Polycarbonate as valuable solutions for the railway industry

Mass transportation represents the ideal solution for traffic management in major cities in terms of increasing convenience and speed. In the face of a growing population and increased urbanisation, railway system manufacturers are seeking materials that reduce energy consumption while also being environmentally friendly and safe. Bayer and China South Railway (CSR) Nanjing Puzhen have joined forces to create new interior designs for CSR’s low-floor trams.

The Chinese industry development zone Suzhou New District will be the first implementation site for the new designs. The company will supply the interior equipment for all low-floor trams of the new metro line number 1. This project was the first to be approved by the China National Development and Reform Commission through official tender.

To achieve their goal of having lightweight parts with greater energy efficiency, the railway manufacturer chose Bayer’s Bayblend and Makrolon polycarbonate sheets for its train components. In particular, CSR Nanjing Puzheng was seeking a material offering leading-edge interior designs while at the same time maximising passenger safety through its flame retardance. Bayer’s polycarbonate sheets offer all of these characteristics, and are also available in appealing designs, colours, and surface structures. The sheets are used for the interior wall paneling of the trams. CSR Nanjing Puzhen also praised Bayer’s support at all project stages from material selection to manufacturing.

Bayer thermoplastic sheets are produced through processes that minimise emissions and environmental impact. This is thanks to the application of modern extrusion technologies that allow processes to create high-quality, lightweight, and yet still durable interior rail components in an environmentally conscious manner. The properties of Bayer’s thermoplastic sheets provide excellent dimensional stability over a wide range of temperatures. At the same time, their production cycle times are shortened with new processes, allowing for greater production volume of thermoformed components. Bayer thermoplastic sheets utilized by the rail industry have satisfied all flame and smoke safety requirements, making them an ideal choice for industrial applications.