All change for train air conditioning compressors

UK: Green Point UK, Bitzer UK’s compressor services arm, is remanufacturing air conditioning compressors for Siemens’ UK trains.

To date, Green Point UK has remanufactured more than two hundred Bitzer 2FC-3.2Y-40S and ECOLINE 2FES-3Y-40S semi-hermetic compressors, for the HVAC systems used on Siemens’ Class 185 and Desiro series trains.

The German manufacturer’s transport solutions arm, Siemens Mobility, switched to using remanufactured compressors due to the environmental benefits of reduced waste and embodied carbon, in line with the company’s resource efficiency goals, while reducing costs and ensuring rapid turnaround.

“The embodied carbon and materials in equipment used on trains represents a big percentage of their environmental impact. Using high quality remanufactured compressors does not add to the carbon and material budget, while maintaining efficiency and quality,” explained Siemens Mobility UK service delivery manager Paul Hawkin.

Compressors are delivered in batches to Green Point UK’s facility in Milton Keynes, where they are assessed and then returns them to the original factory specification. To date, some 98% of units returned are suitable for remanufacturing, resulting in almost negligible wastage.

In line with planned preventive maintenance principles, compressors are remanufactured at a point in their working life that gives a comfortable safety margin before wear begins to take a toll, minimising the risk of breakdown in service and ensuring continuity of train air conditioning.

“If a train air conditioning system fails, it becomes an immediate problem,” said Green Point UK general managerWill Pribyl. “Siemens Mobility UK takes a proactive approach that minimises this risk, and ensures HVAC systems are maintained in excellent working order at all times. This enlightened approach has benefits for all, and is a model for intelligent stewardship of cooling systems, given their importance to comfort and productivity.”

After remanufacturing, compressors are returned to Siemens Mobility UK’s Rail Village at Goole and the units reinstalled into HVAC modules as part of a comprehensive planned maintenance overhaul.

This includes reconditioning air conditioning fans, which are equipped with new bearings and restored to original factory specification.

As part of the agreement, Green Point UK holds stocks of replacement OEM components at all times, ensuring rapid turnaround.