latest technology, to drive the development of equipment that epitomises its commitment to quality, safety and reliability.
Rail lifting jacks
Perhaps best known for its striking yellow lifting jacks, Mechan produces tough yet refined fixed or mobile units that are used to service railcars of all sizes in depots across the globe.
An unlimited number of train jacks can be linked together to work as a synchronised unit, thanks to the firm’s patented Megalink controller. Using a single cable, a lift can be managed by just one person from a portable, touchscreen human-machine interface (HMI) panel, which provides constant feedback, records information about usage and faults, and offers impressive power savings.
Equipment drops
These versatile handling systems are becoming increasingly popular as they make bogie change feasible within two hours. Time can also be saved on other underfloor work.
Because each equipment drop is made to order, Mechan’s expert engineers tailor the design to the unique needs and practical constraints of its intended location, ensuring the unit does not detract from other depot work and normal operations can continue when it is not in use.
Undercar handling
Mechan’s underfloor lifting systems for trains enable complete bogies or other floor-mounted equipment to be removed or replaced without decoupling carriages. They can be installed beneath one or multiple roads, providing full, uninterrupted access to the item being changed.
Bogie lifting and handling
Bogie maintenance is a key area of depot activity where products designed to make the removal, replacement and refurbishment of bogies easier and safer are in high demand. Ranging from bogie rotators to bogie lifting platforms and bogie turntables, Mechan’s bespoke design and build process ensures all of its bogie change equipment is adaptable and meets the servicing needs of the busiest depots.
Rail traversers
Rail traversers are a perfect example of large-scale installations that are built to order and Mechan is making a name for itself in this field.
Requests for these unique machines are much lower than other railway lifting equipment, but Mechan is one of the few companies in the UK able to showcase its ability to design and build cost-effective, bespoke products for any size or weight vehicle.
Third-party innovations
For customers based in the UK and Ireland, Mechan has sourced a range of products from European manufacturers that complements its in-house capabilities.
Profile measuring is a must for checking wheel, brake and rail wear and Mechan is representing one of the most advanced systems on the market: the handheld CALIPRI from NextSense. It uses three simple lasers to record all relevant parameters on wheelsets and tracks, producing faultless, tamper-proof results.
The importance of improving air quality and the depot environment is being recognised by a growing number of maintenance providers and Mechan has sourced various products offering clear environmental benefits. These include automated sandbox filling systems from Klein Anlagenbau, fume extraction systems from Blaschke and a cleaner, greener alternative to traditional shunters. The award winning, Zwiehoff electric road and rail shunters are emission-free, relying solely on battery power to trail loads up to 500t.
A partnership with Koltech is also allowing Mechan to bring high-quality wheel lathes to customers who wish to recondition wheel profiles. They can be adapted to any rail vehicle and are available in a single or tandem arrangement.
Depot equipment maintenance
Mechan’s commitment to customers does not stop at installation. The firm’s trained technicians offer comprehensive service arrangements, comprising planned maintenance packages, 24-hour emergency response and access to spare parts or technical support.
About Mechan
With almost half a century’s engineerin expgerience, Mechan enjoys an unrivalled reputation at home and overseas and supplies high-profile UK projects, such as the Intercity Express Programme, Thameslink and Crossrail.
The firm has established an international network of agents, enabling exports to play an increasingly significant role in its success and equipment is shipped as far afield as South Africa, New Zealand and Hong Kong.
Thanks to its attention to detail and after-sales care, Mechan enjoys excellent links with depot operators and train builders, working regularly with the likes of Siemens, Hitachi, Network Rail, Bombardier and Alstom. An open and friendly work environment promotes the generation of ideas and a sense of responsibility among staff, which is reflected in the high level of customer service enjoyed by clients large and small.
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Building 5
Davy Industrial Park
Sheffield
S9 4EX
United Kingdom
Mechan Images
Products and Services
Bogie Lifting and Handling
Stripping down and rebuilding bogies can be heavy work, which is why Mechan has devised a range of products to make their removal, refurbishment and maintenance easier.
Equipment Drops
Fixed location equipment drops, sometimes known as bogie or wheelset drops, enable underfloor modules to be removed, maintained or replaced without lifting or splitting the train, permitting simultaneous inspection and cleaning. This makes them particularly beneficial when an unscheduled change is required.
