NaKorid – Repair and refurbishment of insulated rail joints

Less track possession time. Lower costs. Greater availability.

When metal flow at insulated rail joints leads to faults and false track occupancy indications, replacing the entire insulated rail joint has often been necessary. Rhomberg Sersa Rail Group offers an efficient maintenance solution for this. A repair insert is installed in good time to provide a layer that prevents metal flow while maintaining electrical insulation – quickly, resource-efficiently and at significantly lower cost.

• High-strength nano-composite hybrid material: NaKorid has particularly high compressive strength and is ideally suited for use as an insulating insert.
• Patented repair process: Preventive refurbishment of insulated rail joints affected by metal flow and wear to avoid faults.
• Fast bonding: The robust insert material is bonded using a very fast-curing two-component adhesive. The bond is fully cured after just 5 to 10 minutes.
• Wide temperature range: Application is possible at temperatures from −10 to +40 °C. At temperatures of 10 °C and below, preheating the rail is recommended.

• Up to 80% cost savings: Repair and refurbishment without a coupon and without track construction workers – requiring only two RSRG specialists and one safety watchperson.
• Time savings: Up to six insulated rail joints can be repaired during a four-hour track possession – thanks to the fast process and very short curing and repair times.
• Proven technology: Successfully proven in operation since 2019, with more than 10,000 insulated rail joints repaired on the DB network.
• Sustainable solution: Significantly lower energy and resource consumption compared with the conventional solution.
• Approvals and authorisations: Approved by the Swiss Federal Office of Transport (FOT) and Deutsche Bahn (DB).

1. Assess the condition: Check for over-rolling and wear at the insulation joint.

2. Prepare for repair: Clean the rail area and prepare it for the installation of the repair insert.

3. Insert the NaKorid insert: Apply the repair insert using a fast-curing two-component adhesive.

4. Allow to cure: The bond is formed within a short time.

5. Reopen the track: The line is quickly returned to service.