LS Cable & System, first in Korea to localize the catenary for subways

On July 22nd, LS Cable & System (President & CEO Ja-Eun Koo) said that it was the first in Korea to localize the rigid bar (R-BAR) catenary system that supplies power to electric railway like the subway. This system is installed in sections where it is difficult to use the conventional catenary system because of narrow space like underground sections and tunnels. Korea has imported all of it for the past 25 years.

The rigid bar system was first applied to the Gwacheon Line (Namtaeryeong~Geumjeong) and the Bundang Line (Suseo~Ori) in early 1990's, but the technology for not only produce the rigid bar, but also accessories design, was necessary, and the ability to understand the electrical railway systems was also required. In other words, there were high technical barriers. So three European companies in Switzerland, France and Spain respectively have been oligopolizing the domestic market. As this new product is compatible with previously imported foreign rigid bar systems, it can substitute imports, and as the supply of core parts, all of which have been imported over the years, has become more efficient, it is now possible to reduce the installation cost by up to 30%.

The rigid bar (R-BAR) is a bar-type structure made of aluminum alloy installed on the ceiling and walls of a tunnel. As it has a simple structure without any special accessory for fastening the contact wire, it can be installed in a narrow space. Also, as the rigid bar system fastens the contact wire to the bar unlike the conventional method of suspending the contact wire at both ends of the support fixture, there is no tension. So there is no fear of the contact wire breaking, and emergency recovery is easy in case of an accident, and the catenary is easy to maintain, e.g. replacement of the contact wire.

LS Cable & System began to develop it back in 2010, and completed development of the rigid bar (R-BAR) and its accessories, such as expansion joints and connector. Also, we joined hands with the Korea Railroad Research Institute, and installed the rigid bar system in the Daebul tunnel section and conducted operating tests, and secured the reliability of performance, and recently acquired the rail facility performance certification from the Korea Rail Network Authority. Our technical know-how is rated as equal to that of overseas leaders.

"LS Cable & System has a variety of product groups related to railroad, such as the cables for railroad cars already compliant with global specifications, and copper alloy catenaries, messenger wires and signal cables for infrastructure used for high-speed railway," said Dr. Dong-Wook Kim (Product Technology Research Center). "The localization of the rigid bar has proven our advanced technical know-how in railroad parts, and we will further accelerate our efforts to penetrate the railroad market at home and abroad."

Source: LS Cable & System

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