Pantograph manufacturers

[eldomtom2]

Does anyone have any information on manufacturers of pantographs used on British rolling stock? I know via mergers Wabtec owns a lot of companies in the field.

 

[JonathanH]

Brecknell Willis - however, Wabtec moved production away from Chard on buying the company.

Some interesting history here
http://www.traintesting.com/BW Highreach pan.htm

The Brecknell, Willis Highreach pantograph

In 1973 the small West Country firm of Brecknell, Willis & Co. patented a very compact and ingenious design of single arm pantograph. This was a development of an idea from Doug Dixon, a consultant designer to BW & Co.
The pantograph was primarily designed as a lightweight rapid transit pantograph where its compact size when folded, combined with its ability to reach up to high wire height, resulted in it being christened the 'Highreach pantograph'.

The pantograph was, in keeping with most pantographs at the time, spring operated with an elementary head suspension. It featured needle roller bearings at the base as well as cams and chains at the elbow. The operating rods were cleverly hidden inside the hollow arms making an excellent aesthetically pleasing design.

Chard employer’s production facility set to close

THE production facility of a Chard employer will close and be transferred by the end of the year.

www.chardandilminsternews.co.uk

Brecknell Willis’ production to be transferred by the end of the year

27th March

THE production facility of a Chard employer will close and be transferred by the end of the year.

The Brecknell Willis site’s production facility will close after the Wabtec group took the “difficult decision” and decided “to optimize and simplify production in today’s cyclical environment”.

The group also added that production will be transferred to other Wabtec plants while the office in Chard will maintain its engineering, project management, and sales office.

The full statement from a spokesperson for the Wabtec group said: “Following the collective consultation, Wabtec has decided to close its production facility in Chard.

“This difficult decision follows a review of the company’s global manufacturing footprint given the need to optimize and simplify production in today’s cyclical environment.

“The plan calls for transferring production to other Wabtec plants by the end of the year.

“Wabtec will maintain an office in Chard focused on engineering, project management, and sales.

“The company remains fully committed to all customer obligations and providing impacted employees with resources and benefits to manage the transition.”

 

[eldomtom2]

Brecknell Willis.

Was mainly interested in info about contemporary manufacturers - Brecknell Willis has been absorbed into Wabtec and closed down by now.

 

[Energy]

Was mainly interested in info about contemporary manufacturers - Brecknell Willis has been absorbed into Wabtec and closed down by now.

Brecknell Willis (whats under Wabtec) still supplies a lot of them for the UK, such as for the AT300s and Aventras.

 

[JonathanH]

Was mainly interested in info about contemporary manufacturers - Brecknell Willis has been absorbed into Wabtec and closed down by now.

Yes, but doesn't that mean what we're Brecknell Willis pantographs are now Wabtec pantographs?

Faiveley are also owned by Wabtec.

Does anyone apart from Wabtec supply pantographs now?

 

[DanNCL]

Does anyone apart from Wabtec supply pantographs now?

Siemens do but apart from on the 374s their pantographs haven't seen use in the UK.

 

[Townsend Hook]

Does anyone apart from Wabtec supply pantographs now?

The German firm, ‘Schunk’, have supplied the pantographs used on a majority of the tram fleets in the UK, including the class 399 tram-trains.

 

[33021]

Does anyone have any information on manufacturers of pantographs used on British rolling stock? I know via mergers Wabtec owns a lot of companies in the field.

There was also Stone Faiverley also now part of Wabtec I believe…