The German Center for Rail Traffic Research (DZSF) at the Federal Railway Authority commissioned a pioneering research project titled „Experimental Comparison of Herbicide-Free Methods for Weed Control on Railway Tracks.“ Currently, weed control involves labor-intensive manual work using harmful chemicals. To develop a more efficient and environmentally friendly approach, the Institute of Rail Vehicles and Transport Systems (IFS) at RWTH Aachen tested a combination of innovative technologies.
Among these was high-pressure water jet cutting using a suspension jet. A prototype developed by ANT was mounted on a custom-built modular carrier system, equipped with guide wheels, designed by IFS. This mobile unit was operated along a decommissioned test track using a two-way vehicle.
HydroMill played a key role in this research, assisting with process design, including the selection of parameters and abrasives, and providing ongoing consultancy to ensure the effective and cost-efficient implementation of the technology. Thanks to our extensive expertise, we successfully demonstrated the potential of this method for weed control. Our trials showed that complete removal of weeds was possible without damaging the track bed or harming the environment.
The German Center for Rail Traffic Research (DZSF) at the Federal Railway Authority commissioned a pioneering research project titled „Experimental Comparison of Herbicide-Free Methods for Weed Control on Railway Tracks.“ Currently, weed control involves labor-intensive manual work using harmful chemicals. To develop a more efficient and environmentally friendly approach, the Institute of Rail Vehicles and Transport Systems (IFS) at RWTH Aachen tested a combination of innovative technologies.
Among these was high-pressure water jet cutting using a suspension jet. A prototype developed by ANT was mounted on a custom-built modular carrier system, equipped with guide wheels, designed by IFS. This mobile unit was operated along a decommissioned test track using a two-way vehicle.
HydroMill played a key role in this research, assisting with process design, including the selection of parameters and abrasives, and providing ongoing consultancy to ensure the effective and cost-efficient implementation of the technology. Thanks to our extensive expertise, we successfully demonstrated the potential of this method for weed control. Our trials showed that complete removal of weeds was possible without damaging the track bed or harming the environment. Further field trials and a follow-up project are currently being planned and discussed with our partners.
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