Hitachi Rail

HITACHI RAIL STAY ON-TRACK WITH SYSTEM STORE
 

When HITACHI Rail was looking for the most efficient storage solution for its new Ashford depot, the best offer was right on their doorstep. As the depot is brand new, it required a complete storage and work bench installation that would accommodate the tools and machinery required for the depot to function. The storage facility needed to be innovative, user-friendly and secure, plus in some cases the work benches and tool cupboards needed to be mobile to allow engineers to move parts and tools easily around the facility.

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With System Store Solutions Ltd a stones throw away from the new depot, they were quickly called in to design a storage solution for the new facility. “It was clear from the initial discussion that System Store Solutions were the right company for us”, says Jason Andrews, technical trainer and support engineer for Hitachi Rail Maintenance (UK) Ltd. “They pin-pointed our requirements extremely accurately at the design stages and I was equally impressed with the professionalism and the quality of workmanship. The product, the installation and the overall service was excellent”.

The installation consisted of fixed and mobile work benches plus free standing tool cupboards fitted with high-visibility polycarbonate doors for storing tools, components and equipment. The hi-vis secure system saves time when tool tracking as now cabinets can be visually inspected without opening them. The brand new depots’ primary role is to maintain the class 395 high speed “Javelin” trains, which are currently in their testing phase. As well as maintaining the 395, the new depot, based in Ashford Kent will also be responsible for replacing South Eastern traction packs on the class 465.

“Another fantastic feature offered for tool storage was the plastazote foam tool inserts equipped with an easy user ID tagging system”, adds Jason. “This new facility not only kept our tools neat and tidy, but also created a speedy system for tracking down who was using what tool or tools at any one time. This in combination with the high visibility polycarbonate doors made tool tracking problems a thing of the past. No more wandering up and down the depot trying to find out who has a tool that you need. The new system tells you instantly. I would have no hesitation in recommending System Store Solutions and will definitely be calling on their expertise for future projects”.

System Store Solutions specialises in the total design, layout and installation of rail maintenance workshops and sheds, as well as providing a range of innovative storage products designed specifically for the rail industry. The company is the exclusive UK distributor of the Fami storage, workshop and transportation systems product range. Its success is founded on the expertise of its consultants and based on project management, consultation and technical advice.