Rail Lifting Jacks
At the heart of general depot maintenance are Mechan's flagship lifting jacks, offering complete flexibility in terms of rolling stock type, configuration and location. They are vital for access to bogies, wheelsets and under floor components and their control system is a key area in which technological gains are driving forward innovation.
Traversers
Sometimes, it can be necessary to commission equipment tailored specifically to the physical constraints of a location, as well as its maintenance activities.
Undercar Equipment Handling
Undercar lifting systems allow engines and other modules to be changed without raising the train.
White Papers
Rail Depot Lifting and Handling Equipment
Our extensive range of lifting and handling equipment is part of a portfolio of products designed specifically to meet the needs of modern depots and track maintenance teams.
Rail Depot Lifting and Handling Equipment
Engineered to withstand the constant demands of rail depots, our lifting and handling equipment is built to outperform, outlast and outsmart our rivals.
Press Release
Rail maintenance equipment specialist, Mechan, is embarking on a charity mission to celebrate its 50th anniversary. The Sheffield-based manufacturer has pledged to raise at least £5,000 for the city’s Children’s Hospital to mark this milestone in its development.
Read moreMechan has welcomed new members to its board of directors.
Read moreMechan will help to keep trains operating on London’s new Elizabeth Line with its line of specialist maintenance equipment.
Read moreMechan is preparing to exhibit its largest stand at InnoTrans in Germany this year and expand its international profile.
Read moreMechan has maintained its Investors in People accreditation, following the endorsement of the company's 'strong purpose and vision to be recognised as the best in the industry'.
Read moreRail depot equipment specialist, Mechan, is bidding a fond farewell to one of its longest-serving employees, who retires this month after 25 years of service.
Read moreMechan is growing its international export business with the very first order planned for delivery to the Americas.
Read moreMechan has signed an exclusive five-year maintenance contract for its products supplied to Hitachi Rail.
Read moreRail enthusiasts are able to preserve a historic rail fleet with advanced lifting equipment developed by Mechan.
Read moreRail depot equipment manufacturer, Mechan, is returning to this year's Railtex exhibition in May to introduce industry colleagues to its new owners, France's CIM Group.
Read moreRail depot equipment specialist, Mechan, is joining France's CIM Group - one of the industry's most ambitious international suppliers of integrated solutions.
Read moreSheffield-based Mechan continues to be a key equipment manufacturer and supplier to Manchester's home of high speed trains, the Alstom Traincare Centre.
Read moreA trio of cranes built by Sheffield-based Mechan is standing sentry at Northern Rail's Allerton depot in Liverpool, following a £23 million project to increase its capacity.
Read moreSheffield-based Mechan has installed equipment at a fifth site associated with the Department for Transport's flagship Intercity Express Programme (IEP).
Read moreRail depot equipment specialist, Mechan, is boosting export trade in the far east after securing two major orders from Hong Kong.
Read moreRail depot equipment specialist, Mechan, will be turning the spotlight on its flagship lifting jacks at the world's largest transport trade fair in September.
Read moreSheffield heavy lifting specialist, Mechan, has its sights set on expansion in the nuclear sector, after receiving official recognition of its skills.
Read moreSheffield-based rail depot equipment specialist, Mechan, is strengthening its customer support team with the appointment of a new key account manager.
Read moreHeavy lifting specialist Mechan is helping VolkerFitzpatrick transform the tight confines of a depot into a time-saving route to more efficient train maintenance.
Read moreRail depot equipment specialist, Mechan, is celebrating success at the Made in Sheffield Awards for a second consecutive year.
Read moreThe Irish tram network is maintaining the highest standards of rail safety, thanks to technology provided by depot equipment specialist, Mechan.
Read moreSheffield-based manufacturer, Mechan, has secured a contract worth more than £1 million to supply depot maintenance products to the capital's Crossrail project.
Read moreLifting jacks produced by Sheffield-based Mechan are helping to keep the government's plans to electrify the Great Western Line on track.
Read moreMechan has received national industry recognition for its work on the high-profile InterCity Express Programme (IEP).
Read moreMechan has 'a strong purpose and mission to be the best in the industry in which it operates' according to an independent assessment by Investors in People (IiP).
Read moreA landmark moment for the transport industry has been reached this week, following the launch of the eagerly anticipated Rail Sector Strategy.
