RGA have designed and manufactured a Dual Drum 6T Winch/Tensioner for Laing O’ Rourke. This was specifically developed to install and recover solid copper conductor for rail network in Australia and Australasia.

Both winches are designed to accommodate drums of solid copper conductor used in the overhead train network. Each winch can haul in at a rate of up to 12kN and haul out under tension of 3 to 12kN. When being used, the cable is fed through the fairlead and anchored. The truck or train carriage drives at a speed of up to 5km/hour. The cable is dispensed at a pre-set tension using electronic controls.

The winch/tensioner has three modes of operation.

• Winch in at 0 to 12kN line pull.
• Tension dispenser at 3 to 12kN pay-out.
• Free wheel with hydraulic adjustable drag brake system.

To increase the safety of this type of machine, safety coded switches have been incorporated in all doors and gates which cut out operations of this unit to prevent any injury to operator or bystanders when the winch/tensioner is in operation. It also has a deadman foot pedal that needs to be activated to allow any operation to work, ensuring the operator is in control. These features support the “Work Safe, Go Home Safe” ethos important to us at Redmond Gary Australia.

The winch/tensioner is fixed to the tray of the vehicle with the aid of container locks and is provided with three lift points for ease of loading and unloading. In addition, the winch/tensioner is provided with a data logger and will maintain the pre-set line pull of tension as the cable diameter on the drum changes. It is also provided with a spreader bar and chains for lifting drums on and off the winches. No tools are required to change the drums.

For more information on this winch/tensioner contact Redmond Gary Australia.