GREX launches Aurora Xi at the BIG SHOW

Georgetown Rail Equipment Company (GREX) will be launching its latest technology in crosstie inspection Aurora® Xi™ at Rail Interchange 2015 in Minneapolis, Minn., October 4.

Aurora Xi, an internal tie inspection system, builds upon the technology of the GREX Aurora track inspection system that has scanned more than 120,000 miles of track in North America. While Aurora is capable of looking at the surface of ties and other track components, Aurora Xi takes inspections further by adding internal imaging capability. Powered by backscatter x-ray technology, it goes beyond the surface to reveal the size and depth of internal defects in crossties. The Aurora Xi allows customers to see everything from hollow sections caused by decay to the depth and size of cracks.

“Aurora Xi is a first of its kind tie inspection solution,” explained Nate Bachman, vice president of marketing and sales at GREX. “It is a tremendous engineering accomplishment and a perfect compliment to our Aurora platform. GREX is incredibly excited to introduce this new product to the industry and there is no better venue to do it at than Railway Interchange 2015.”

Capable of scanning track at speeds in excess of 20 miles per hour, the vehicles can scan long stretches of track. Once a scan is complete, detailed reports allow railroad maintenance teams to pinpoint individual ties and other components that need to be replaced in order to ensure safety and regulatory compliance. The technology assigns a grade to each tie scanned and records the GPS and milepost coordinates. With these detailed reports, GREX notes that railroads can better estimate the life of their existing ties and create accurate, efficient and cost-effective maintenance plans to replace them as needed.

“Customers can forecast the life of their ties with precision, as well as plan their capital maintenance programs with complete confidence,” said GREX President and Chief Executive Officer William Shell.

GREX developed Aurora Xi, in partnership with the University of Florida Nuclear Engineering Department. Graduate students from the department spent the summer of 2014 at GREX headquarters in Georgetown, Texas, working alongside engineers on the first prototype. The first Aurora Xi hi-rail vehicles were first put to work in the field beginning in May this year.

To see what all the hubbub is about, stop by booth #4837 and check out Aurora Xi for yourself.