Read moreTwo Mechan traversers are to be used at Hitachi Rail's new rail vehicle manufacturing facility in County Durham.
Read moreMechan is aiming to expand its presence in the Middle East with its first solo appearance at the region's largest rail conference.
Read moreHeavy lifting specialist, Mechan, might work across the world, but the Sheffield-based manufacturer had to look no further than South Yorkshire to secure its latest order.
Read moreMechan are to exhibit at the forthcoming Railtex 2015 event.
Read moreSheffield-based rail depot equipment manufacturer, Mechan, is expanding its presence in the Middle East after forging links with a second agent in the area. Mechan has joined forces with specialist railway supply firm, Saudi Arabia's Riyadh Establishment, to raise the profile of its pr
Read moreSheffield-based handling equipment manufacturer, Mechan, is joining forces with a fellow South Yorkshire railway specialist to equip a new multimillion pound tram depot in Blackpool. Mechan is supplying Doncaster rail infrastructure experts, Trackwork, with two bogie turntables to form
Read moreSheffield-based rail depot equipment specialist, Mechan, is celebrating after securing its first order for sand-filling systems from a tram operator. Mechan is supplying two automated sand-filling systems to Manchester Metrolink, as part of a major investment expanding the city's tra
Read moreAn engineer from Sheffield-based rail depot equipment specialists, Mechan, has made a marathon effort to raise more than £850 for a charity that supports the terminally ill. Mechan's Jonathan Smith completed this year's London Marathon in a personal best time of three hours and 23 minu
Read moreAn international delegation has swapped the sand dunes of Egypt for the seven hills of Sheffield to visit local heavy lifting manufacturer, Mechan. Representatives from Cairo Metro's Line Three and the Egyptian National Authority for Tunnels visited Mechan to see the rail depot handli
Read moreLeading Sheffield-based manufacturer, Mechan, has signed an exclusive deal to supply unique Italian mini cranes and mould-handling equipment to the UK and Irish markets. Thanks to its partnership with Gruniverpal Tranchero, Mechan is now the sole distributor of the Minidrel S and T
Read moreSheffield-based Mechan, a leading supplier of rail industry lifting products, is looking forward to a bumper year after new orders placed since January topped £1 million. The depot maintenance equipment manufacturer has received new orders totalling a record £1.1 million in
Read moreSheffield-based handling equipment manufacturer Mechan has signed exclusive deals with four European companies in a bid to expand its product portfolio. Mechan looked to the Continent to find manufacturers of products that would enhance the rail depot lifting equipment and extensive ra
Read moreEstablished Sheffield manufacturer Mechan is making an unprecedented investment in the future of its business with a move across the city to new premises. Chapeltown-based Mechan is relocating to newly refurbished headquarters in the Darnall area of Sheffield – an operation that will cost the com
Read moreA new Hitachi traincare centre at Ashford and upgraded DLR depot at Beckton have generated substantial orders for Sheffield-based heavy-handling gear specialist Mechan Limited. New depot action is not confined to the UK and Mechan has also been contracted to supply equipment in Ireland and South
Read moreBogie-drop and heavy-handling specialist Mechan Limited has been contracted by Southern to maintain mechanical equipment and electronic control systems at three of the train operator's key rolling stock depots for three years. The contract award follows Sheffield-based Mechan's decision
Read moreEurostar trains that pull into the brand new CTRL maintenance facility in east London will receive daily servicing and even wheelset changes that are the railway equivalent of a motor racing pit-stop. Streamlined removal and exchange of wheelsets and bogies at the £400-million Temple Mills depot
Read moreA management buyout deal has just been sealed at a Sheffield company that manufactures specialist lifting equipment for the railways and heavy industry. Mechan has been designing, fabricating and installing cranes and other heavy-lifting gear for UK industrial customers since 1969, and is a major
Read moreAn industry insider has warned that train maintenance depot operators, both in the UK and overseas, who fail to invest in technologically advanced equipment face relegation to the also-rans. Richard Carr of Mechan, a Sheffield-based heavy-lifting and depot systems supplier, points to the new gene
Read moreA British company that manufactures specialist lifting and control equipment for heavy industry and transport has just formed alliances with distributors in four key overseas markets and expects to sign further deals to become a global supplier. Sheffield-based Mechan Limited has been d
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Building 5
Davy Industrial Park
Sheffield
S9 4EX
United Kingdom
