Trackside Gauge Face Lubrication for Transit

Recognized globally as the experts in railroad friction management, we continue to develop innovative products that:

• Extend wheel and rail life by reducing wear

• Reduce flange noise

• Reduce derailment potential

• Reduce energy consumption

• Reduce Rolling Contact Fatigue (RCF) development

SYNCURVE® Transit gauge face grease

Our gauge face grease portfolio starts with SYNCURVE Transit, which provides industry leading protection in the wheel flange/gauge face interface and is uniquely suited to the transit environment. As an exceedingly durable all-season rail curve lubricant, customers can substantially lower application rates (up to 50% lower) while maintaining excellent gauge face coverage in comparison to traditional rail curve greases.

Key Benefits and Features:

• Exceedingly durable rail curve lubricant which promotes exceptional carry distances and the use of low application rates

• Lower annual grease consumption leads to lower costs, fewer site visits, less time on track, and less labor required to fill lubricators

• All-season product eliminates the need to carry multiple products (i.e. summer and winter variants)

• Increased site cleanliness

• Ultimately biodegradable and non-toxic to aquatic environment

A complete gauge face grease portfolio

Along with SYNCURVE Transit, we also provide a full range of high-performance and environmentally friendly gauge face lubricants including:

• BIOCURVE® LB2 is a premium quality readily biodegradable rail curve grease formulated with vegetable oils.  BIOCURVE LB2 has exceptional product stability and lower propensity for bar clogging compared to other biodegradable greases.  This product is recommended for locations requiring the highest level of biodegradability such as near waterways or other environmentally sensitive areas.  BIOCURVE LB2 is an all-season product suitable for year-round use in all climates. 

• DURACURVE® CE is a grease specifically designed to provide good wear protection, weather resistance, and effective carry-down at an economical cost.  DURACURVE CE is currently available in a summer grade.

PROTECTOR® application systems

Built on over 40 years of in-service experience and continuous technological innovation, L.B. Foster PROTECTOR systems are known to be:

• Exceedingly reliable

• Easy to maintain

• Consistent and precise in their application rate. Our innovative control system uses proprietary compensation algorithms to seamlessly adapt to changing operating conditions and consistently outputs the correct amount of grease.

Combined with our MC-5 or MC-4® application bars with GREASEGUIDES® and our next generation Remote Performance Monitoring (RPM), the PROTECTOR system is the most advanced friction management system available in the world.

• MC-5 and MC-4 applicator bars accurately deliver lubricant to wheel flange / rail gauge face. Our state-of-the-art MC-5 applicator bar comprises of a new manifold design which eliminates port-to-port output variability. By equalizing the flow of grease to each dispensing port, bar clogging is significantly reduced and the optimal application of grease to the rail gauge side surface is maintained.

• L.B. Foster's patented GREASEGUIDE troughs re-direct and guide grease back to the wheel flange where it can carry out its intended purpose — protecting the rail and wheels. GREASEGUIDE technology helps to improve lubricant pick-up, thereby increasing carry-down and reducing waste.

ESA™ application systems

The ESA system features easily exchangeable, refillable lubricant cannisters which prevent ingress of dirt or air into the system and protect maintenance personnel from coming into contact with the lubricant. ESA can be used for either standard or grooved rail profiles and can be configured to apply through either drilled rail or standard applicator bars.

Whatever your gauge face lubrication challenge, we can help.