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Worksop firm helps rebuild Iraq railways
A WORKSOP company has won a contract to help rebuild the railways of Iraq that the conflict has left in tatters.
Pandrol UK, which is based on Bone Mill Lane, fought off stiff competition from Germany and China to win the contract to supply and manufacture rail fastenings.
The world-leading company makes the fittings that fasten railway sleepers to the track and has become a major force in the industry since it was established 70 years ago.
“It is a team effort, pulling together to meet the challenge of developing railway markets and in doing so, ensuring Pandrol’s future in Worksop,” said managing director David Hampton.
“However, the railway industry is a challenging market sector and the Pandrol business cannot rest on its laurels.”
Pandrol has been long established in supplying fastenings to the UK and exports to more than 100 countries across the globe.
About 150 people work at the Worksop site, just off Gateford Road, close to Tesco supermarket.
“We export about 70 per cent of our product. We don’t have much direct contact with Iraq as we deal with them through an agency,” added Mr Hampton.
“The Iraq rail network is going to involve laying about 200,000 sleepers and a rail fastening every 0.6m.”
“The country has adopted the Pandrol fastclip elastic rail fastening as its standard. It is a massive project and will take a long, long time to complete.”
“I understand that they are beginning to put our fastenings out onto the tracks.”
Other major projects for Pandrol include supplying Saudi Arabia, where they are building a heavy haul track to support transporting mineral deposits in the north of the country to Ra’s Az Zawr on The Gulf.
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Sunday 27 May 2012
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