British Steel has secured a contract from German rail company Deutsche Bahn for the supply of approximately 20,000t of 120m rail per year.
Recently, British Steel invested £1m to boost its Scunthorpe Rail and Section Mill to facilitate the manufacture of the longer-length rail, an upgrade from its previous 108m products.
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The upgrade is intended to cater to the majority of European railway networks that accept 60m rails but prefer 120m.
British Steel Rail managing director Peter Smith said: “Supplying a new product to a major railway company like Deutsche Bahn is a significant achievement and demonstrates our commitment to product and service innovation.
“It also shows how increasing our product range can help us enter new markets, and how we can work in partnership with customers to become the strategic supply chain partner of choice.”
Initially signed for 21 months, the contract will involve delivery of the 120m rails through the Channel Tunnel, with first shipment scheduled for this month.
In case of Deutsche Bahn’s future requirement for 60m products, British Steel intends to use both of its mills to fulfil the supply demand.
Smith added: “Our engineering and development teams have performed an excellent job in expanding our manufacturing capabilities, ensuring our rail products and grades can continue being precisely matched to track conditions, track types, environmental conditions and a host of other variables.
“This ensures every rail we deliver provides optimum performance throughout its life, guaranteeing our customers – and their customers – a first class service.”
