Railcar being lifted

Journey of a Typical Railcar from Factory Through Locomotion in Another Country

The international journey of new railcars from factory through installation on a track overseas, is not as simple as booking trailers, a ship and cranes.

It starts with engineering modifications to the railcars to create lifting beams and lashing rings. COG calculations are made to ensure the lifting plan keeps the railcar balanced through the lifting operation. At the same time, early shipments are dispatched with tracks, welding equipment and materials, communication and signal systems, depot structures and fixtures as well as track maintenance equipment.

A local crew starts installing the tracks and associated equipment at destination while the railcars are being built and custom fitted with lifting and lashing points for the journey.

This complex process is designed and managed by specialists like Overseas Brokers, with the help of marine engineers who assist in creating lifting diagrams noting center of gravity,  drafting of required crane spreader specifications, making angle and clearance calculations, as well as oversight by marine insurance surveyors who supervise every step of the loading/unloading, lashing, lifting, delivery and placement on the final track at destination.

Note: The lifting configuration of the railcar in the photo is designed to maintain a 90 degree angle and keep the railcar level when lifted, to prevent the lifting cables from causing damage to the side panels of the railcar.

Read more about such projects at:

https://www.stattimes.com/royal-cargo-moves-multiple-unit-trains-of-philippine-national-railways-logistics

(Photo Credit – above: Via The STAT Trade Times: “This shipment is the first delivery of PNR trains and seven more new trainsets are set to arrive in 2020.”)

https://www.topgear.com.ph/news/motoring-news/pnr-indonesia-train-coaches-a4354-20191211

Railcar (Philippine National Railways)

(Photo credit: DOTR – via TopGear)

Air Taxi with people standing by

Unmanned Air Taxi Demo Takes Flight

The first ever demonstration of an autonomous air tax  in the US took place January 7 in Raleigh, NC, just 200 miles from the site of the Wright Brothers first powered flight. Although the demo was unmanned, the taxi can carry 2 passengers or cargo.

Read more about the demo at: https://spectrumlocalnews.com/nc/charlotte/news/2020/01/07/north-america-s-first-autonomous-air-taxi-demonstration-takes-flight-in-raleigh

(Photo credit: From Governor Roy Cooper on Twitter – via Spectrum News’ site)

Earth as seen from Apollo

Good News For Office Furniture Manufacturers Offering Global Distribution – More Companies Are Expected To Join Globalization Trend

According to research conducted by Intertrust, a financial services provider to many Fortune 500 clients, 72% of companies surveyed expect to expand to multiple new countries over the next 4 years. The survey showed the biggest obstacles are regulatory challenges and recruiting local staff.

Read more about the survey results, obstacles and outsourced solutions at: https://workplaceinsight.net/most-business-leaders-think-that-major-firms-will-continue-to-globalise/

(Photo credit: Workplace Insight)