MAIDSTONE-BASED Hi-Tec Spray Ltd, the surface coatings equipment specialist, has signed a contract with train builder and maintenance company, ALSTOM Transport to help keep trains in top condition.

Rolling stock carriages are often taken out of service because of damage caused by wear-and-tear, vandalism or when ballast on the tracks hits their sides. ALSTOM carry out body repairs which then require coating using specialist spray equipment.

Hi-Tec Spray was commissioned to design and custom-make a specialised spot repair booth for the task. The new system reduces servicing time, ensuring trains are back on track quicker.

Mick Warren from Hi-Tec Spray said: “We offered ALSTOM a tailor-made solution. Hi-Tec Spray always go the extra mile for customers, designing and tailoring the equipment to their requirements, to ensure that it suits their ways of working and the task the equipment is needed for.”

Ian Ferguson from ALSTOM said: “We are continuously on the look-out for new technologies to support our maintenance operations and are very satisfied with the initial results of the booth.

“After a period of assessment at Chester, we will be looking to deploy this equipment elsewhere within our network of maintenance centres throughout the UK and around the world.”