Advanced Railroad Friction Management Solutions

Our commitment to excellence underscores our primary goal: delivering the world’s most advanced friction management solutions that consistently and reliably safeguard the wheel/rail interface. As globally recognized leaders in railroad friction management, we continuously innovate to develop products that:

Reduce rail and wheel wear
Maintain a controlled intermediate friction level that does not affect vehicle braking or traction
Reduce noise and short-pitch corrugations for passenger rail
Reduce lateral forces
Reduce derailment potential
Reduce energy consumption
Reduce Rolling Contact Fatigue (RCF) development

KELTRACK® Water-Based Friction Modifiers

KELTRACK ER Plus and KELTRACK Transit EX are premium, all-season, TOR friction modifiers with extended carry-down capabilities for use in the freight and transit rail environments, respectively.

With these innovative products, L.B. Foster took our world leading KELTRACK friction modifier technology and developed enhanced formulations that provide increased coverage at all operating temperatures while continuing to provide excellent protection in the wheel / rail interface. 

KELTRACK ER Plus and KELTRACK Transit EX have been designed to have enhanced film durability, improved corrosion resistance, and an exceptionally low freezing point. 

KELTRACK friction modifiers are water-based and contain no oil.

They provide railroads a controlled intermediate friction level which does not affect vehicle braking or traction. On top of what is showcased above, we offer our legacy KELTRACK ER and KELTRACK Trackside Transit friction modifier products that are for use in heavy haul and passenger rail environments, respectively.

A close-up view of a railroad track where a puddle of purple-grey liquid is shown on an orange foam bar attached to the rail.

INFINITRACK® Top Of Rail Lubricant

INFINITRACK is an exceedingly durable oil-based, all-season TOR lubricant which provides excellent protection in the wheel / rail interface. INFINITRACK has been proven to carry for over 8 miles under heavy haul conditions.

Developed for territories without significant grades, INFINITRACK can help significantly reduce the cost of a Friction Management program while delivering all of the benefits.

PROTECTOR® Application Systems

Our next generation PROTECTOR X  trackside friction management systems include heavily sloped product compartment with the industry’s lowest cavitation levels and true first-in, first-out product utilization.

PROTECTOR® Application Systems allow for longer intervals between tank refills, easier product transitions between seasons, and less track access time required for maintenance.

Combined with our  TOR Foam application bars and our next generation Remote Performance Monitoring (RPM), the PROTECTOR system is the most advanced friction management system available in the world.

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.

Legacy PROTECTOR IV

Our TOR FM product portfolio is designed to address any Top of Rail Friction Management challenge you may face. In addition to the products highlighted above, we also offer our legacy PROTECTOR IV electric application systems, providing proven solutions for your rail friction management needs.

KELTRACK applied via a trackside application system.
A PROTECTOR top of rail (TOR) friction modifier application system installed on a passenger railroad.
INFINITRACK applied via a trackside application system.
INFINITRACK applied via a trackside application system.
KELTRACK applied via a trackside application system.
KELTRACK applied manually to the TOR in curved track.
Top of rail (TOR) application bars installed on a passenger railroad.